The deadline for all registered social workers to apply to renew registration and submit their continuing professional development (CPD) record is 30 November.
CPD can range from attending a learning event to reflecting on a piece of research or listening to a podcast – anything that has had a positive impact upon your practice.
What do you need to do?
To continue to practice, you need to complete a renewal application online and submit at least two pieces of CPD to your Social Work England record. At least one piece of CPD should include peer reflection that describes what you have learnt from discussing your development with a colleague.
When completing the record it is important to align reflections with Social Work England’s professional standard relating to CPD. Our video provides guidance on how to record CPD on the Research in Practice website. The updated guide to CPD includes the requirements and practical tips for recording CPD.
Listen to a short audio clip where Kate Metcalf, Regional Engagement Lead at Social Work England, talks about the 'golden rules' of CPD.
CPD recording, registration and regulation
Research in Practice has released open access blogs, podcasts and guidance to support renewal - all available on our dedicated page. The resources and information aim to support social workers with CPD.
Social workers need to record and submit at least two pieces of CPD to their online Social Work England account. On the form, there is a series of guiding questions to support your reflection. You will need to answer:
- The type of CPD you are reflecting on
- A short description of the activity and why it is relevent to you
- The date
- What you learnt from doing the activity
- The positive impact that the activity has had (or will have) on your practice and the people you work with
- In at least one of the pieces you will also need to describe what you have learnt from discussing the activity with a peer.
Anyone with a Research in Practice account can keep a record of their ongoing learning.
You can reflect and record your thoughts using the CPD button on each page. Our video provides step-by-step guidance on how to record CPD on the Research in Practice website.
At least one of the pieces of CPD should include peer reflection. Social workers need to describe what they have learnt from discussing CPD with another professional. This could be:
- informal conversations with colleagues in the office
- supervision with a manager
- group supervision
- reflective team meetings
- discussion groups as part of an event.
Social workers should reflect on the impact that this conversation has had on their practice. It should be about the CPD activity they have described in the rest of the form, and all peer reflection should be anonymised.
A Research in Practice blog outlines key information on peer reflection to support social workers.
Our learning resources enable you to make evidence-informed decisions and continue to develop in your role.
The Research in Practice Guide to continuing professional development (CPD) for social workers, and accompanying learning resources, will enable you to make evidence-informed decisions and continue to develop in your role.
In this podcast Kate Metcalf from Social Work England, talks about the role of reflection in learning, writing an effective CPD record, and upcoming projects.
The podcast examines:
- The purpose of recording CPD with Social Work England; providing assurance to citizens, recognising the level of responsibility within the social work role, and promoting reflection.
- The principles of writing an effective CPD record, including the value of reflecting on learning the role of peer reflection, and the support organisations can provide to social workers.
- The priorities for Social Work England over the next three years.
Evidence-informed practice and CPD
All Research in Practice learning resources enable you to make evidence-informed decisions and support you to continue to develop in your role. These resources explore using evidence-informed practice for CPD.
Reading and interpreting case law is an important part of social work practice, but it can often be time consuming and at times difficult to understand. Our Case Law and Legal Summaries can be used to support practice, decision making and your CPD.
Link Officer Lisa Wallis outlines some of the ways she and her colleagues use Research in Practice to embed evidence-informed practice across adult social services in Southampton City Council.
Lisa Gilleade-Smith, Recruitment and Academy Practice Improvement Manager for Adult Social Care and Link Officer at Lancashire County Council, outlines some of the ways she and her colleagues use Research in Practice across the organisation.
