GDC seeks views on future development of CPD

THE short and long-term future of professional learning and development in dentistry is the subject of a new discussion document on which the GDC is seeking views.

The publication is part of an ongoing initiative to develop a more effective system of dental CPD, which began with the 2017 publication Shifting the balance and the introduction of the Enhanced CPD scheme in 2018. The GDC has continued to gather further information and evidence through stakeholder feedback, a systematic literature review on CPD and through workshops with professional associations, educators and other regulators which took place earlier this year.

With this new document – Shaping the direction of lifelong learning for dental professionals – the GDC is "opening a conversation about what meaningful CPD is, how it can be achieved, and what the obstacles might be that prevent dental professionals from accessing and undertaking it".

Head of GDC Policy and Research, Rebecca Cooper, said: "While Enhanced CPD made some good progress towards increasing professional ownership of CPD and placing greater emphasis on reflection and planning, we know a more supportive model of learning can be achieved to provide dental professionals with the information and tools they need to meet and maintain high professional standards and quality patient care.

"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 for the full range of dental professionals 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 and we really want to hear from as many people as possible about where lifelong learning should go from here."

Responses and views can be submitted via an online survey on the GDC website. The survey will close on 3 October.