Article

Supporting staff through continuing professional development

Find information and guidance about how employers can help registered professionals with their career development.

5 June 2025

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the term used to describe the learning activities professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities. CPD is a holistic approach towards the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout a professional’s career.

Engaging in CPD activities ensures that both academic and practical qualifications do not become outdated or obsolete, and allows for individuals to continually upskill or re-skill themselves regardless of their occupation, age or educational level.

For healthcare professionals, this is vital so that they can continue to practise safely and effectively, and provide the best care and treatment for their service users.

What does CPD involve?

CPD combines different methodologies to learning, which includes training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and events, webinars and online eLearning programs. CPD can also include sharing best practice techniques, thoughts and ideas, all focused towards an individual improving within the work environment.

Why is it relevant for employers?

When a healthcare professional registers with a professional body, such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), they become accountable and are expected to be autonomous with a responsibility to uphold the standards set by that organisation. CPD is a core part of the Good Public Health Practice Framework and a requirement of many professional bodies for revalidation.

It is therefore crucial that employers provide support, supervision and guidance for CPD, as well as encouraging participation and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Employees need to be made aware of CPD requirements, be offered the time and resources for development, and be helped to maintain records of their learning.

Who else can offer support with CPD?

Research shows that there are disparities and inequalities in accessing learning opportunities across professions and professional settings. As a regulator, the HCPC has acknowledged this and has put resources together to help registrants and employers understand and bridge access gaps. There is a dedicated CPD guidance section for employers on its website.

In March 2025, the HCPC held its first ever CPD Week, an entirely virtual event, which encouraged its registrants and employers to participate in and learn about all things CPD-related. The campaign provided an opportunity to showcase resources and good practice cases to help improve their knowledge and understanding of CPD. This prompted a 700 per cent rise in interactions across social media and 10,000 sign-ups to a live webinar.

Other professional bodies also offer online support. See further links and resources at the end of this page for more information.

Good practice example: CPD for allied health professional roles

An example of employer-supported development in the NHS is a preceptorship programme created by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, specifically for newly registered allied health professionals (AHPs).

Preceptorship can be defined as a period of structured transition for the newly registered practitioner, during which time they are supported by a preceptor with their development. Those who are entering employment for the first time and are registered with the HCPC are eligible to join the organisation’s programme (as well as those who have not yet completed a formal preceptorship programme). There is a wide range of professions that are eligible. Participants can attend regular meetings and support groups to share learning and network with other newly qualified AHPs. Band 5 roles can also access a portfolio with AHP specific competencies which are linked to the HCPC standards.

To find out more watch the recording, or take a look at the trust's website.