HR Magazine - A third of NHS staff still don't receive annual appraisal

A third of NHS staff still don't receive annual appraisal

One third of NHS staff still do not receive an annual appraisal or personal development plan six years after agreeing the Knowledge and Skills Framework, according to Unison.

The union’s comments came as the health service introduces a "simplified and more flexible" framework, which addresses careers and pay progression "to help organisations deliver on their commitment in the NHS Constitution to the training and development of every member of staff".

Karen Jennings, Unison’s head of health, said: "Trusts that fail their staff in this way run the risk of failing patients as well.

"This simplified version of the Knowledge and Skills Framework will allow Trusts that have not extended this scheme to all their staff, to learn from the best practice of others and ensure their workforce is developed and motivated to deliver the best patient care."

The framework has been developed by the NHS Staff Council and links the framework, appraisals and other policy initiatives.

Earlier this week, the NHS also launched an online resource, Well-being at work, which has been "designed to support organisations working in the NHS to reduce staff sickness and absence".

In November 2009 the Boorman Review found that the health service could save £555 million a year by improving its approach to staff sickness and absence.