F E AT U R E D E N TA L


ENHANCING YOUR DEN I


A new system for CPD was rolled out to dentists in January and here GDC policy manager Jessica Rothnie answers – why the change?


N THE many conversations we had with dental professionals in developing our new enhanced continuing professional development (ECPD) system, we heard a plea for CPD to achieve much more than it has in recent years. This included recognising the importance of professionals driving their own development and learning, and how this responsibility relates to being a professional. We listened to what registrants felt would be a good fit for their developmental needs and applied this to how we formulated ECPD. The new system was rolled out for dentists on 1 January


this year and comes into effect for dental care professionals (DCPs) on 1 August. The experience dentists gain with ECPD between now and then will be incredibly valuable for the wider dental team, so I would really encourage the whole team to work together in the lead-up to the wider launch in August to ensure everyone is ready to embrace the changes.


NOT JUST COUNTING HOURS ECPD introduces the first steps towards a more meaningful approach to professional development – a system that encourages professionals to prioritise the quality and relevance of learning activity rather than simply the number of hours required. It is also a system that works to better support professionals in their development, which focusses on building or maintaining the skills and knowledge required for everyday working lives. Central to the new system is the introduction of the personal development plan (PDP). It’s designed to help professionals think about their current maintenance and development needs and the learning activities they will need to fulfil them. It also aims to provide a framework for professionals to reflect on their learning and how it applies to their work, whilst providing us – the regulator – with the assurance that CPD is being taken seriously and planned effectively by professionals. We know that there are many professionals who already


have a PDP in place, which is great because they’ll be ahead of the game. For everyone else, we have developed a template as a guide. It’s not compulsory to use the template, and for those with PDPs in place there’s no need to start from scratch. The one thing they will need to do though is incorporate the development outcomes, which is a new requirement.


FOCUS ON OUTCOMES Professionals have told us they wanted their learning and development to be linked more closely to our Standards for the dental team and this is what the development outcomes introduce to CPD. They are a way of encouraging professionals to think more widely across the full breadth of what the standards cover, rather than a heavy focus on CPD that may contribute to clinical skills, for example. All ECPD activity must now link each planned and completed activity to at least one development outcome. Below are development outcomes A, B, C, and D and some examples of what kinds of CPD activity might be linked to each. It is strongly encouraged, but not compulsory, to complete CPD linked to each of the outcomes.


14 / MDDUS INSIGHT / Q1 2018


Effective communication with patients, the dental team and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints, and raising concerns when patients are at risk: • Communication skills • Consent • Complaints handling • Raising concerns • Safeguarding.


A


Effective management of self and effective management of others or effective work with others in the dental team, in the interests of patients; providing constructive leadership where appropriate: • Effective practice management


B • Business management


• Team working • Leadership skills.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24