CPD GUIDE
SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONALS
Adult Social Care
PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT
This document sets out the principle requirements for Adult Social Care Staff to meet their
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs to develop specialist knowledge and improve
practice.
This document has taken information from the main HCPC website. It is important to note that it
is the sole responsibility of the individual Social Worker to maintain an up to date record of
learning and development over the 2 years between re-registrations.
CPD will form an integral part of your supervision and staff members are encouraged to share
their portfolio of evidence with their supervisors as this will help identify key areas of learning for
development. This document provides CPD guidance for:

Social Workers

CCWs
CPD - SOCIAL WORKERS
The HCPC defines CPD as ‘a range of learning activities through which health and care
professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain their
capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice’.
Put simply, CPD is the way professionals continue to learn and develop throughout their careers
so they keep their skills and knowledge up to date and are able to work safely, legally and
effectively.
In order for Social Workers to maintain their registration they must provide evidence that meets
the requirements of the 15 ‘Standards of Proficiency’ (see page 5).
HCPC guidance also stipulates 5 main standards, highlighted below, for compiling evidence to
show how registrants have met the ‘Standards of Proficiency’ if audit is requested.
Standard 1- Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of your CPD activities
Standard 2 - Demonstrate your CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to
current and or future practice
Standard 3 - Seek to ensure that your CPD has contributed to the quality of your practice
Standard 4 - Seek to ensure that your CPD benefits the service user
Standard 5 - Present a written profile containing evidence of your CPD upon request. This
standard is only applicable if you are chosen for audit
Version 1(09 08 2013)
Not protectively marked
RECORDING CPD
You are expected to indicate in your index, the area of activity evidenced:

Work Based Learning (WBL)
o In-Service Training, reflective practice

Professional Activity (PA)
o Mentoring, Professional body involvement

Formal / Educational (FE)
o Courses, conferences, research

Self-Directed Learning (SDL)
o Reading Journals and books, internet research

Other
o Voluntary work, Public Service
EXAMPLE OF A CPD INDEX
The example below includes a column to confirm the PCC behavioural competency satisfied, only
complete this where relevant. This will help you to complete your self-appraisal and may be
referred to as part of supervision.
DATE
Index
No: of
No:
Pages
Evidence Format & Title
HCPC
PCC
Standards of Competency
Proficiency
08/2011
SDL1
10
Research for job Application & Interview
2, 12, 13
03/2012
FE1
4
Moving & Handling
1,2,3,9,11
Training – Evaluation
12,13,14
Framework
AR, DS, SO
& Reflection
08/2012
04/2013
WBL1
PA1
10
8
Case Study – Activity
1,2,3,4,5,8,
AR, AC, C
Analysis &
9,10,11,12,
DS, FC
Reflection
13,14,15
CPD Presentation & Feedback +
Reflection
2,3,5,8,9,
AR, AC, C,
11,12,14
DS, EE, FC,
PO,SO,WO
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE CALLED TO PRESENT YOUR PORTFOLIO?
The following information is a broad overview of what you will be required to provide if HCPC
decide they want to audit your portfolio. Please note that it is the responsibility of the Social
Worker to keep the portfolio up to date on a weekly basis during the period you are registered.
Please refer to HCPC guidelines for a more detailed overview of what is required.
PROFILE STRUCTURE

List of CPD Activities: last 2 years

Summary: 500 words describing your role, responsibilities & specialist areas

Statement: 1,500 words demonstrating how you meet standards 3 & 4 and explaining
how these activities have improved the quality of your work and benefited Service Users

Supporting Evidence: Include the evidence you are referring to in your statement
EVIDENCE

Materials from others: Certificates, testimonies

Materials you have produced: Presentations you’ve given, business plans, service user &
carer information, induction materials for new staff

Materials showing you have reflected on & evaluated your learning & work Personal
development plans, evaluations of courses or conferences you’ve attended
CONFIDENTIALITY
In all aspects of your work you must maintain service user confidentiality. This is part of
your responsibility under our Standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Some of the
information you may want to send the HCPC may contain service user’s details. If this is
the case, please remove any details that could allow them to identify the service users.
AUDIT PROCESS

Notification sent out at same time as renewal notices

Three Months to submit profile - A reminder after two months

If incomplete, 28 days to resubmit completed profile

Assessors may request additional information – 28 days to reply

Assessors may give ‘further time’ – three months to address shortfalls

If registrant does not meet standards, registration not renewed

Decision subject to registration appeals procedures
DEFERRALS

Following a request to submit a profile, you may write and request a deferral.

You will be required to provide a reason (E.g.: maternity leave, long term sick) and
evidence to support your explanation

Where you defer, you will automatically be selected for audit next time.
ADDITIONAL AREAS TO CONSIDER WHEN COMPILING YOUR CPD

CPD Index which is dated and clearly demonstrates learning over previous 2 years

People need to focus on ‘I’, ‘me’, and not ‘our’, ‘us’ or ‘we’

Concise and to the point personal statements which are clear about how each standard has
been met with a piece of evidence to support this.

