Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
for Therapy Radiographers:
An Economical Solution
Lorraine Whyte
INTRODUCTION
CPD
for Therapy Radiographers
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text
From a historical perspective radiographers were traditionally only
METHODS
involved in statutory CPD activities such as manual handling and CPR, few
were text
involved in CPD projects associated with developing new roles and
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skills, Castle et al (1997). When the Health Professions Council introduced
compulsory CPD in conjunction with registration in 2006 many staff
members remained ambivalent towards the concept of CPD in general.
However, when the audit process began in early 2010 many radiographers
began to worry that they would be chosen for audit and the race to update
and sometimes even produce CPD portfolios began.
RESULTS
Audit
Results
&
Benefits
of
CPD
Workshops
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CONCLUSION
Increased Sharing
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Very beneficial
Beneficial
The Society of Radiographers recommend that CPD should involve several
different types of learning activities. However, the radiographers seemed
to place more value on costly pursuits such as conference attendance,
formal study days, MSc modules etc. and considered them the only
activities worth documenting, whereas other less formal pursuits were less
valued, and therefore had less importance attached to them. However, in
times of financial restraint the value of less costly alternatives had to be
explored.
Studies have shown that less formal CPD is of great value, however it is
often not recognised, valued, or indeed documented. Henwood, et al (2004)
stressed the importance of recording all types of CPD and recognising the
value and indeed the importance of what most radiographers class as less
formal CPD activities. Barriers to recording CPD were also identified and
came in many forms but those causing the greatest issues were poor
staffing levels and lack of employer support. With the introduction of the
HPC audit and the increasing stress of compulsory CPD these issues had to
be addressed as soon as possible.
Quite beneficial
Not beneficial
Enhanced Knowledge/Understanding of Topics
Very beneficial
Beneficial
Quite beneficial
This could have been done in a variety of ways, e.g. protected study time
which is very difficult and costly to implement in a radiotherapy
department as the patient must always come first. However other AHP’s e.g.
physiotherapists already had this mechanism in place and there must be
parity amongst all AHP groups regardless of workload.
CPD is essential to the future of our profession. If we fail to develop, as
individuals and collectively, we will fall behind and the survival of our
profession will be in jeopardy. The last decade has seen radiographers
moving into areas of clinical practice and achieving academic standing
which would have once been unimaginable. Role extension is now
accepted and commonplace. (4 tier structure etc).
of Ideas and Practice
Not beneficial
Rate the quality of the CPD presentations
The Solution
Excellent
A series of in-house CPD workshops are planned and delivered during the
work day in quick half hour sessions so that as many staff as possible can
attend. Guest speakers are invited to talk on a variety of subjects, and the
radiographers are encouraged to present their own materials and suggest
topics for further study. Reflection is encouraged and all activities are
documented and feedback encouraged. These workshops have also been
successfully rolled out to support staff.
Good
Fair
Poor
An audit was carried out to determine the success and popularity of the
programme, and also to improve the service provided.
Benefits to the Department
Conclusion
● Increased staff motivation
● Cost effective solution to CPD needs and requirements
● Encourages recruitment & retention
● Department prestige
● Good preparation for e-KSF and HPC registration requirements
● Specific educational projects aimed at supporting radiotherapy staff
● Provision of leading-edge learning, education, and skills development
● Educational support to help staff work together for the benefit of patients
● Promotion of best practice in education, training, and lifelong learning
● Maintains high educational standards
● Provides a range of educational materials and assesses training needs
● Promotes the development of skills throughout the department
● Positively enhances the quality of the clinical learning environment
● Active educational support for health care support workers
●Ensures the capacity to practice safely, effectively, and legally
This series of in-house CPD workshops have provided managers with a cost
effective solution to the issue of protected study time and compulsory CPD for
therapy radiographers. They have resulted in the provision of robust, high
quality educational activities for radiographers and offer active educational
support to radiotherapy support staff. Above all, they ensure that
radiographers have the capacity to practice safely, effectively, and legally and
help staff to work together for the benefit of the patients.
References
CASTLE, A., ADRIAN-HARRIS, D., HOLLOWAY, D.G., & RACE, A.J., (1997)
Continuing professional development for radiographers, Radiography, 253263.
HENWOOD, S.M., YIELDER, J., & FLINTON, D., (2004) Radiographers
attitudes to mandatory CPD: a comparative study in the United Kingdom
and New Zealand, Radiography, 251-258.