What information do I need to collect?

You will be expected to prepare a portfolio of supporting information from every area of your practice including any work you do for organisations other than your designated body. The GMC has detailed guidance on the requirements: Supporting Information for Appraisal and Revalidation.

Your evidence will fall into four main categories:

• General information - what you do in all aspects of your work
• Keeping up to date - maintaining and enhancing the quality of your professional work
• Review of your practice - evaluating the quality of your professional work
• Feedback on your practice - how others perceive the quality of your professional work

The GMC has stipulated six types of supporting evidence that you will be expected to provide at least once in each five year revalidation cycle:

• Continuing professional development
• Quality improvement activity (such as clinical audits) 
• Significant events
• Feedback from colleagues (at least once every five years)
• Feedback from patients (if applicable, at least once every five years)
• A review of complaints and compliments

It is likely that you will already have some of this evidence and you may wish to consider how you will obtain any outstanding documentation.

During your appraisal discussion, you will be asked to demonstrate, with reference to this supporting information, that you are up-to-date and fit to practise and that you have reflected on your practice, and identified any areas for improvement.

You may find it useful to review the GMC’s appraisal framework which sets out 12 professional attributes against which a doctor’s’ practice should be considered during appraisals, grouped into the following four domains:

• Knowledge, skills and performance e.g. the need to keep up-to-date 
• Safety and quality e.g. complying with systems to protect patients
• Communication, partnership and teamwork e.g. treating colleagues fairly and with respect.
• Maintaining trust e.g. showing respect for patients

Following your appraisal, you should have a new personal development plan setting out your objectives for the following year, such as further training. It will then be up to you to meet these objectives and update your portfolio accordingly before your next appraisal.