The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) owns copyright in all SOM Quality Assured Appraisal Scheme (QAAS) material, whether electronic or other media and it can only be used in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
SOM QAAS appraisals are undertaken using 1 of 2 appraisal formats.
If an appraisee has a prescribed connection with the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) and is registered with the FOM Responsible Officer (RO), he/she is required to use the online PReP platform, (based on the Revalidation Support Team (RST) MAG form), as the vehicle upon which the appraisal is carried out, except in the case of an appraisee with a disability, where other arrangements could be made. In using the PReP platform, appraisees understand that their details will be shared with the FOM, and that the FOM Responsible Officer (and named Faculty Revalidation staff who have signed declarations to confidentiality) may access appraisal information stored therein.
If an appraisee is registered with another RO, he/she will use the Revalidation Support Team (RST) MAG form, a pdf document that will be sent to him/her prior to the appraisal for completion and sending to his/her appraiser.
There are 2 categories of doctor who will be involved in using the SOM QAAS:
- Appraisers - once a doctor has been accredited by SOM as a SOM QAAS Appraiser, he/she is entitled to use the FOM platform/ Revalidation Support Team (RST) MAG form to carry out appraisals of doctors and to charge the fees designated by the SOM for that appraisal service.
- Appraisees - these are the doctors who pay the fee designated by the SOM for an appraisal to be carried out on them.
Once an appraisal date has been agreed between appraiser and appraisee, the date should be adhered to. If an appraisee cancels an agreed appointment, he/she may arrange a new date with the appraiser’s agreement. No further cancellation will be allowed after this instance and the appraisee will forfeit the fee and be required to re-apply for an appraisal.
Note: Appraisers will not retain any electronic records after the appraisal is completed.
Appraisers must have attended the refresher training/training on the RST MAG form and must not wrongfully claim to be an accredited Appraiser without having attended this training. Appraisers must use only use the FOM PreP platform form in the format in which it is provided.
For quality assurance and audit purposes Appraisers and Appraisees must complete an online evaluation form, the links having been provided by the SOM, except in the case of an appraiser or appraisee with a disability, where other arrangements could be made. The Society will share the evaluation with the QAAS Clinical Appraisal Lead (CAL) for monitoring purposes. On an appraisee’s completion of the evaluation, a certificate will be issued by the Society.
Appraisees agree that the Clinical Appraisal Lead, has access to their appraisal records for the purpose of appraiser audit to satisfy NHS England requirements. If appraisees have any concerns regarding this please contact admin@som.org.uk.
Appraisees agree that if they miss an appraisal or cancel on very short notice without a satisfactory reason, they may be liable to pay to have a new appraisal arranged.
Appraisees must be renewed with a full year's membership fee, unless they have joined in their first SOM appraisal year. SOM Members who lapse and return in the month of their appraisal will be liable for full year fees prior to their appraisal application being processed.
SOM cannot be held liable for any losses or liabilities that are caused to an Appraiser or Appraisee by using it, unless it is shown that SOM has been grossly negligent, in which case SOM's maximum liability will be to refund the fees paid to it for the specific grossly negligent appraisal, plus 50%.
Complaints - Complaints or concerns regarding the QAAS, either as appraisee or appraiser, should be made formally, in writing, to the Clinical Appraisal Lead, SOM QAAS Quality Management Group, Society of Occupational Medicine, 2 St Andrews Place, NW1 4LB, for discussion and action as appropriate.