Staff Review and Development

Staff Review and Development (Appraisals)

Staff Review and Development (SRD) is for University employees, across all grades and areas of work in the University. Its key purpose is to enhance work effectiveness and support professional development.  

Regular SRD conversations, along with ongoing one-to-one meetings, help to align the longer term personal, professional and development goals of individuals with the aims and strategic objectives of the team, the Department and the University. In practice, SRD enables conversations that support increased satisfaction, motivation, well-being, and contribute to building strong and effective working relationships. 

Benefits of effective SRD discussions and regular one-to-one meetings include: 

• Enhanced and sustained motivation and morale, by recognising successes and empowering individuals to make decisions about their work and development.  
• Support for a culture of continuous review and improvement, enhancing performance and clarifying personal responsibility.  
• An inclusive and positive working culture, supported by effective two-way communication and open styles of management, leadership and collaboration. 
• Support for employee well-being by building trust and awareness of individual needs and responsibilities. 
• Consistency of good working practices and shared strategic vision. 
• Help to recognise, develop and retain valuable skills, knowledge and experience within the University contributing to high levels of employee development and retention. 

Timing

For most individuals SRD* is likely to be an annual conversation, combined with regular one-to-one meetings to review work, development and wellbeing on an ongoing basis. If you are in any doubt about the timing of your SRD discussions, please contact HR.

*For Academic UTOs the SRD discussion is to be scheduled biannually.

SRD Forms

To facilitate these important SRD conversations, we have designated forms specifically for the following staff groups:

• Academic (Research and Teaching) Staff 
• Academic Review Form (UTO)
• Research Staff
  • Form for reviewers

  • Form for reviewees 

• Clinical roles, including Academic Related, Academic Staff
• Assistant and Non-Clinical Academic Related Staff

Please ensure that you are using the appropriate SRD form. If in any doubt, please contact HR.

Process

Step 1 – Reviewer sets a date for the review meeting. Once set, the reviewee completes their sections of the appropriate SRD form for their staff group and sends the partially completed form to the reviewer a week in advance of the review meeting.

Step 2 – Both parties prepare for the SRD meeting.

Step 3 – Reviewer and reviewee meet for a well-structured SRD discussion, with clear, agreed and recorded outcomes. Both parties should allow some time immediately afterwards to reflect and note down key points and comments.

Step 4 – Reviewer completes the relevant sections of the review form and sends the reviewee the completed form to ensure agreement with content following the discussions during the meeting. A clear action plan should be established at this stage, to achieve the agreed objectives for both work and development. 

Step 5 - Once parties are in agreement, the completed forms should be sent to HR, by email:

• qvsh.hr@vet.cam.ac.uk for QVSH staff, or:
• hr.enquiries@vet.cam.ac.uk for Department and Research staff.

The final SRD document forms a basis for ongoing discussions to review and re-align goals as the year progresses.  

Guidance and support for individual reviewees and reviewers

Further guidance and training is available for all employees as reviewees, and for those in roles reviewing others:

Staff Review and Development (Appraisal) an Overview for All Staff: Instructor led 

This short webinar is a useful refresher about the overall purpose and outcomes of SRD (appraisal) and an opportunity to consider what you can do to help ensure an effective discussion as reviewee and/or reviewer. Whether you work in a research, teaching or professional service area, SRD (appraisal) provides the opportunity for individuals to engage in constructive discussion with supervisors, managers or academic/research colleagues about current and future work and personal and career development.

Effective Staff Review and Development: Online Course (All Staff)

This online course, including visual, audio and filmed material, focuses on an overview of the process, practical advice and useful reminders of good practice to help you to make the most of an SRD discussion.

LinkedIn Learning: Staff Review and Development: Online Course (All Staff)

A LinkedIn Learning course on Staff Review and Development, curated by Learning and Development.

Further training for those reviewing others:

Supporting Performance and Development: Instructor led

Effective management is providing consistent support for team members’ performance and development from the very start of their employment. This commitment extends beyond just SRD (Staff Review and Development) or appraisal discussions/meetings.

This training session will cover SRD/Appraisals within the broader context of continuous performance and development support.

Developing Talent in your Team: Instructor led 

Managing and developing talent in your team is a key skill for any manager in order to create an environment for their team to perform to the best of their ability, both individually and as a group.

From adopting a strategic approach to developing talent in order to deliver objectives, to understanding key strategies for developing your team at each stage of the employee lifecycle, this interactive and participative workshop offers you the opportunity to consider various talent development aspects.

Giving Effective Feedback: Online Course 

Giving effective feedback to your team members is one of the key responsibilities of anyone who supervises or manages others. It improves performance, boosts morale and can help people to do their job to the best of their ability.

This course is full of key tips to help you give feedback that is supportive, constructive and helpful and incorporates instructional film resources to help you apply what you have learned. It also focuses on how to avoid common mistakes when giving feedback to others and how to receive feedback well.

Visit Learning and Development: SRD for instructor led and online resources. As always, use peers and colleagues to discuss how to get the most of these discussions, consider your own skills and experience so far and draw on others to share good practice.