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The Criteria for Awards: What SACDA Looks For
The Criteria
The Criteria for awards are set out in Annex A.
Essential Points that Assist SACDA's Approach to its Decisions
- The essential points of these criteria that assist SACDA's approach to its decisions, and that consultants will wish to bear in mind if they are being nominated for an award or are looking at the decisions of SACDA, are:
- awards are given for outstanding professional work especially that which shows benefit to the wider NHS.
- they are not seniority payments or rewards for long service
- they are for performance over and above what would normally be expected for the position concerned
- in application of the criteria the differing opportunities and expectations for consultants employed in different types of posts or organisations will be recognised
- they are not restricted to, for example, academic or research contributions, but recognise the consultant's total contribution to service to patients, teaching and management and development of the service
- a record of achievement is expected across a range of most of the areas listed in the criteria; success in only one of these areas will not normally be sufficient
- full participation in the annual appraisal exercise in the previous year is essential.
- for the small number of awards available at A and A+ level, a very high standard is required.
What SACDA Looks For
- Consultants working in teaching hospitals will generally be expected to undertake teaching and to have reasonable academic productivity. In the case of honorary contract holders the academic activity will naturally be expected to be strong - in itself, over and above that normally expected - if it is to be a factor in consideration for an award. Consultants in teaching hospitals, because they tend to be more numerous and have other contractual responsibilities alongside their NHS service contribution, may have less opportunity to take part in local service management. However, leadership in the specialty, both within and outside the local employer's catchment area, will generally be expected.
- Consultants working in other NHS hospitals or for other types of NHS employer may satisfy the criteria very differently. Again, local leadership and leadership of the specialty within and outside the employer's own area will generally be looked for. Many consultants who work in such hospitals undertake considerable teaching work and this will be given due weight. Many also undertake substantial and valuable research. The criterion relating to achievement of service goals (see criterion in Annex A) may also be of particular relevance in the non-teaching hospital environment. SACDA will also seek to ensure that consultants in less "visible" specialties and employment situations, who nonetheless make a notable contribution to the NHS and to medical advance, are given full consideration. SACDA will have regard to the opportunities for work over and above what is usual in the different environments in which consultants work.
- Those recommended for an A award will need to show continuing satisfaction of the criteria, at a higher level than for a B award. They might normally be expected, for example, to be the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of local and regional and/or national specialist, management, advisory or executive committees, and to be showing substantial leadership in service, teaching and (if appropriate) research. At A+ level outstanding professional leadership is expected and normally with national or international recognition of the contribution to the NHS.
Length of NHS Service as a Consultant and Recency of Previous Award
- There is no lower age limit at which consultants may be given an award. However, consultants will normally have a number of year's experience in the NHS before they can expect to be considered. SACDA would normally expect candidates for a B award to have 10 years experience in their discipline and grade while those being nominated for an A award will normally have gained an additional 5 years. Those nominated for an A+ award will normally have served 5 years more. These are not hard and fast rules - each case is considered on merit.
- It is normally expected that at least three years should elapse before any serious consideration can be given to the possibility of upgrading an award from B level to A, or from A to A+.
Relevance of Discretionary Points Held
- There is no link between the number or date of receipt of locally awarded discretionary points and eligibility for distinction awards. To be considered for a distinction award it is not regarded as essential that a consultant should hold any discretionary points - though usually nominees will be in receipt of at least some, since they reflect local satisfaction with a consultant's performance.