Lifelong learning is an important component of physiotherapy with continual professional development (CPD) being emphasised as a mandatory component of CSP membership (1,2). Therefore, this has been a component I have considered throughout the course in order to make myself a better physiotherapist for the future. I have regularly assessed my own personal learning and development needs and preferences in order to direct my learning in a direction that best suits me (1). This is evidenced in my PDP: SWOT Analysis where I have considered my strength, areas of development, opportunities and threats, in addition to reflection on the learning processes I have utilised which best suits my learning styles (evidenced – PDP: Learning Preferences) to find strategies that I will obtain the most value from (1). I alluded that online interactive courses and practical methods are constructs I learn well from, which is why I sought to utilise in-service training on manual therapies for practical application (evidenced – In-Service Training) and online interactive courses (evidenced – Personal Development Course), which are suggestive that I am elements of a visual and kinaesthetic learner to get the most out of learning opportunities. These are relative to my new job in MSK outpatients and an inpatient orthopaedic ward to assure the quality of practice I deliver (3) in order to target my CPD relative to my new job post.

I found that for myself to have a clear plan of what I wanted to achieve, I needed to develop and document the process of a personal development plan (evidenced – PDP: Plan) (1). A personal development plan is a useful tool for planning, reviewing and development of knowledge and skills and has been deemed integral by the CSP for systematic career development (4), something I wish to achieve. I believe my PDP: Plan demonstrates an ability to develop a personalised plan to meet the needs of my aforementioned PDP: SWOT Analysis through adequate correlation with the areas of development on my PDP: SWOT Analysis and my PDP: Plan which is how I shall begin to address these areas. Furthermore, I believe I have been engaging with personalised plan in order to meet the needs of my PDP: Plan, this has come in the shape of completing CDP through the use of online resources such as PDF’s on differential pathologies (evidenced – CPD: PDF) which was a concept I stated was an area of development (evidenced – CPD: SWOT Analysis), in addition to the use of online webinars on orthopaedic case studies (evidenced -  Orthopaedic Webinar) to further develop my areas of improvement, demonstrating an engagement in the personalised plan designed and developed to meet  my own needs and preferences, seeking to continuously improve (1,5). 

This has opened my eyes that it is important to continue assessing myself and strive to work on areas to continuously improve. Therefore, I shall continue to utilise techniques such as self reflection, SWOT analysis and personal development plans around my personal learning and development needs throughout my career (1). Aforementioned, I have highlighted that I am a visual and kinaesthetic learner, therefore, I shall continue to use online courses, practical learning opportunities such as in-service training and learning whilst on the job. 

Reference List

1. Physiotherapy CS of. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Framework [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 23]. Available from: http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/careers-development/cpd/csp-eportfolio/my-eportfolio/cpd-
2. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy [CSP] CSP Education Position Statement: Continuing Professional Development [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jun 9]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-outcomes-framework-for-healthcare-
3. Council H and CP. Physiotherapists | The Standards of Proficiency For Physiotherapists [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 24]. Available from: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/physiotherapists/
4. Row B. The Personal Development Plan (PDP) as part of the Development Review Process THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jun 9]. Available from: www.csp.org.uk
5. Charted Society of Physiotherapy. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy xx Professional Values of Members’ Code and Behaviour 2 Code of Members’ Professional Values and Behaviours [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Apr 9]. Available from: https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/csp_code_of_professional_values_behaviour_full.pdf