Are you stressing about the CPD deadline?
Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 17 October, 2022
Social workers in England already besieged by casework are grappling with the annual CPD deadline to secure their registration with the national regulator by 30 November.
Since Social Work England introduced the new requirement for peer reflection, effectively doubling the workload, it’s no surprise that when the official submissions period for 2022 was announced, only five per cent of social workers had met the requirements for registration.
A recent paper in the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal points to the fact that although all social workers in England are required to electronically upload CPD annually, "only 2.5 per cent of these CPD records are actually audited by SWE" in what is described as "a major departure from comparable regulators, both nationally and internationally".
The author - Open University social work lecturer Joe Hanley - highlights worries about the impact CPD has on social workers, with "high workloads and poor working conditions" already known to be pressures "negatively impacting CPD."
He adds: "Research also demonstrates that mandated and prescriptive CPD requirements like those introduced by SWE tend to shape organisational cultures around CPD towards performativity, at the expense of reflection and personal development."
This, in turn, says Hanley, leads to a "'box-ticking' culture" that shapes "social workers into compliant and homogenised self-governing subjects".
The fact remains, however, that the deadline for registration is fast approaching, and like it or not, CPD files have to be uploaded to avoid the risk of being unable to practise as a registered social worker.
Social Work England's website has examples of what to record as evidence of activities taken to "maintain continuing professional development" and states: “CPD is a term for the reflection and learning activities that social workers do throughout their career. It should maintain and improve a social worker’s practice.
“Recording CPD is a way for social workers to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. It is also a requirement of being a registered social worker with Social Work England.”
So... what is peer reflection?
Peer reflection simply means you have discussed the content of your CPD activity with a peer, your manager or another professional. You can do this formally, informally, one-to-one or in a group.
You will probably find you already ‘do’ peer reflection regularly. For example, when you have:
- informal conversations with colleagues
- reflective team meetings
- supervision with your manager
To formalise this process for CPD purposes, make sure you talk about:
- what you have learnt from doing the CPD
- the positive impact the CPD activity has had (or will have) on your role, practice and the people you work with.
Be honest about any challenges you’ve faced. This will be easier if you find a safe space in which to look at your practice. But remember, peer reflection doesn’t have to be troubleshooting. It can also help you reflect on what went well, boosting your understanding of good practice.
Who counts as a peer?
- social workers registered in the United Kingdom
- your line manager or supervisor
- another professional you know, for example:
- nurse
- health visitor
- midwife
- doctor
- academic
- schoolteacher
- police officer
- probation officer
- mental health worker
- occupational therapist
- psychiatrist
- psychologist
The most important thing is that your peer has knowledge of your social work practice. Your peer reflection should be done with someone you know in a professional context.
When you record a peer reflection, you should not record the name or other details of who you reflected with. You must anonymise all CPD.
Further tips for completing your CPD
- Social Work England has guidance at its website to help you complete on time
- Online research can yield ideas around opportunities for reflection – swap notes with colleagues about good sources for articles, audio or video content
- Think about an area of practice you need to work on – then go and find the material that will bolster your knowledge in this area and lead to an opportunity for reflection
- Make sure the CPD has been carried out during the current registration year (between 1 December and 30 November) for it to count for registration renewal purposes
The deadline
Social workers must submit their CPD by midnight on 30 November 2022.
If you do not meet the CPD requirements by the end of the registration renewal period (midnight on 30 November) you can no longer practice under the protected title of ‘social worker’ and risk being removed from the register.
Who should record CPD?
The requirement applies to all registered social workers in England, including:
- those not currently working – plus those maternity, paternity, adoption or sick leave
- those in non-caseholding roles – i.e., managers, academics, commissioners
- overseas registrants
The only exception to meeting this year’s deadline is if you have joined the register during the registration renewal period (1 September to 30 November). Students are also exempt, as they are not regulated by Social Work England, but are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the process.
For more information about the registration renewal requirements, you can read the renewals guidance on Social Work England's website.