Case Study: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust improves appraisal quality and compliance with NHS Employers

Conversation at the heart of appraisal success

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust worked with NHS Employers to improve its appraisal process, which staff saw as a tick-box exercise that lacked meaningful conversation. The trust wanted a more person-centred approach that better supported performance, wellbeing, and alignment with organisational goals.

NHS Employers helped the trust redesign appraisals around conversation, using a new workbook, improved reporting dashboards, staggered completion waves, and quality reviews. The changes raised appraisal completion to 98% by the end of quarter three, with most staff rating appraisals four or five stars, and helped lift NHS Staff Survey engagement and appraisal scores above sector averages.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust