The Board has released its decision following the consultation on Continuing Professional Development and recertification. PDF versions of the decision and the framework are available in our resources section.

DECISION DOCUMENT

Continuing Professional Development Decision Document

Background

In February 2019, the Board approved the proposed Continuing Professional Development framework 2019, as part of the new recertification programme for consultation. Additionally, they agreed to modify the Board’s Strategic Plan to incorporate the working group’s recommendations of a requirement for three reflective statements, one ethical and two cultural reflective statements, with at least one covering Māori health.

At the February 2020 Board Meeting, the Board approved the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, following consultation with stakeholders and clarification of the number of hours over the 3 year cycle.

CONSULTATION RESPONSES

90% of the respondents were New Zealand registered Physiotherapists. There were five “What’s Next in Physiotherapy” road shows held throughout the main centres of Aotearoa New Zealand, which provided great feedback on the proposed changes. 47 responses were collected at these roadshows. The online consultation was open from 29^th September to 22^nd November 2019. There were 1,115 responses received to the following questions:

Do you overall agree with the proposed revised CPD framework?

An overwhelming 81% of the responders agreed with the proposed CPD framework.

Comments on the Framework.

There were 282 (51%) comments that were deemed positive which reinforced the positive aspect of quality learning compared to the quantitative element of recording hours.

There were 117 (21%) comments that were deemed negative, the theme was increasing workload and time consuming.

There were 90 comments (18%) that were considered neutral agreeing with some aspects of proposal.

There were 119 (21%) comments about the reflective statements, ranging from wanting the clinical reflective statement retained, to querying the requirement for two cultural reflective statements and one mandatory Māori cultural.

Some responses queried the necessity of the proposed requirement for an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Do you think there should be a minimum number of hours of recorded CPD?

64% (706) agreed with a minimum number.

How many CPD hours do you think should be recorded per year?

46% (322) thought there should be 21-30 hours

40% (277) thought there should be 10-20 hours

• The was a theme of quality versus quantity and that the current number of hours across a 3-year period was realistic and manageable.

Do you agree with the main proposed CPD components of what, how, learn and use?

An overwhelming 88% (965) responded Yes and the theme of the comments was:

• The tailoring of CPD to the individual, and respondents wanting guidelines for reflective statements as they are evidence of one’s learnings and can be expressed in a way that has meaning to the individual.

 Do you agree with the proposed annual peer responsibilities and requirements?

72% (793) responded Yes and the theme of the comments was:

• It is important for physiotherapists to connect with peers and have opportunities to use collaborate with other health professionals.

Do you agree with the proposed revised reflective statements responsibilities and requirements?

There was a 69% (754) response of Yes and the theme of the comments was:

• “It was a mistake removing evidence and clinical based reflections”.
• “That would need clarification and guidance on the Māori section”.

Further comments on the proposed changes

• “Narrow to have 2 cultural and ethical issues/ learnings”.
• “What the implications are for non-clinical positions”.
• “Do not see the need or understand why an annual CV been sent in for recertification”.

DECISION

Based on the feedback from the 5 Roadshows and the on-line consultation, the Board approved the proposed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, with the following modifications:

• Removal of a requirement to provide a CV and the inclusion of areas of practice / work,
• Clarity of the required number of hours per 3-year cycle (removal of “around”);
• Clarity of who can sign off the Annual CPD plan;
• Limiting a peer in a clinical setting undertaking a peer review is a physiotherapist with a current APC;
• Modifying the requirements for reflective statements to remain at three; having one Māori cultural and a choice of a further two.

The Board would like to thank all those who submitted their responses and comments.

The staff are working on an implementation plan so that the new CPD framework will form the basis of the 2021 recertification audit.

Due to the current COVID-19 environment the Board has decided NOT to have a 2020 Recertification audit.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework

1.      Area(s) of work (last 3 years): e.g. Pelvic health, MSK etc.

Template to be provided

2.      Identify WHAT to learn

• Reflection involves thinking about your practice and your approach to physiotherapy to identify your learning and development needs. Consideration should be made of the needs of your clinic, local, regional, and if appropriate, national population(s).

Also, consider:

• How do you think you are performing?
• What you think you have learned from your experience to date?
• What might you do differently in the future?

• Along with clinical considerations, specifically identify any cultural (Māori), ethical, business, communication, and non-clinical needs.
• Annually discuss your professional development plan (PDP) with a professional peer
  • It is expected that in most cases the peer will be another physiotherapist with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC). The most appropriate peer for physiotherapists who work non-clinically could be another health professional with an APC. If a non-health professional was used as the peer this would need to be specific reasons to justify this choice and an ability for that person to assess the quality of CPD planed and undertaken.

3. Plan HOW to learn (required 100 hours/3 years)

• Annually discuss with your peer the best options to enable your learning for the PDP.
• Record your PDP specific to the learning mode, for example, formal, online, conference.

4. LEARN

• Via a method that is appropriate to the need, the person, and context that has been established above.

5. USE the learning

• Record and evaluate your completed activities through an annual reflective statement covering:
• demonstrate your up-to-date competence
• how you have applied your learning into practice
• the dissemination of your learning to others
• establish your further learning needs

6. Annual PDP plan sign-off

• Your learning needs, mode of learning and the utilisation of that learning is documented, and a health practitioner signs to acknowledge this discussion.

7. An Annual Professional Peer Review

• This should demonstrate a positive critique of the pros and cons of the review highlighted with appropriate peer feedback
• A peer in a clinical context is limited to a registered physiotherapist with a current practising certificate.
• A peer in a non-clinical context, should be a registered peer. As an example; A senior health policy analyst reviewing another senior policy analyst

8. Reflective Statements

• Three reflective statements are required in every three-year cycle to aspects of physiotherapy in New Zealand relevant to you:
  • One specific to Māori culture
  • and then choose two from the following categories: ethical/ cultural/professional area practice

9. Annual Declaration with Annual Practising Certificate renewal

• I have reflected on my practice, and my learning and development needs are being addressed through my current annual CPD plan completed in accordance with the Board’s requirements. I declare compliance with the minimum CPD requirements and am able to demonstrate my compliance with the requirements through the provision of a professional development request.

10. Recertification Programme Audit Requirements

Annually, five percent of the workforce will be audited on the previous three years.

The professional development report will be completed using the Board template and must contain:

1. A signed declaration
2. Areas of work noted
3. PDP detailing the what/how/use learnings discussed and signed by, health practitioner reviewed annually
4. A professional peer review (Although only one peer review is required for audit, it is recommended these occur annually)
5. Three reflective statements

Guidance is under development in preparation of the new programme.