The window for all registered social workers to apply to renew their registration and submit their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record is open.
It is recommended that you take the time to complete and update your record throughout the year, which you are able to save on the Research in Practice website.
However in order to continue to practice you must submit at least two pieces of CPD to your Social Work England record ahead of the deadline on 30 November.
Research in Practice has a dedicated CPD page to support you in your renewal. This includes video guidance on saving reflections to the Research in Practice website, a Practice Guide for social workers completing their CPD record and podcasts with Social Work England.
Watch our short video to hear Kate Metcalf from Social Work England talk about the ‘golden rules’ of CPD.
Recording your CPD on the Research in Practice website
Anyone with a Research in Practice account is able to keep a record of their CPD. You can reflect and record your thoughts using the CPD button on each page, as well as bookmarking and sharing resources with colleagues. Review your reflections in ‘Your CPD’, which you can use to help you when recording your CPD on the Social Work England website.
Our video provides a short overview of how you can record your CPD on our website.
When completing your record it is important to align your reflections with Social Work England’s professional standard relating to CPD (standard 4).
Social workers now need to record and submit at least two pieces of CPD on their online Social Work England account.
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 a peer.
This could be:
- an informal discussion with a colleague
- reflective team meetings or group supervision
- supervision with a manager
- taking part in a breakout room or discussion during training or at a conference.
Social workers should reflect on how this conversation has impacted 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.
Record and submit pieces of CPD on the Social Work England website. 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
- 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.
