CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development.
It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work beyond any initial training. It’s a record of what you experience, learn and then apply. This is generally used to mean a physical folder or portfolio documenting your development as professional or a trainee.
(Allen, 2009)The ultimate outcome of well-planned continuing professional development is that it safeguards the public, the employer, the professional and the career. CPD helped me to continue a meaningful contribution to my team, become more effective in the workplace and this assists to advance in the career and move into new positions where we can lead, manage, influence, coach and mentor others. With each role, I gained more responsibility and had the autonomy to make decisions that would directly positively impact my team and role. Through this I realized my strengths and weaknesses and I were able to use my strengths to achieve my goals.
CPD can deliver a deeper understanding of what it means to be a professional along with a greater appreciation of the implications and impacts of the work. This helps the knowledge to stay relevant and up to date. Well-crafted and delivered continuing professional development is important because it delivers benefits to the individual, profession and the public.
