The 2023 PDR Process: Whilst everyone should have the opportunity to have a PDR meeting this year, Senior Leaders have advised all colleagues to take a lighter-touch approach to the 2023 cycle. See guidance on the 2023 PDR process.

Annual performance and development review (PDR) meetings take place between 1 July and 31 October.

Departmental coordination meetings

At the start of the cycle the Head of Department will meet with all reviewers to confirm:

• who is reviewing who (it is recommended that a reviewer has no more than 8 to 10 reviewees)
• expectations on how and when the process will take place
• agree expected levels of performance to ensure consistency of approach (eg. how performance ratings will be assigned, common departmental goals and priorities (to inform objective setting)
• quality assurance will be carried out through an anonymised data review by HR at the end of the PDR cycle for the purposes of equality, diversity and inclusion

Scheduling reviews

Reviewers are responsible for arranging their PDR meetings. Aim to give staff two weeks' notice, and set aside 1-1.5 hours.

Arrange a venue that is discreet and free from distractions. It should be welcoming and not overly formal.

Send the reviewee the relevant PDR form two weeks in advance. They will record last year's objectives, self assessment ratings and gather feedback on their performance. They should return it to you several days ahead of the meeting.

Reviewers using the PDR form for support staff with short-term objectives should prepopulate section 1 on behalf of the reviewee. Use the standards, targets and behaviours derived from SLAs and departmental objectives. These may be the same as the previous year.