This help folder is a guide to help you create a CPD portfolio that is ready to submit to the HCPC. Pair this with Article 999’s CPD templates for everyone from first aiders/FREC-qualified staff/EMTs through to NQPs and post-NQPs. These are available from this link.

You will need to set up your own free Airtable account. Then, click ‘copy base’ to add the entire template to your own account. You can then click on the tables and add or edit it as you desire.

Those of you following Article 999 in recent months will be aware of the developments in the CPD templates, which are now for everyone from first aiders/FREC/EMT-level staff through to NQPs and post-NQPs.

Previously at v1.5, new updates have just been launched to move these templates on to v1.6. Here is a summary of the key changes.

Previously, you were asked to have a look at a OneNote ‘help file’ (originally called the portfolio). The latest updates to the Airtable templates mean the file in its previous format is no longer needed, so I have copied the majority of the information here for ease. Simply use this for reference to ensure you understand the process, and to check you have everything you need before you submit.

In this help folder, each tab contains referenced guidance on what is required.

How do I use the help folder?

There are 4 numbered sections that each contain advice for you to read: 500 word summary of practice, dated list of CPD activities, 1,500 word supporting statement, and supporting evidence.

These sections form a template that you are encouraged to copy to meet the HCPC audits. You could copy the layout into your own (empty) folder and fill in the pages if you’d like to customise it all, or fill out the sections in your Airtable portfolio.

The second-last tab contains links to the above documents. Use them to review your folder and check that you meet the criteria.

When you are ready to submit, print/export directly from Airtable (choose the ‘save to pdf’ printer option if you don’t need a paper copy), then use Adobe’s free online merger tool.

What if I need help?

That’s absolutely fine. Further information, video guides, and an appointment booker is available from the Article 999 website here: https://article999.co.uk/cpd-templates-for-paramedics-and-nqps/

What if I’m using an older version of the templates?

Please get in touch with a screenshot of your CPD template number or the date you first started using it. I’ll personally update your version to the latest one.

References

This help folder has been produced with reference to the following:

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/guidance/continuing-professional-development-and-your-registration.pdf?v=637106442760000000

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/cpd/how-to-complete-your-cpd-profile.pdf?v=637366426050000000

https://library.myebook.com/MyeBookEM/college-of-paramedics-1/2984/

You are expected to write a 500 word summary of your practice history – i.e. what your role is and what you come across within that role. You can use your official job description for ideas, but think along the lines of:

• Patient groups (ages/health conditions) – it’s worth mentioning who your service users are and who they could be if you intend to change roles. Later, you’ll justify whether your CPD has benefitted your service users (standard 4)
• Type of work (clinical/mentoring)
• Type of skills (clinical/leadership/mentoring)

Want the reference? Want more info?

The above is summarised from: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/cpd/how-to-complete-your-cpd-profile.pdf?v=637366426050000000

Please follow the information on our CPD template page here. You will need to set up your own free Airtable account. Then, click ‘copy base’ to add the entire template to your own account. It is now yours and you can start logging CPD.

This is important:

All of your activities should meet standard 2 – they should be relevant to your current or future practice, and they should be a mix of different types.

No gaps of more than 3 months without an explanation

How much stuff?

• The HCPC do not request a number of hours and do not record CPD points.
• You need to show a continuous record, with unexplained gaps of no more than 3 months, but beyond that there is no requirement for doing a certain amount of CPD.
• As long as you have a combination of CPD activities, some (the ones you specifically mention in your statements) are evidenced, and you meet the HCPC standards, you should have enough content.

If you want clarification/reassurance about what should be in your portfolio, here is some info on how it should look:

How should I display the dated list of CPD activities?

• Use any format you wish for this. This may be a report produced by a CPD app, or your own Excel/Word/Access database.

What content should be in it?

