The College of Optometrists has today announced plans to develop a voluntary Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme to promote professional and personal development amongst its Members and the wider optometric community. A working group is being established to develop the framework and the content of the Scheme. The College will encourage key stakeholders to input into the development of the Scheme.
CPD is a life-long learning process. All professionals involved in clinical services to the public have a duty to ensure that they keep abreast of current developments in their field and that over the period of their career they continue to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. The College CPD Scheme will offer a place for optometrists to manage their ongoing development and record the CPD which they have undertaken, as well as offering support and guidance in this area. The aim is to build a system which will be flexible enough to allow easy reporting for a number of frameworks, such as various employer appraisal systems and legislative requirements, without duplicate effort.
Rob Hogan, President of the College added:
“CPD is about maintaining, improving and broadening knowledge and skills. It is something which most optometrists undertake every day without realising they are doing so. Any learning activity which an optometrist can demonstrate improves their professional knowledge and practice could potentially be classed as CPD. CPD is important for all health professionals in providing a continued acceptable standard of care thus assuring the safety of the public. ”
The College’s new CPD Scheme will build upon the current CET Scheme run by the GOC, enabling optometrists to take a more effective and proactive approach to their professional and personal development beyond the current entry level required for re-registration, thus overcoming the limitations of the current scheme. With revalidation just around the corner, the new CPD programme will enable the optometrist to demonstrate evidence of further knowledge and skills. A pilot Scheme will be introduced during summer 2009.