Continuing professional development

Continuing professional development (CPD) funding for allied health professionals (AHPs), nurses and nursing associates is now available, to those employed by GP practices or Primary Care Networks across Thames Valley and Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW).

CPD requirements

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

What is CPD?

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

It should support your professional and career development, clinical / managerial practice, whilst aligning to patient population health data and the needs of the service. CPD helps improve the safety and quality of care provided for patients and the public.

Historically CPD funding has equated to a share of approximately £1,000 per learner, to cover three years.

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

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

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

Personalised care roles, pharmacists and physician associates have other funding streams to access training and development, so are not eligible for this CPD funding.

Funded CPD courses

Frimley continuing professional development

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

Free CPD resources

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:

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.

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.

Receive updates from us

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