• Date
• Title of activity
• Type of activity
• Tick boxes to show the activity meets standards 3 + 4
• Page number reference for any evidence/attachment
• You may wish to include a comments box or short reflection (what/so what/now what) to explain how each activity meets standards 3 and 4 or what you have gained from doing each activity.
• Reference (optional; if relevant)
• Development goals (optional; you may find it useful to keep a log of how your activities are meeting your own career development goals).
• Time spent on activity (optional; may be useful for you to record)

How long should the supporting statement be?

Up to 1, 500 words.

What’s it about?

The below is summarised from Clarke, 2020 & HCPC, 2017 (references below).

This is a supporting statement that should explain how you have met standards 3 + 4 by completing your CPD activities. Focus on what you have gained from your CPD activities, and on what the service & patients gain from your learning. Focus on 4-5 CPD activities and ensure these are different types. It’s best to use activities that you also have evidence and/or reflections for, then reference or quote from these. Link in your personal development goals as long as they don’t distract from the bold bits above.

Standards 1 and 2 should be mentioned but are met by completing your CPD portfolio properly, as requested by the HCPC.

The statement should also explain how you have met your development goals. These goals should include your ‘learning needs’ (HCPC, 2017). By discussing how you have met these goals (i.e. how have your CPD activities been relevant to your current and future work), you’ll be adding further evidence to Standard 2.

What are the HCPC Standards?

Standard 1 – Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of my CPD activities

Standard 2 – Demonstrate that my CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice

Standard 3 – Seek to ensure that my CPD has contributed to the quality of my practice and service and delivery

Standard 4 – Seek to ensure that my CPD benefits the service user.

Standard 5 – Complete and submit a CPD profile, and evidence of your CPD, when asked

More details, please.

The Article 999 templates are based on advice gained from Vince Clarke’s (2020) guide to a CPD portfolio. Here’s the link: https://library.myebook.com/MyeBookEM/college-of-paramedics-1/2984/.

They are also based on  the HCPC’s guidance to creating a CPD profile (2017). Here’s the link: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/cpd/how-to-complete-your-cpd-profile.pdf?v=637366426050000000

Key Points

• Attach at least 4 pieces of evidence.
  • These are activities you have ‘written about in the profile’ (HCPC, 2017) – i.e. not all activities, but you must include the ones you choose to specify in your statement.
• Evidence types that are suggested include:
  • development plans
  • certificates
  • reflections
  • meeting notes
  • feedback from peers or patients (including compliments, where these are confidential)
• Note that development goals are printed separately from Airtable but do count as part of your evidence.
• You can use the Airtable template to print a contents page of your evidence (all CPD entries that you have attached evidence to).
• To attach your chosen 4 pieces of supporting evidence (I like to call them ‘featured’ evidence), simply print them directly from Airtable:

Details, please

The notes here are summarised from:

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/guidance/continuing-professional-development-and-your-registration.pdf?v=637106442760000000

More details can be found there, including an appendix of a variety of evidence types if you are looking for ideas.

Detailed reflections may be used as evidence – Within the Airtable database, Rolfe et al’s (2001) reflective model is used. But the HCPC don’t prescribe any specific model. You could use any you prefer, including Gibbs or John’s (below).

John’s model:

• Description of the experience
• Reflection
• Influencing factors
• Could I have dealt with it better?
• Learning
• Appendix
• References

Here’s a good pocket book for finding reflective models that might be lesser known but more useful to you:

Those familiar with the OneNote version of this help file will know that file printouts of 2/3 of the below are available there. In this version, I have added the three references as links. I’ll always recommend reading these before submitting your portfolio as evidence to ensure you understand the process and have been thorough in your preparation.

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/guidance/continuing-professional-development-and-your-registration.pdf?v=637106442760000000

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/globalassets/resources/cpd/how-to-complete-your-cpd-profile.pdf?v=637366426050000000

https://library.myebook.com/MyeBookEM/college-of-paramedics-1/2984/

Here is the full video on how to use v1.6 of the CPD templates:

Don’t forget, there is a calendar in the templates as well, which are available for you to check you haven’t left gaps of 3 or more consecutive months without an explanation. The skills calendar is available so that you can check how often you are completing skills.