Client confidentiality

Categorise type of CPD activity linked to HCPC ‘Standards of Proficiency’

Quality not quantity

Ensure pages are numbered and not loose
KEY DOCUMENTS REFERENCED FOR SOCIAL WORKERS:

Plymouth City Council Competency Framework

HCPC Social Workers Standards of Proficiency http://www.hpcuk.org/publications/standards/index.asp?id=569

HCPC Social Workers Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics http://www.hpcuk.org/aboutregistration/standards/standardsofconductperformanceandethics/

College of Social Work, Professional Capability Framework (PCF)

HCPC Mapping of HCPC Standards of Proficiency against the PCF http://www.hpcuk.org/publications/standards/index.asp?id=569

PCC Supervision Policy

Social Work Reform Board – Social Worker Employer Standards and Supervision Framework
http://www.local.gov.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=7e6d2140-fc0e-47cd-8b2f2375812700ad&groupId=10171
CPD - Community Care Workers
It will be considered to be good practice for all CCW’s to keep a record of evidence using the
same Index Sheet used by Social Workers. This will enable the worker and manager to identify
key learning objectives, and ensure the CCW has a framework to identify learning and
development needs.
CCWs are expected to adhere to the GSCC codes of practice until the joint code is developed.
GSCC - Codes of Practice for the Employee
1. As a social care worker, you must protect the rights and promote the interests of service
users and carers.
2. As a social care worker, you must strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of
service users and carers.
3. As a social care worker, you must promote the independence of service users while
protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm.
4. As a social care worker, you must respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure
that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people.
5. As a social care worker, you must uphold public trust and confidence in social care services.
6. As a social care worker, you must be accountable for the quality of your work and take
responsibility for maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills.
KEY DOCUMENTS REFERENCED FOR CCW’s:



PCC Supervision Policy
SKILLS FOR CARE/GSCC Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/developing_skills/GSCCcodesofpractice/GSCC_codes_of_practice.asp
x
Plymouth City Council Competency Framework
15 STANDARDS OF PROFICIENCY
The following table shows the HCPC Standards of Proficiency mapped across to the PCF
(Professional Capability Framework) at ASYE level. They are just as relevant to experienced Social
Workers.
We have added the PCC Competency Framework as a suggestion for staff to see how they can be
cross referenced. If you click on each title you will be taken to the main website pages for more
detail regarding each of the main areas
HCPC STANDARDS OF PROFICIENCY
PROFESSIONAL
CAPABILITY
FRAMEWORK (PCF)
PCC
COMPETENCY
FRAMEWORK
1.
Practice safely and effectively within
their scope of practice
1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 5.7, 5.12, 6.5, 7.4,
7.10, 7.13
AR, AC, PO, SO
2.
Practice within the legal and ethical
boundaries of their profession
1.1, 1.6, 1.11, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4,
2.5, 3.3, 4.2, 4.3, 5.12, 7.3, 7.11,
7.13, 8.2,
DS, EE, SO,
3.
Maintain fitness to practice
1.10, 1.2, 1.4, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10,
SO, DS, FC, SO
4.
Practice as an autonomous
professional, exercising their own
professional judgement
6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 7.2, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6,
7.10, 8.2, 9.1,
AR, PO,
5.
Aware of the impact of culture, equality
and diversity on practice
2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.4, 5.5
EE,
6.
Practice in a non-discriminatory manner 3.2, 4.1,
EE
7.
Maintain confidentiality
2.1, 2.5, 2.6, 7.9,
FC, WO,
8.
Communicate effectively
1.1, 2.4, 2.5, 4.5, 5,12, 7.1, 7.2,
7.3, 8.4, 8.7,
AR, EE, FC, WO,
9.
Work appropriately with others
1.6, 2.4, 2.5, 4.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.12,
7.3, 7.5, 7.7, 7.12, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6,
8.7,
AR, AC, FC
10. Maintain records appropriately
7.8,
PO, SO,
11. Reflect on and review practice
1.3, 6.1, 6.4, 6.5
DS,
12.
Assure the quality of their practice
1.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.10, 7.5, 8.4
AC, DS,
13.
Understand the key concepts of the
knowledge base relevant to their
profession
2.1, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3,
DS, SO, WO,
5.4, 5.5, 5.6,5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 8.1, 8.2,
8.4, 8.5, 8.7,
14.
Draw on appropriate knowledge and
skills to inform practice
5.1, 5.11, 5.10, 6.2, 6.3, 7.2, 7.5,
7.6, 8,1
AR, AC, DS, FC,
SO,
15.
Establish and maintain a safe practice
environment
7.12, 8.2
AR, DS, SO
CPD GUIDANCE TEMPLATES




Appendix 1:
Appendix 2:
Appendix 3:
Appendix 4:
CPD Index
Template – Reflective Log
Template – Critical Incidence Analysis
Occupational Therapists CPD Index
Report author:
Bev Harvey
Learning & Development Officer
Plymouth City Council
Civic Centre
Contact: 01752 305204