Continuing professional development

What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?

Continuing Professional Development refers to the ongoing process by which health care professionals maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, skills and competence throughout their careers. 

It is both a registered professional requirement, and a career development tool, ensuring staff can deliver safe, effective and up-to-date person-centred care, aligning with health population needs.

CPD can include the following:

  • Formal education – for example, attending accredited and non-accredited courses, conferences, webinars, online learning and training modules and carrying out research
  • Professional activity – for example, being involved with a professional body or giving a presentation at a conference
  • Self-directed learning – for example, reading articles or books
  • Work-based learning – for example, reflecting on experiences at work, considering feedback from service users/students, shadowing or being shadowed or being a member of a committee

All healthcare professionals have a responsibility to identify their CPD needs, and work with their employer to plan how those needs could be met.

CPD funding is available for formal education (as described above) and equates to approximately £1,000 per learner, over a three-year period.

Please note, mandatory training does not contribute to CPD training hours, unless the training relates to your area of speciality.

CPD requirements

AHPs and nurses should refer to the following professional standards for more information on their CPD requirements:

– Advanced practitioners
– Dieticians
– First contact practitioners
– General Practice nurses (including specialist roles)
– Nursing associates
– Occupational therapists
– Paramedics
– Physiotherapists
– Podiatrists

Personalised care roles, Health Care Support Workers, General Practitioners, Pharmacists and Physician Assistants are not eligible for this CPD funding and should discuss funding opportunities with their employer.

Free CPD resources

ELearning for Health (e-LFH) modules:

Asthma (Adults) – elearning for healthcare
Asthma (Children and young people) – elearning for healthcare
Empowering patients to manage chronic breathlessness – elearning for healthcare

Asthma + Lung UK HCP hub (A+LUK are a well known charity and have this new HCP information hub):
Healthcare professionals | Asthma + Lung UK
 
National centre for smoking cessation and training:
NCSCT e-learning
 
Primary care respiratory society free webinars (PCRS have excellent resources, and are a reputable organisation)
Webinars and videos | Primary Care Respiratory Society
 
British Thoracic society also have free webinars: 
BTS Webinars

FutureLearn

FutureLearn offers a diverse selection of free courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life.

Subscriptions provide access to enhanced access to additional services. There are a number of health and care courses including:

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ecg-assessment

This free online course will equip you with an introductory understanding of ECG assessment and interpretation, which will support the further hands-on training that is needed to competently perform the ECG test in clinical practice.

Nescot College

Over 19’s may be able to study part time for Level 2 qualifications through Nescot College’s distance learning, for free.

This is subject to age and residency eligibility criteria and subject to course completion. Courses vary but most do not have formal entry requirements. Level 2 certification is awarded by NFCE who are nationally accredited awarding body.

Some examples of relevant courses include:

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Level of study: Level 2

Link: https://www.nescot.ac.uk/part-time-and-adults/healthcare/courses/mental-health-awareness-level2-distance-learning-n3thb2434/

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Level of study: Level 2

Link: https://www.nescot.ac.uk/part-time-and-adults/healthcare/courses/diploma-in-care-level2-distance-learning-n3tny2434/

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Level of study: Level 2

Link: https://www.nescot.ac.uk/part-time-and-adults/healthcare/courses/principles-of-dementia-care-level2-distance-learning-n3tig2434/

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Level of study: Level 2

Link: https://www.nescot.ac.uk/part-time-and-adults/healthcare/courses/understanding-autism-level2-distance-learning-n3tkn2434/

Dates: on demand

Delivery method: virtual

Level of study: Level 2

Link: https://www.nescot.ac.uk/part-time-and-adults/healthcare/courses/diabetes-management-level2-distance-learning-n3tiq2434/

OpenLearn

The Open University digital learning platform OpenLearn offers over 1000 courses on a  wide range of topics, including health and social care. The courses always focus on a specific area of learning. Some concentrate on academic subjects, whilst others help you develop skills needed for study or work.

These courses are available on demand, and you can work towards a certificate of participation.

Funded CPD courses

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West continuing professional development

Frimley continuing professional development

Please visit the Frimley Training Hub website for details on their full CPD funding offer.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight continuing professional development

Disclaimer

Please note the information on this page is intended to signpost to and support professional development, unless stated otherwise it does not constitute an endorsement from NHS England.

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We are continually updating our CPD offer, so please refer back to this webpage or sign up to our mailing list.