A working group comprising organisations from across a range of health and social care sectors including RCOT, has today launched a set of principles for continuing professional development (CPD) and lifelong learning.
The document, prepared by the Interprofessional CPD and Lifelong Learning UK Working Group which includes representation from RCOT, is the first update in 12 years. It brings together over 20 professional bodies and trade unions, including other nursing, midwifery and AHP bodies and Unison.
The principles are designed to guide individuals, employers and wider systems to create a culture of continuous improvement, workforce development and improve outcomes for service users. People working in the health and social care workforce operate in a changing, challenging and complex environment. Practicing safely and effectively, now and in the future is essential.
The five principles state that CPD and lifelong learning should:
- Be each person’s responsibility, made possible and supported by employers
- Benefit service users
- Improve the quality of service delivery
- Be balanced and relevant to each person’s area of practice or employment, and
- Be recorded and show the effect on each person’s area of practice.
The new principles supersede those in the current RCOT Code of Ethics in Appendix 2. That will be updated in due course but members should use these new principles in concert with the existing Code of Ethics to guide their lifelong learning activity.
Dr Stephanie Tempest, Professional Development Manager at RCOT, said:
“What is so important in these principles is how employees, employers and the wider system are jointly responsible for CPD and lifelong learning. We want to see these principles used by occupational therapists and support staff to structure conversations about how they continue to learn, develop and take on new skills throughout their career.“
Will Broughton, Director of Professional Standards for the College of Paramedics and Chair of the working group, said:
“We believe that the health and social care workforce should have the opportunity to undertake CPD activity and these five principles clearly illustrate how developing new knowledge, skills and evidence-based working will produce an effective workforce, who are well-equipped and prepared to deliver high-quality services.
It is our intention to evaluate the impact of the principles next year ahead of a review in January 2021. We welcome feedback from people working across the health and social care workforce that will contribute to further versions of this document.
Thank you to all members of the working group, the organisations who hosted our meetings and for the behind the scene support that got this to finished project.”