For more information about the templates, and to book a 1:1 Teams appointment for additional support, please see this page.

If you are just looking for a printing/exporting guide, please click on the next tab.

Printing/Exporting

Here’s a basic list of the order to print and export your CPD portfolio in:

1. The Cover Page
   • Print this using the ‘extensions’ tab on the right-hand-side of the page. Ensure the correct table is selected by clicking the settings button and selecting the chosen table:

Click done, then print, then print again. Set your destination as your chosen printer, or print to pdf. Click save, and save this file in a folder on your computer.

2. The Summary of Practice History

This should be printed using the same tool, above. Select from the settings the correct table (1. Summary of Practice History). Repeat the instructions above.

3. The Dated List of CPD Activities

• There are a few things to print here:
  • The CPD log
  • Evidence List
  • Reflections
  • Skills
• To print the CPD log, select the table, then select the title, and choose print view from the list:

Check the settings show: landscape, actual size, small, and that all other options are turned on. Select print. Choose your printer option – or save to pdf – and print/save. Ensure the ‘headers and footers’ option is turned off in your browser printing settings.

• The evidence list and skills tables prints the same as the above – repeat the instructions
• The reflections table prints using the extension on the right-hand side. Select the settings icon as shown above, then the following:

4. Development Goals, NQP Learning Outcomes, and HCPC Standards of Proficiency print the same way the CPD log, evidence list, and skills do. Repeat those instructions above to print these.

5. The Statement of How I Have Met the Standards prints the same way the reflections, cover page, and Summary of Practice History does. Repeat those instructions to print this, ensuring the correct table is selected in the extensions tab.

To summarise, you should end up with 10 PDFs or printed documents if you are printing/exporting every option available. These should consist of:

• 6 that have been printed using the ‘print view’ option, in which you simply print the same table that you see.
• 4 that have been printed using the ‘extensions’ tab on the right-hand side, in which you print 1 page per entry (1 page per reflection, 1 cover page, 1 page for each statement).

Merging the PDFs

To merge your files, please use your favourite merger tool or https://smallpdf.com/, which is a free website/app for Windows and Mac users. Ignore anything on this site that says you need to sign up for this trial. Press the x to get out of any pop-up that insists on this. Please do the following:

• Upload the files to the merge PDF section, and order them accordingly.
• Download this file
• If you would like page numbers in your file, please use the number pages option in the tool menu. To use this, click on it, upload the merged document, allow it to number pages, then download the new document if you are happy with this.

• If you are not happy with the finished version, click on the edit pdf option to delete any blank pages or re-order accordingly.
• When you are happy, download the final version. Try not to experiment with multiple downloads as smallpdf has a daily download limit.

Electronic Signatures?

• If you are an NQP and you would like electronic signatures for your learning outcomes (and your Trust is happy with this), send the completed document to the person marking your portfolio and ask them to sign in the signature column, in the NQP learning outcomes section, using Adobe Acrobat (free). They can then send this completed version back to you. And voila, we have electronic portfolios!

Prefer to Watch This? Here’s a Video:

If you are exporting your portfolio to PDF, choose to print, then ‘save as PDF’ as your printer type. You will end up with several PDFs that will need to be merged using your preferred tool. I am now recommending the smallpdf website/app. This app also allows you to number PDF pages and edit the final version (delete pages you don’t want, etc) for free. Downloads have a daily limit, so be sure to only download when you’re happy it’s ready.

If you are a NQP who would like electronic signatures on your portfolio, you can then send your portfolio to your mentor/manager and ask them to fill in the signature column using Adobe Acrobat (free). They can then save and email this final version back to you.

Need help or more info, or want to go ahead and get started? Great, head here for the details.