I recently gave some evidence before the Joint Standing committee about CPD.
I think that CPD serves a number of important functions which include the following:
1. Keeping practitioners abreast of current developments
2. Maintaining contact with colleagues and other practitioners and encouraging the exchange of views on the scope and intent of the statutory scheme.
3. Encouraging practitioners to ask questions about practical problems and issues arising in their practice.
4. CPD as an aid to the development of practical skills to analyse and resolve problems as and when they arise.
5. The fostering of a sense of "community" within the RMA profession.
6. To create a process of thought which questions the status quo and the orthodox viewpoint and thus avoid the 'group think' default position when managing a case.
7. To foster and encourage the development of professional skills underpinning the practice of the individual RMA with a view to expanding on the range and complexity of the matters undertaken.
8. To create a professional pathway offering practical and timely professional assistance from other colleagues.
9. To develop skills of analysis and strategic planning in the provision of advice.
10. To encourage practitioners to engage with their clients in a manner consistent with their ethical and professional obligations arising under the Code of Conduct.
My experience tells that CPD is a powerful tool to shape thinking, compliance and strategy through an interactive process of analysis and response in an environment which gives permission to practitioners to be either wrong or incorrect, without there being any criticism or judgement.
That interactive teaching method produces, as a general rule, clear thinkers who can express themselves well and who inevitably produce better quality work for their clients. This enhances client outcomes as well as supporting individual practitioners in the development of their practice and the development of the profession overall.
The didactic, death by powerpoint approach is useful for some learning styles but overall a mixing of teaching methods reaches a greater number of practitioners who come from diverse learning experiences and cultures.
The ongoing support of RMA practitioners post CPD and without further charge or 'judgement' enhances the CPD experience and reinforces the lessons learnt by the individual RMA into the future. That produces better practitioners with broader and deeper skills which enhances the reputation of the profession overall.