What is 360° appraisal?

360° appraisal is a process to gather and present 'full circle' feedback from colleagues, usually as part of an annual appraisal. Edgecumbe Doctor 360°, like appraisal, is developmental in its purpose. Feedback is requested from up to 13 colleagues on behaviours and attributes that are relevant to the job. Feedback is gathered from a full range of perspectives- seniors, peers, support colleagues and patients (optional) thereby providing a richness of information and a range of views reflecting the most important relationships in your current professional role(s).

What are the benefits?

360° appraisal originated in the commercial sector and has been used by most leading employers in the Western world to support the continual development of their people.

The main benefits of 360° for doctors are:

• The provision of a wide range of feedback which enhances the appraisal experience and raises self awareness, a pre-requisite to behaviour change
• The feedback may be used as part of a doctor’s folder of evidence
• Feedback can be sought from both colleagues and patients and is reported separately so there is a clarity of source
• The feedback pinpoints areas of strength and areas for development. When discussed with a skilful appraiser the impact of the feedback can be highly motivating
• Aggregated data can inform Trusts of their relative strengths and development needs and guide future investment in CPD