Abstract
In April 2001 the College introduced personal development plans (PDPs) as the mechanism for achieving continuing professional development (CPD) objectives. We moved from an individual, retrospective points counting exercise to a prospective peer-group based activity centring on individuals' learning objectives (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2001). The current CPD policy is due for review in 2005. It is largely in line with General Medical Council guidance, Continuing Professional Development (April 2004) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, CPD: The Ten Principles. A Framework for Continuing Professional Development (February 2002), and major revision will not be necessary. Two significant changes will be incorporated in the new policy. The first is an audit procedure whereby a random 5% of returns will be subject to further scrutiny. This is a process audit and necessary for the quality assurance of the system as a whole (Bouch & Jackson, 2004). The second will allow us to complete up to 10 h of our 50-h minimum requirement for attending meetings, by engaging in online CPD activities.
Highlights
Level 2 objectives relate to being a psychiatrist and include knowledge of the Mental Health Act 1983, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders and leadership of mental health teams
Members who do have difficulty with the CPD programme should contact their CPD regional coordinator who may well be able to help find solutions. Those who have retired from full-time practice might invite someone with a National Health Service (NHS) contract into their peer group or they might consider joining their group with another group so that it is not exclusively retired doctors
In addition to the College role as a CPD provider to affiliates, members and fellows, the College is likely to have an increasing role as a CPD provider to those not directly involved with the College: to the staff grade and associate specialist psychiatrists who have no membership of or affiliation to the College; to other medical practitioners involved in mental health; to non-medical professionals involved in mental health, notably registered mental nurses; and columns columns lastly to a largely unexploited international market
Summary
In April 2001 the College introduced personal development plans (PDPs) as the mechanism for achieving continuing professional development (CPD) objectives. The current CPD policy is due for review in 2005. It is largely in line with General Medical Council guidance, Continuing Professional Development (April 2004) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, CPD: The Ten Principles. The first is an audit procedure whereby a random 5% of returns will be subject to further scrutiny. This is a process audit and necessary for the quality assurance of the system as a whole (Bouch & Jackson, 2004). The second will allow us to complete up to 10 h of our 50-h minimum requirement for attending meetings, by engaging in online CPD activities
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