Performance Development and Management

A guiding principle underlying the implementation of HNE Local health Network's professional development and performance review framework for Senior Medical and Dental practitioners is the community’s expectation that, when they access health services in NSW, they are cared for by competent, experienced and appropriately trained practitioners who abide by high ethical standards.

HNELHN has developed an overarching policy which combines elements of each of a series of underpinning NSW Policy Directives. The policy, HNE Health Policy 07_10, specifically pertains to the professional development and performance review of senior medical and dental practitioners. (Note: this policy docuemnt is scheduled for reciew in 2011.)

The primary objective of this local policy is to maintain a focus on continuing professional development and a programme and system for review that meets the needs of clinical services and clinical staff, whilst ensuring compliance with the relevant NSW Health Policy Directives and the Staff Specialist (State) Awards documents.

HNEH Policy 07_10 aims to enhance professional development through effective two-way communication. All senior medical and dental practitioners are expected to participate in performance management with the focus being to:

Identify areas for clinical practice development, quality and safety improvement, and related educational and professional development needs;
Determine expectations in terms of management and leadership responsibilities, including supervision and training of other clinical staff;
Achieve the objectives/purpose of the position;
Link individual professional development and performance objectives with the service’s operational and strategic plans; and
Align professional and performance development plans with HNELHN core values.

While acknowledging the overlap between various systems for maintaining standards of care and clinical competency, the policy clearly defines performance review as a separate process to performance counselling or disciplinary and complaints management processes.

The suite of current policies developed by NSW Health which pertain to the professional practice standards of senior medical and dental practitioners are listed and hyperlinked below, and are followed by other important documents relevant to particular professional groups or categories.

Code of Conduct - NSW Health PD2005_626
Staff Specialists - Appointment PD2005_500
Visiting Medical Practitioners- Performance Review PD2005_498
Visiting practitioners and staff specialists Delineation of clinical privileges for policy for imp PD2005_497
Visiting Practitioners Appointment PD2005_496

The NSW Health documents concerning the appointment, delineation of clinical privileges and performance review of Visiting Practitioners and Staff Specialists were developed in March 2005 following extensive consultation with the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (ASMOF), the Rural Doctors Association and Area Health Services. The purpose of these policy directives is to support public health organisations in meeting community expectations through a transparent and consistent process of appointment and credentialing of visiting practitioners and staff specialists, and performance review of visiting practitioners in NSW public health organisations.

For more information about HNELHN’s professional development and performance review framework for senior medical and eental practitioners please contact:

Medical Workforce: Dr Naomi Lee, Director Medical Workforce on (02) 4922 3361 or Naomi.Lee@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Clinical Governance: Associate professor Rosemary Aldrich, Associate Director Clinical Governance, on (02) 4921 4168 or Rosemary.Aldrich@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Performance Development and Management

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