Registration Requirements

28TH MARCH 2019

CORU are currently undertaking a review of the current CPD Standard and Requirements, specifically the enforcement process as was communicated to registrants in July 2017. This review has been completed and an internal consultation process with Registration Boards commenced. When this has been considered by the Social Workers Registration Board consultation will take place with stakeholders. It is envisaged that this may be in the summer of  2019, although this will be dependent on adoption of the new approach. As yet, there is not a definitive date for this. 

CORU have had the benefit of learnings arising from two CPD audits conducted by the Social Workers Registration Board and the Radiographers Registration Board. One of the key learnings and advices given to registrants is to ensure that information is redacted, as appropriate in line with confidentiality and GDPR requirements.

It was advised that CPD records should be kept in perpetuity, as they may provide evidence in the event of a complaint.

CHANGES TO SWRB CPD STANDARD & REQUIREMENTS FROM 31ST MAY 2017

Further changes have been made to the CPD Standard and Requirements for Social Workers. IASW members can download the revised SWRB CPD Standard and Requirements for Social Workers document and CPD Portfolio template from the IASW CPD Resources section.

The key changes have been summarised by CORU as follows:

Time-period for CPD
The CPD Standard and Requirements are no longer specified in defined cycles. Instead, the requirements are articulated for a 12-month period. Registrants can start this 12-month period from: 

• 31 May 2017 
• Another date nominated by the registrant 

Credit requirement 

• Registrants are required to accumulate 30 CPD credits in a given 12-month period 
• Registrants can allocate 4 CPD credits to the maintenance of their portfolio 

Reflections 

• Registrants must include 4 reflective practice reports as part of their portfolio 

Audit 

• The Board will not be conducting audits of compliance until further notice 
• The Board will provide at least 12-months’ notice of the introduction of an audit 
  Portfolios 
• Registrants must still keep a record of their CPD engagement as this is specified in the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. 

Please go to https://coru.ie/ for futher information. You can contact CORU at cpd@coru.ie or call the team on 01 4727937. Please don't hestitate to contact Clíona Murphy, cpdofficer@iasw.ie with your feedback about this process. 

Congratulations to Bill Foley, Senior Social Worker in the Mater Hospital whose advice and information won the IASW competition for top tips on maintaining your CORU CPD Folder.

Approaching the CPD Portfolio can be a daunting task.  Not least due to the lack of clarity in relation to CORU’s expectations of the journals.  In developing my own CPD Journal I have taken the age old social work principle of ‘partialising the problem’.  That is to break down the requirement into more manageable parts.  The approach is therefore broken down as follows.

1. Develop an outline of your role based on agency guidelines; job description and work experience.
2. Develop a learning plan based on available documents already completed.  This could include an appraisal at work; completion of competency document; supervision notes; or reflective discussions at work.  Use this to identify developmental learning goals.
3. In identifying CPD points review all your in-house developmental or educational opportunities.  This could include team meetings (where an update of a service of practice is outlined); discussion with a client where new services are identified; Journal Clubs; supervision; Training events and presentations you are involved in.  If you outline these and identify the learning content within you will find you have achieved a considerable amount of the required CPD points.
4. Identify training courses that progress your CPD Personal Learning Plan.  If you keep your personal learning plan general this will be an easier task.  E.G. a personal learning goal may be to improve counselling skills.  Then the training can be within any area of counselling that you like or is available.
5. Incorporate CPD into your working life.  Any learning event you attend bring either the CORU Template or a note pad to write down the significant learning points.  Once you are back at the office write up the experience with the relevant CPD points claimed.  Contemporaneous writing is a significant time saver.  If you leave it to write up at a later date you will have to spend time searching for the documentation and notes and to re-consider what was learned that day.
6. Have CPD evidence document completed on the day of the training / learning event.

Statutory Registration & CPD

Statutory registration was enacted May 31st 2011 as a means to ensuring professional social workers operate to a high standard of practice. All registered social workers sign a statutory declaration stating that they have read, understand and will meet the standards set out in the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers.Section 23 of the Code sets out the standards in relation to CPD. 

As a registered profession, it is essential that you clearly understand and meet the CPD requirements of registration.

To find out more about the CPD requirements of registration and to review CORU resources visit https://coru.ie/ or contact CORU at CORU, Joyce House, 8 - 11 Lombard Street, Dublin 2
(01) 2933160 or by e-mailing cpd@coru.ie