How I’ve made CPD part of my routine

Three words: continuing professional development (CPD).  But what power they hold. Worldwide recognition that demonstrates you are keen to increase your knowledge, experience and skills to remain confident, competent and show your commitment.

Any occupational safety and health (OSH) professional is familiar with the importance of maintaining CPD. It’s embedded in our OSH professional membership. But how do we make this a positive process, so it’s not a chore? 

“If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail”, according to the famous quote. So, my approach for CPD is to have a structured, consistent format that I use as a tool for planning my content. 

Where do I start?

Whether I am reporting on a webinar, a course, a branch meeting or professional experience, I use the same reflective statement blank master form that I devised. I complete it for each learning activity. This is broken down into:

• what the activity was
• how long the activity took
• why I did the activity – I also document which parts of the CPD criteria it meets (behavioural, personal performance, etc) and how it covers them
• what I learnt from the activity/strengths or improvements
• how I will use this knowledge going forwards (how I will put into practice/implement the learning)
• any further learning required to enable me to continually grow.

How do I do it?

I map all my content out on my reflective statement master form first. Then I open Blueprint, add a new activity and work through the title, type of learning undertaken, brief description and note the hours the learning took.

In the reflection bit, I copy/paste the reflective statement master I have already completed, tick off the relevant development area and upload supporting evidence to demonstrate this.  Note the dates and remember to press that important SAVE button.

Why do I do it?

In structuring and planning my work this way, I have a consistent methodology that ensures I include all relevant criteria. CPD progression not only develops my own personal growth, but it can also assist with career progression and helps me to demonstrate my competence to support my service.

How often?

Timewise and recording-wise, I try to make sure I add to my portfolio each month. I particularly ensure I do so after any large pieces of work. In fact, I have built the following mechanism into my daily practice.

I view each of my work tasks based on what am I learning from doing this project and, if it can be written up as supporting documentation to demonstrate my professional experience, then I complete my reflective statement. 

Similarly, if I undertake a training course/webinar then I will write this up as soon as possible while the content is fresh in my mind (usually within a day or so). In working this way with a methodical approach, you find that building your CPD and completing those mandatory 30 hours isn’t a chore – it’s something you are already doing in your day-to-day work and doesn’t require additional work.

My advice

If you’ve not started building your CPD portfolio yet, what’s stopping you? By adopting some planning and structure to your approach, as I have demonstrated here, it can become embedded into your work practices. Before you’re aware, you’ve already achieved your mandatory 30 hours of recording without having to try to undertake additional work to complete this. 

Each task you complete in work, each podcast you listen to, each webinar or conference you attend, each article you read in the latest IOSH magazine – add it into a reflective statement form in this manner. Good Luck, you’ve got this!