The General Dental Council (GDC) is seeking registrants’ views on the future of professional learning and development in dentistry.
The regulator claims Shaping the direction of lifelong learning for dental professionals will create a more effective system of CPD.
‘We know a more supportive model of learning can be achieved to provide dental professionals with the information and tools they need,’ GDC head of GDC policy and research, Rebecca Cooper, said.
‘Some dental professionals feel that CPD is little more than a tick box exercise.
‘Our proposals look at how we might move to a system that is flexible and responsive.
‘And where professionals can increasingly take responsibility for their own development, without the need for heavy-handed enforcement.
‘This discussion document represents a significant milestone in achieving this goal.
‘We really want to hear from as many people as possible about where lifelong learning should go from here.’
Meaningful CPD
The GDC hopes this consultation will open the conversation about what meaningful CPD is.
The discussion document is in three parts:
- Part one: a future model for lifelong learning
- This invites comments on a portfolio model and the merits of continuing with set CPD hour requirements
- Part two: CPD practices
- This looks at how professionals can be encouraged to take up more high-value activities
- Part three: informing CPD choices
- Asks about the insights and intelligence dental professionals refer to when selecting learning activities and how these can be improved.
Responses to the GDC’s consultation can be submitted online.
ECPD
Last year the GDC launched Enhanced CPD, its new model of continuing professional development.
Some of the changes ECPD brought included:
- The introduction of a personal development plan (PDP) to help record CPD activity and aid further development
- A change in the number of CPD hours required (100 hours for dentists, 75 hours for hygienists, therapists, clinical technicians and orthodontic therapists and 50 hours for nurses and technicians)
- No longer any need to submit non-verifiable CPD.
‘Under this scheme, individuals will have more personal responsibility in setting and achieving their development goals,’ the GDC said.
‘We believe that dental professionals will embrace this change.
‘We look forward to working with them to develop a system of CPD based on quality rather than quantity, which will bring benefits to them as well as patients.’
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