GDC To Change CPD Requirements?
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- Published: Monday, 03 July 2023 10:22
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1852
The GDC has developed an enthusiasm for commissioning research. Registrants, of course, fund this through their registration fees. Using their website News pages, the Council has recently reported on two new pieces of research that it has commissioned. One relates to the public’s views and experiences of dentistry, and the other considered the enhanced CPD scheme.
This is likely to be preparing the ground for changes in CPD requirements.
After much preparation the GDC introduced their new and improved mandatory CPD scheme in 2018. To differentiate it from the previous scheme it is known as Enhanced CPD. The GDC has now published the research it commissioned which was done by Cardiff University. The Council’s conclusions are set out on the News page.
Registrants should expect changes given the statement that, “while many dental professionals take a positive and proactive approach to their own learning and development, more needs to be done to ensure the full benefits of the Enhanced CPD scheme are realised.”
On a positive note, the GDC say that: “The findings indicate that most dental professionals do not find CPD requirements difficult to achieve and that compliance rates are high.” That a significant degree of confusion about the scheme remains is confirmed by the conclusion that, “further guidance could improve understanding of some key features introduced by the Enhanced CPD scheme, such as Personal Development Plans (PDPs), grace periods at the end of a CPD cycle, and the application of recommended topics.”
Perhaps the best clue to likely changes comes from the GDC’s understanding that, “significant numbers of dental professionals are motivated by their own sense of professionalism and a desire to learn, but the view was not universal. The findings also suggest that some registrants take a more compliance-based approach to CPD, completing the minimum number of verifiable CPD hours, with limited regard for the quality of the activity or relevance to their own learning or development needs.”
The GDC remain committed to PDP’s as, “the centrepiece of the Enhanced CPD scheme” and have concluded that the dental team would benefit from more support in creating and maintaining, suitably tailored and updated PDP’s.
The GDC also will consider adding guidance on how to make CPD activities verifiable, including peer learning. Other likely updates would add emphasis on providing support to team members, as well as the information provided on recommended topics. The support that the GDC has in mind would appear to come from employers and managers, and include consideration of the time needed to complete CPD.
Looking ahead, the GDC say: “We now plan to engage with dental professionals on the value of creating a PDP that meets their own learning and development needs, supports career progression and improvements in the quality of care. It will also build on current guidance so more dental professionals can feel the benefits of a customised PDP.”
The GDC’s conclusions summarise a 60 page paper written by five academics, into about 500 words. As ever with the GDC, the nature of their selection from that paper, and chosen mode of engagement, will reveal their intentions.
Evaluating Enhanced Continuing Professional Development Final Report (gdc-uk.org)
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