New CPD requirements for Social Workers in England
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the way in which registration Social Workers continue to learn and advance throughout their careers so they keep skills and knowledge up to date and thus are able to practice their profession safely and effectively.
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Meeting the requirement for CPD is one element of maintaining your registration with Social Work England and from December 2021, he criteria for CPD is set to change. As it stands, registered professionals are expected to record at least one piece of CPD by November 30th every year which is uploaded to their online account with Social Work England. And it's not just about attending training courses or additional seminars, it's about absorbing learning and development to improve their practice and to demonstrate to their regulator, the public and their employer that they uphold those professional standards. This can include:
- Training
- Webinars
- Supervision
- Reading an article
- Listening to a podcast
- Peer review
- Asking for feedback
- Reflecting on experiences at work
- Having a discussion with a colleague or peer
- Learning about current issues in society/politics
And a typical CPD profile for a Social Worker has four components
- A list of CPD activities
- Summary of recent work
- Statement of how the standards have been met
- Supporting evidence
Registration year starts in December and Social Workers carry out their CPD throughout the year and confirm at the time of renewal that they've met the CPD requirement and confirm this with SWE. A compliance check is then done to make sure CPD has been recorded and 2.5% of those will be selected for a review. Social workers will then be notified of the outcome.
What is the change and when will it come in to effect?
As previously stated, the change in CPD will be effective from December 2021 when registrations are renewed and will now mean that Social Workers must submit at least two pieces of continuing professional development in order to be able to renew the following year and to continue to practice their profession.
View the CPD Support Page for links to useful information and more information on requirements
If you cannot find the info you need or need specific advise contact the CPD advice team here
Click here to see a number of our available positions for qualified Social Workers. Can't find what you're looking for? Call a member of our dedicated Social Care team on 01473 939670 who will happily connect you with your ideal role.
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