What is CPD in social care?

CPD stands for ‘continuing professional development’ and describes learning activities that allow you to develop in your profession. It can involve learning a new skill, improving on a skill you already have, or refreshing/updating your knowledge of a particular subject.

CPD should be considered a continuous process, with a mindset that there is always something new to learn and improve upon. It’s a commitment to ongoing development and not simply a box-ticking exercise to prove that you’ve completed certain training or gained certain qualifications.

Why is CPD important for care managers?

As a care manager, CPD is important for many reasons. Firstly, it enables you to keep up-to-date with changes (e.g. regulatory changes) in the sector, ensuring that your care home/company is always compliant and ready for inspection.

It also allows you to stay informed about new approaches, systems and technologies. This will, in turn, help you to optimise the way you run your business and improve the standard of care being provided. Through CPD, you can equip yourself with the professional knowledge and skills needed to tackle challenges now and in the future.

Moreover, CPD can help you to build on your leadership skills and become a better manager. This will have a positive impact on your staff, improving their wellbeing and boosting retention.

And CPD isn’t just important for you as the manager; it’s equally important for all care staff. With consistent CPD training, you can make sure that your staff are equipped to provide the highest standards of care and excel in their roles. When your staff have learning opportunities and are encouraged to progress through CPD, they should ultimately feel more engaged, fulfilled and motivated at work.

What are some examples of CPD in social care?

CPD can range from formal training to more casual learning activities, such as reading daily news or a relevant book. Most things that keep you informed about the care sector and help you improve the way you do your job can be considered CPD.

Examples of CPD in social care include:

• Training sessions and workshops
• Courses, either in-person or online
• One-to-one coaching/mentoring
• Conferences and other relevant events
• Observation and shadowing
• Webinars
• Podcasts
• Books
• Articles and blogs
• Newsletters
• Discussions with colleagues

What does CQC say about CPD?

In relation to staffing, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, states that: “Staff must receive the support, training, professional development, supervision and appraisals that are necessary for them to carry out their role and responsibilities. They should be supported to obtain further qualifications and provide evidence, where required, to the appropriate regulator to show that they meet the professional standards needed to continue to practise.”

Expanding on this, they say that: “Training, learning and development needs of individual staff members must be carried out at the start of employment and reviewed at appropriate intervals during the course of employment. Staff must be supported to undertake training, learning and development to enable them to fulfil the requirements of their role.”

At Care Managers Show, we offer a programme of free CPD for care managers. Past events have included expert-led sessions on compassionate leadership, having difficult conversations, budget management, apprenticeships and more.