This web workshop on Effective Clinical Appraisals and PDPs in Dental Practices is designed to help dental professionals understand and apply appraisal processes that support staff development, improve performance, and enhance team and patient outcomes.
Through a combination of discussion, interactive activities, and practical examples, delegates will:
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Explore what makes a clinical appraisal effective and how it differs from pay reviews
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Understand the benefits of structured appraisals for staff, managers, and patients
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Learn how to set meaningful, SMART goals in a Personal Development Plan (PDP)
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Gain practical strategies to manage feedback, overcome obstacles, and foster a positive workplace culture
By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to deliver appraisals that are constructive, motivating, and aligned with practice goals.
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Dentists
Workshop Agenda
Below is an outline of the proposed agenda, if you have any questions please get in touch.
Session One (2 hours)
Welcome - Introductions
- Aim and Learning Outcomes
- Framework for the workshop
Introductions - Individual introductions: name, role, passion in life
- Icebreaker discussion: “What’s your experience of Appraisals? Good/Not good?” (group discussion)
What is an Effective Clinical Appraisal in Dental Practices? - A clinical appraisal is a structured annual performance review covering the full scope of a dental staff member’s clinical and professional responsibilities.
- Appraisals are focused on development and performance, not pay reviews.
- They provide a two-way opportunity for:
- Recognition of successes and strengths
- Constructive feedback, including structured 360-degree insights from peers, management, and occasionally patients
- Reflection on performance since the last appraisal
- Agreeing measurable goals in a Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Aligning individual performance with practice goals, supporting learning, and enhancing motivation
Benefits of Effective Clinical Appraisals - Group activity: “Explore and define the benefits of effective clinical appraisals for…”
- The Dental Practice
- The Manager and Staff
- Patients
Key benefits include:
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- Improved communication and trust
- Accountability and transparency
- Team cohesion and patient care quality
- Motivation, learning, and staff retention
Expectations of an Appraisal in Dental Practices - What staff can expect from a “good” appraisal:
- Open, structured dialogue
- Structured 360-degree feedback from peers, management, and sometimes patients
- Two-way exchange, not one-sided
- Reflection leading into SMART goals in a PDP
Close Session Two (2 hours)
How to Manage and Deliver a Constructive and Effective Clinical Appraisal & PDP Core Skills - Presence, listening, and questioning (including first and last impressions)
- Using coaching approaches in appraisal conversations
- Giving feedback:
- Using 360 feedback effectively
- Linking strengths, performance, and behaviours
- Practising constructive feedback delivery
- Receiving feedback and responding positively
- PDPs: templates, completion, and writing SMART goals
- Interactive activities and discussions to apply appraisal concepts in practice
Management & Implementation - Timelines for appraisal planning and follow-up
- Clear roles and responsibilities (manager, staff, leadership)
- Leadership behaviours that foster engagement and a positive workplace culture
- Continuous professional development: introducing quarterly reviews/check-ins alongside annual appraisals
Overcoming Obstacles - Group activity: “What obstacles do you face in delivering effective appraisals?”
- Key focus areas:
- Low motivation: how to identify and strategies to re-engage
- Conflict: identifying healthy vs. unhealthy conflict, skills to manage difficult conversations
Open Forum, Discussion Q&A Close
