Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and RCSLT

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and RCSLT Dominique Lowenthal Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Professional Development Services Manager

Guide to CPD • Today’s objective • RCSLT supports PD • About CPD • HPC and CPD • The online CPD diary • The CPD Toolkit • Programme of CPD Activities

Where has the impetus for CPD come from? • Shift in public perceptions of professionalism • Compensation culture • Emphasis on standards and accountability for CPD • It’s no longer acceptable to ‘stand still’ • Clinical governance agenda and now KSF • Demand for evidence of learning may increase post Shipman • HPC audit of SLTs CPD from 2009

Measuring CPD • Inputs (measuring hours, activities, or a points system) • Outcomes • What have I learned? • How has this CPD activity had an impact on my practice and been of benefit to service users? • Robust ‘reflection’ A mixture of the two

Knowledge Skills Frameworkand CPD • CPD linked more explicitly to career progression than ever before • RCSLT & KSF guidance is within the CPD Toolkit & as a link in the CPD diary ‘review an activity’ section • CPD Diary forum

www.hpc-uk.org HPC and CPD • HPC standards came into effect in July 2006 • Compliance with standards is a requirement of registration • Emphasis on outcomes and a range of activities 2.5% of SLTs will be audited for period 2007 – 2009. All other SLTs will self-declare they have undertaken CPD. Guidance on HPC & RCSLT web pages - and SLT sample profiles

The HPC CPD Standards HPC Registrants must • Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities • Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice • Seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery

The HPC CPD StandardsCont… HPC Registrants must • Seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user • Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD upon request

HPC audit requirements • Front cover • Contents page • Summary of practice history for the last 2 years (max 500 words) • Statement of how Standards of CPD have been met (maximum 1500 words) on the pro-forma provided • Documentary evidence to support the statement • RCSLT has produced samples of summaries and statements which have been approved; now jointly badged with HPC. These are in the RCSLT CPD Toolkit.

Extract From HPC Sample Profile Peer Observation In order to improve my skills in working with refugee children, I spent several sessions shadowing a more experienced colleague. We undertook several home visits and schools, and I attended two multi disciplinary meetings with her. I also observed a bilingual co-worker with a small parent group. During the therapy sessions I used the RCSLT peer observation guidance to record my observations. I found this experience very helpful, as it gave me practical ideas as well as helpful insights into working effectively. Following the observation sessions, the therapist agreed to become my mentor. This relationship has contributed greatly to my confidence in working with the children and their families. Continued…

Extract From HPC Sample Profile During each mentoring session, (we meet every 6 weeks) we record the objectives for the session, the outcome of the session, and agreed action plans. Working in a highly pressurised environment where there are children and families with such huge needs can create the feeling that no progress will ever be made by a service like mine. The communication needs of a child are often very low down the priority list for families who literally have nothing when they arrive in the UK. Understanding about the communication context is therefore vital to the outcome of therapy. This is possibly the aspect of my work that has changed most over the last two years, as I have begun to understand how to work within the communication environment to greater effect.

HPC CPD Process • Each registrant makes a self-declaration at each registration renewal that they continue to meet the Council’s Standards for CPD • In 2009, sample audits of registrants taken at random from each section of the Register • Submission of aprofile of evidence by registrants selected for sample audit • Assessment of the profile against the Standards of CPD using appropriate and experienced Partners

July 2006 HPC Standards come into effect April 2007 April 2009 Sept 2009 HPC Audits SLTs Auditable HPC Timeline

What is the role of RCSLT in CPD? To enhance professional practice through….. • setting standards • monitoring quality • commissioning of post registration CPD • to support RCSLT members in meeting HPC and employer requirements (diary, toolkit, advice)

CPD RCSLT RCSLT the key to success with CPD Linked to HPC requirements CPD based on self assessment Linked to KSF Support SLTs working outside the NHS Linked to RCSLT certification RCSLT Support • CPD toolkit • CPD Online diary • Online Forum/FAQs • Telephone/email support • CPD opportunities

30hrs 3 Months Setting standards Amount Undertake a minimum of 30 hours per year Type Undertake a mix of CPD activities Record Maintain an up-to-date record (3 months) Reflective Maintain a record of the outcome of the learning

Record of CPD • Must be an up-to-date record of CPD activity, and must include a reflective account of the outcome of learning • Evidence will take different forms (e.g. NHS therapists might use local PDP forms, Independent therapists can use RCSLT PDP form both can use reflective practice) • Records can then be used for RCSLT, HPC and KSF purposes

Providing support…The RCSLT CPD toolkit Guidance on.. • Personal Development Plans • Reflective writing • Significant event analysis • CPD and audit • CPD and peer review • CPD and mentoring • HPC requirements for CPD • KSF and CPD • NOS and CPD

Providing support and quality monitoring: The CPD diary • Allows SLTs to record CPD activity and reflections on learning • Complies with HPC • Compatible with KSF • Allows RCSLT to • provide members with information on CPD activities • monitor no. hours and provide support to therapists/assistants if needed. • Target specific SLTs to provide views on policy and news

Most frequently asked questions • How do I reflect on activities that occur more than once. For example, student training where the student attends one day on a weekly basis. Do I need to reflect on each day or just add one entry for the whole placement? • The same query applies to formal courses and research activities which may happen once a month or once a week.

