CPD

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the means by which Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives.

Every Diagnostic Radiographer and Radiation Therapist must adapt to the rapidly changing environment within which they work. The advancement of technology, new practices, legislative changes and increased accountability necessitates continuous learning. It is incumbent on all Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists to make every effort to keep professional knowledge up to date, in order to maintain and develop professional competence.

The IIRRT expects that it will be a future requirement of the Health and Social Care Professions Council (HSCPC) for Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists to demonstrate CPD as a condition of state registration. The IIRRT will work to ensure that the IIRRT model of CPD will be capable of integration with any system of monitoring CPD activity that the HSCPC might require.

2012 IIRRT Standards for CPD Activity here

The IIRRT also considers it essential that employers should support Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists in the achievement of CPD. Employers should have learning and development strategies in place and if possible, provide employees with an opportunity to discuss their professional development plan (PDP) and the achievement of PDP objectives.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a term that has been in use for many years and it has been known to instil fear and trepidation in all but the very brave! So, what is it, how do we go about it and why?

What is it?

It is the means by which Diagnostic Radiographers and Radiation Therapists maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives. ‘It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond initial training’ (Melanie Allen). It invariably refers to the documentation of all of this learning.

Alsop (2001) has summarised the dimensions and expectations of CPD as follows:

• A process (rather than a product)
• Lifelong – ongoing throughout professional life
• Systematic
• Embracing formal education and informal learning, including on-the- job learning
• Building on what is known, in order to
  • Assure competence
  • Develop personal qualities
  • Enhance professional and technical skills
  • Maintain, enhance  and broaden professional knowledge
  • Expand and help fulfil potential
  • Have a positive impact on health outcomes
  • Maintain quality and relevance of professional services
  • Develop and enhance practice
  • Prepare for changing roles in service delivery

The purpose of CPD therefore is to

v      Ensure competent practice that will maintain professional performance

v      Minimise risk to users of the service

v      Create improvements in service efficiency and effectiveness

How do we go about it?

Firstly, everything that happens is an opportunity for learning. However, these opportunities are not always particularly obvious and can therefore be easily missed. Consequently we need to develop the skills that will allow us to recognise opportunities for learning. Secondly, the majority of CPD opportunities occur in the workplace so it is not always necessary to be absent from the clinical setting.

However, it is imperative that we take responsibility for our own learning and development. The simplest way to start this process is to create a personal development plan (PDP). As stated by the IIRRT, CPD should represent the personal and professional aspirations set out in the PDP. The documentation of all of this, together with reflective practice, will facilitate the production of an excellent CPD portfolio and fulfil the criteria for registration. The IIRRT have designed a CPD portfolio in which you can record your CPD activities. It also gives a broad outline of a personal development plan and can be downloaded from the website http://www.iirrt.ie/ . There will also shortly be available on the HSE education website   http://www.hseland.ie a module introducing reflective practice that will complement the IIRRT portfolio and help you with documentation of you CPD.

Why?

As already stated, as health professionals we are obliged to keep up to date with practice. Furthermore, as part of the forthcoming registration process radiographers and radiation therapists will need to produce evidence that this is happening. The Health and Social Care Professions Council (HSCPC) have stated that their objective is

“To protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence among registrants of the designated professions”

They have also stated that we must:

• Audit, reflect on and review practice
• Identify one’s own professional development needs through reflective practice
• Develop and regularly review a personal development plan…
• Understand the value of reflective practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection.

In order to facilitate and demystify the whole process the IIRRT have appointed a CPD officer, Sinead O Sullivan. Sinead is available to all radiographers and radiation therapists on wednesdays, thursdays and fridays of each week.  She can be contacted at   iirrtcpdofficer@gmail.com or 087 1759040.

References:

• Melanie Allen   http://www.melanieallen.co.uk/ accessed May 2011
• Alsop, A (2001)   Continuing Professional Development (A guide for Therapists). Blackwell Science Ltd. Oxford

CPD Funding

The HSE annually,  through the IIRRT make available funding for CPD related activities to both course organisers and individuals. The IIRRT endeavours to facilitate such CPD through its CPD officer and also its specialist interest groups. However, course organisers can also apply to the IIRRT council for funding using this form as can individuals here.