Continuing Fitness to Practise
As of 2018, pharmacy professionals will need to adjust to the future requirements of CFtP. Currently a number of pilots are being undertaken and CPD will make up a key part of the GPhC's Continuing Fitness to Practise Framework. The GPhC's pilot involves 1,000 volunteers (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) and the data is to be collated in January 2017 with a consultation proposed for 2017/18. It is likely that registrants will need to do the following:
- Complete an annual renewal (as currently)
- Undertake and record CPD (there may be changes to what currently exists)
- Record a peer discussion (although this is being explored for impact and feasibility)
- Record a case study on a change to practice for the benefit to patients or service users (again this is being explored for impact and feasibility).
Top tips
- Don't make it too complicated €“ break it into manageable, bite-sized chunks
- Start as many CPD cycles as possible at the 'reflection' stage of the cycle, and embed reflective practice into your everyday work
- Think about what you want to achieve and identify how to do this
- Use SMART objectivesRecord it €“ if you don't, it didn't happen
- Embrace CPD €“ it's here to stay.
Reflective exercise
- Have you listed the CPD you've done since your last submission to the regulator?
- How many entries have you got and are these relevant to your area of practice?
- Do you need to break these down into further SMART entries?
- How about moving from being reactive to proactive, planning your future CPD and linking it into your personal development plan?