It depends on whether you want to reflect on every session that you have with a student. For HPC purposes you need to demonstrate that the CPD you do has been of benefit to service users and/or has enhanced service delivery. • You need to think about this activity in terms what you have gained from the supervision for your own professional development rather than the amount of time you have spent supervising. • You could record all the student supervision you have done during the last 3 months as a single entry in the diary and record the different ways this has helped you develop under different activities within that. This will help you to your reflections on what you have learned as a result of doing those student supervisions. • You might be able to work out, that you have spent xx number of hours reflecting on the work and yy number of hours putting together an action plan for how you might do work with your next group of students.

FAQ answer continued It's similar for courses/conferences. Not every part of the conference or course has to be reflected on and you might want to break the course down into the lectures and workshops components and reflect on these aspects discretely - the diary allows you to do this. Research activities could be categorised differently depending on whether you are discussing the research with colleagues or at a SIG or if you are undertaking self-directed study as part of the research.

FAQ - Webquest • How should part-time SLTs record their CPD? • How will RCSLT audit CPD? • I am on maternity leave, do I still need to do CPD? • What kind of CPD activities are 'Other'? To find the answers to these questions and much more please visit the FAQs: http://www.rcslt.org/cpd/cpd_faqs

So what do RCSLT members think of the CPD Diary? Some people think like this... “It’s very nice. I just wish they could add a spa.”

…but most members think like this Thanks to you and your team for setting this all up, I certainly appreciate all the hard work you've put in on this project and think it's a real credit to you all that it's so easy to use. Online CPD stuff looks great - should be much better to keep up to date with the reflections etc Thanks for all your work on our behalf! The system is the best compromise for all the diverse CPD functions we have. I am delighted that our profession is leading the way. This is very user friendly, like having an experienced and kindly relative taking you through a procedure which you were dreading but was actually OK, and dare I say it pleasurable!

Thank you CPD initiatives should be driven by a desire to improve the quality of what is delivered to clients….not by a fear of what might be imposed by others. Cartoon Source Financial Times 14/11/2005

Feedback To help us continually improve, we greatly appreciate and welcome your views, suggestions and comments. Dominique.Lowenthal@rcslt.org Thank you.

Reflective Practice Workshop Dominique Lowenthal Professional Development Services Manager

What will you gain from this online workshop? During this workshop you will • find out what reflective practice is • discover the benefits of doing reflective practice for you and your service • learn how to write reflectively using a style that suits you

Reflective Writing WorkshopContents: Welcome to this Online Workshop on Reflective Practice. You can use this workshop on your own, with a colleague or in a group. We always welcome feedback so please contact us if you have any queries cpd@rcslt.org We hope you find this useful. • Introduction to writing reflectively ___________ Slide • Why do reflective writing?______________________ Slide • What does reflective writing look like? ____ Slide • How do you do it? ________________________________ Slide • Help resources ____________________________________Slide • References _________________________________________Slide • Quiz answers_____________________________________ Slide

Before we start, either *print out this page or,on a piece of paper, write 3 things that you may already know about reflective writing. 1 _______________________________________ 2 ________________________________ 3 ________________________

1. Introduction to writing reflectively Personal reflection happens as part of day to day living. If we find ourselves in a difficult or challenging situation, we often spend time ‘reflecting on’ (thinking about) what happened, what went wrong, what we could have done or said differently. We discuss the event with friends or family. We may choose to deal differently with similar challenges when they happen again. Reflective practice is a learning process, whether it is happening in an informal or formal environment. David Kolb (1984) has created a Learning Cycle that is based on what happens when people learn.

1. Introduction to writing reflectively Please note that we refer to a ‘learning event’ throughout this workshop. A ‘learning event’ refers to any kind of learning experience from learning a single fact to attending a conference, reading a book, learning from a disagreement or learning how to make a cake. Personal reflection happens as part of day to day living. If we find ourselves in a difficult or challenging situation, we often spend time ‘reflecting on’ (thinking about) what happened, what went wrong, what we could have done or said differently. We discuss the event with friends or family. We may choose to deal differently with similar challenges when they happen again. Reflective practice is a learning process, whether it is happening in an informal or formal environment. David Kolb’s (1984) has created a Learning Cycle that is based on what happens when people learn.

