Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
Position Paper
Continuing Professional Development
March 2006 Amended March 2014
IRISH SOCIETY OF CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
POSITION STATEMENT ON CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Purpose of the Position statement
The aim of this position statement is
- to inform relevant stakeholders of the role of the Irish Society of Chartered
Physiotherapists (ISCP) in the continuing professional development (CPD) of
its members
- to outline the need for CPD from a professional standards and patient safety
perspective
- to provide the background to the development of a CPD policy within the
ISCP
- to outline the process involved.
Stakeholders
This position statement is of relevance but not mutually exclusive to the following –
ISCP members; member organisations of the World Confederation of Physical
Therapy (WCPT); other professional organisations; government policy makers such
as the Department of Health and Children; health service authorities such as the
Health Services Executive; and members of the public
Definition of CPD
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an umbrella term for life long
learning which enables professional and personal development which begins at
undergraduate level. It can be viewed as a process, which includes all activities that
provide opportunities for the development of the individual physiotherapist and the
profession as a whole. It is dependant on the individual’s ability to critically evaluate
and review their work through clinical reasoning and reflection (Cooney and Blake,
2000).
ISCP Policy on CPD
The minimum recommended requirement is for 100 credit points over a 3 year period,
where 1 point is awarded for each hour spent in learning activity.
- A balance between formal and informal CPD should be sought, with no less
than 30 points being accrued in either category.
- A maximum of 10 points should be allowed for uncertifiable personal learning
over the 3 year cycle.
Chartered Physiotherapists are autonomous practitioners and are therefore responsible
for monitoring their own CPD needs and activity. CPD should be relevant to the
environment and context in which they work.
Background
In 1996, the ISCP developed a strategic plan which set out a mission statement for the
Society and highlighted key areas for development. In 1998, a number of working
parties were established to implement the core elements identified by the Strategic
Plan. One such working party was the CPD working party, which was concerned with
issues relating to Continuing Professional Development. This working party made
recommendations concerning how these objectives might be achieved resulting in a
submission to Council in May, 1998.
A further two Working Parties were convened in 2001 and 2002 with the objectives of
educating members about the concept of CPD, developing a policy on CPD within the
ISCP, developing a system for recording CPD, formulating and implementing a
process of CPD for ISCP members in anticipation of a mandatory CPD framework
within the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill (2004).
CPD and Professionalism
The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) recognises that individual
participation in CPD is an integral part of the Chartered Physiotherapist role
The responsibility for CPD lies with each ISCP member as described below
 Rules of Professional Conduct (1995)
Rule 2.2 ‘To ensure the best standards of care, the Chartered Physiotherapist must
keep himself/herself informed of developments in the profession.
Rule 4.1 ‘Chartered Physiotherapists shall co-operate with one another to maintain
and enhance the standards of the profession.’
Rule 4.3 ‘Whenever possible, Chartered Physiotherapists shall support and
participate in research to improve standards of care’

WCPT Declarations of Principle and Position Statements (1995)
"Lifelong learning and professional development is the hallmark of a competent
physiotherapist”

WCPT European Core Standards of Practice (2000), adopted by ISCP, 2002
Standard 19:
The physiotherapist assesses his/her learning needs.
Standard 20:
The physiotherapist plans his/her CPD/LLL
Standard 21:
The CPD / LLL plan is implemented
Standard 22:
The physiotherapist evaluates the benefit of their CPD/LLL
Although CPD is not mandatory within the recently published Health and Social Care
Professionals Bill (2004), the ISCP recognises the critical role that CPD has in
ensuring protection of the public. Therefore, ISCP expects its members to maintain
standards of excellence in all aspects of physiotherapy practice and to engage in
professional development activities
The Life-long Continuing Professional Development Process
Continuing professional development includes those activities that occur in a formal
situation such as attendance at courses as well as informal learning activities through
experience which occurs during day to day practice. Self evaluation and reflection are
key concepts in the CPD process, allowing members to monitor progress and map out
development of a career path.
ISCP recognises the following CPD activities such as those outlined below. This list
is not exhaustive
1
Formal Activities such as relevant courses, conferences, workshops, Clinical
Interest Group (CIG) events, scientific meetings, formal post-graduate
2
courses, mandatory health and safety training such as cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, manual handling, fire safety etc.
Informal Activities such as in-service training, journal clubs, multidisciplinary
education at workplace, teaching, development of policy documents, preparing
lectures, in-service training, student education, supervision, research,
mentoring, performance appraisal, service development, presentations,
posters, professional body committee work, organisation of professional
events, reviewing books, journals, grants applications, preparing medico-legal
reports, acting as expert witness, reflection, internet searching, personal
research for example books, journals, video, DVD, CD-Rom etc.
Implementation Process
In 2003, the Council of the ISCP approved the adoption of a mandatory 3-year CPD
cycle to commence in July 2005. This policy was developed following a consultative
process with members, the keystone of which was a policy development workshop in
Portlaoise in 2003. Representatives of ISCP Branches, Employment Groups and
Clinical Interest Groups, and other ISCP members who responded to the open
invitation published in the ISCP ‘Firsthand’ newsletter attended this workshop.
All members will be requested to confirm their compliance with the above CPD
policy at renewal for the current CPD cycle.
References
Cooney M and Blake C (2000). Continuing Professional Development, Physiotherapy
Ireland, 21, (1), 9-10.
Cooney M and Blake C (2000). The professional development portfolio-a record of
lifelong learning, Physiotherapy Ireland, 21 (2), 14-15.
Approved
For Review
Other Documents
superseded by this
one
Access to Document
Location of
Document
Related Documents
March 2014
Position Paper - Continuing Professional Development March 2006
Amended 2014
All members
Inventory of Documents
o Rules of Professional Conduct incorporating the Code of Ethics
and Guidelines for Professional Behaviour