Tips for SRDS

Preparation

In preparation for your SRDS you may wish to review some of these tips.

Reviewers

Give your reviewee plenty of time to prepare (advisory - 2 weeks.) Get last year’s SRDS form and give the staff member a copy. Look at the University Strategy document  to ensure staff member’s objectives will be aligned with key university priorities. Provide a copy of your local faculty/school/service plan to the staff member and be prepared to outline how their role aligns with the wider plan. Review the objectives from last year and consider how these may need to change (or be carried forward) for the coming year. Consider the staff member’s achievements – highlights of the year and possible difficulties encountered. Revisit the training and development which was agreed. Did they take place? How did it benefit the staff member or the wider team?

If you are reviewing staff members for the first time, get to meet them all and outline your aspirations for the SRDS process. This can include your approach and what you hope the SRDS meeting will achieve. If you have a number of staff you could consider meeting them altogether to communicate these messages in one go. Also, arrange to meet other SRDS reviewers in your area of the university. Share ideas about the approach to the SRDS meeting and discuss any issues or concerns you have about the process.

Send a draft of the written form to your staff member to agree, within a week of your meeting. Once agreed, write up the final version promptly (within a week) and send staff member a copy. Explore the possibility of getting staff members to share their objectives with one another to assist openness and collaboration. If reviewing more than one staff member, create a training and development plan with the planned professional development for the year to assist with planning and reviews.

Reviewees

Take time to consider the past year. Which achievements are you most proud of? Quote positive feedback you have received during the year (in section 1 of the form.) Are there any areas of your role you found difficult? What might have helped you with those areas? This can help you prepare for the discussion about your learning and development needs for the year ahead. Consider what objectives you feel you will need for the new year. Use last year’s SRDS form to help you reflect. Recall any training or development which was agreed and consider how it helped you or you applied the learning in your role. Look at the OD&PL website to identify training and development opportunities that would help you feel more confident in your role.