Introduction to writing reflectivelyReflective practice at work As health professionals become more concerned about ‘professional competence’ and how best to describe it and measure it, the need for personal reflection on skills, knowledge, attitudes and personal values increases. RCSLT places considerable emphasis on a reflective approach in its guidance on continuing professional development. RCSLT broadly defines reflective practice as ‘the means by which therapists will extend their knowledge and skills to maintain competence throughout their professional lives’ (RCSLT Competencies Project, 2002, p.2). In short,the act of analysing and then connecting new information or experiences to enhance your practice and benefit your service users.

1. Introduction to writing reflectivelyKolb’s reflective cycle Kolb’s cycle is the basis of many reflective activities undertaken in a professional (or informal) context. Kolb said that an individual must go through every stage to fully learn from an experience. Nursing practice has well established systems and processes which encourage self reflection (Johns, 1995, Foster and Greenwood, 1998, Heath, 1998).

Over to you…. Think of a recent learning experience and break it down into each of Kolb’s stages.

1. Introduction to writing reflectivelyPlease remember Reflective writing is a major part of the learning experience! Writing makes your thoughts visible. When you write reflectively, you create a cycle of connections among thinking, planning and acting.

1. Introduction to writing reflectivelySummary Quiz Which of the following statements are true or false? Reflective thinking only happens at work True / False Reflective thinking is a way to focus your thoughts into planning and action True / False Kolb said that an individual must go through at least one stage to fully learn from an experience. True / False Look back through the previous section or CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER )

1. Introduction to writing reflectivelyReflect checkpoint Do you remember this screen from the beginning of this section? How did you do? Is there any more information that you would add to it now? Before we start, write 3 things that you already know about reflective practice and writing. 1 _______________________________________ 2 ________________________________ 3 ________________________

1. Introduction to writing reflectivelySummary Excellent, in this section you have covered: • What reflective practice is • An example of a learning process by David Kolb (1984)

2. Why do reflective writing? BACK TO MAIN MENU

Please list 5 benefits that you think there might be to doing reflective writing: 1 _______________________________________ 2 _______________________________________ 3 _______________________________________ 4 _______________________________________ 5 _______________________________________

How did you do? Compare your answer with some of the answers we came up with… You can use reflective writing to: analyse complex and challenging situations explore communication and relationships with colleagues consider the way you make decisions make connections between your non-work activities and your practice improve your memory of your learning activities improve your researching skills make it more likely that you will put what you have learned into practice improve your problem solving skills – (you’ll find that you can solve new problems more easily when you develop your analytical ability and have reflected on similar problems before) To help you identify gaps in skills and knowledge and learning needs – career plan, personal objectives, Performance Development Plan (PDP) (c) 2007 RCSLT

2. Why do reflective writing?Reflective practice and your career plan If you complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) or another form of career plan, then information you have recorded in your reflective writing will be invaluable - such as how you have enhanced your service through your learning. Your reflective writing will also help you to decide what your future learning needs will be, to help you build the skills and knowledge you need to develop your career. You should record your reflective writing in your online CPD diary, which you can print out to put in your PDP folder if you wish.

HPC standards say that registrants (health professionals registered with them) must: maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities; demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice; seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery; seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user; and present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD upon request. Reflective practice and HPC 2. Why do reflective writing? In July 2006 the Health Professions Council introduced new standards concerning CPD. More information is available from the HPC website www.hpc-uk.org

2. Why do reflective writing?Reflective practice and HPC The standards mean the following: You must keep a record of your CPD, in whatever format is most convenient for you. You must make sure your CPD is a mixture of different kinds of activities – not just one kind of learning – and that it’s relevant to your work. It could be relevant to your current role or to a planned future role. You should aim for your CPD to improve the quality of your work. It may not actually improve your work, due to factors beyond your control, but when you choose your CPD activities you should intend for them to improve your work. You should aim for your CPD to benefit service users. As above, you may not be able to make sure that this happens, but you should have the intention of benefiting service users. Depending on where and how you work, service users might include patients, clients, your team, or students. If you’re audited, you need to send the HPC a CPD profile to show how you have met their standards.

2. Why do reflective writing?Please remember Reflective writing helps you to squeeze all the goodness out of your learning…

2. Why do reflective writing?Summary Quiz Which of the following is associated with reflective practice? Improved memory of your learning Evidence and preparation for your career planning A way to analyse your decisions A systematic way to keep your patient records organised Look back through the previous section or CLICK HERE FOR ANSWER

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and RCSLT