New research by Cardiff University and commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) has shown while many dental professionals take a positive and proactive approach to their own learning and development, more needs to be done to ensure the full benefits of the Enhanced CPD scheme are realised. 

The Enhanced CPD scheme established a more flexible and personalised approach to lifelong learning for the dental team. The research published today was undertaken to help the GDC understand the experiences of dental professionals and how the scheme has operated since its introduction in 2018. 

The findings indicate that most dental professionals do not find CPD requirements difficult to achieve and that compliance rates are high. Researchers also found that further guidance could improve understanding of some key features introduced by the Enhanced CPD scheme, such as Personal Development Plans (PDPs), grace periods at the end of a CPD cycle, and the application of recommended topics.

The research found that significant numbers of dental professionals are motivated by their own sense of professionalism and a desire to learn, but the view was not universal. The findings also suggest that some registrants take a more compliance-based approach to CPD, completing the minimum number of verifiable CPD hours, with limited regard for the quality of the activity or relevance to their own learning or development needs.   

The GDC will now look at how understanding of the Enhanced CPD scheme can be improved, particularly those features that provide flexibility for the dental team and drive personalised approaches to learning and development.

The PDP is the centrepiece of the Enhanced CPD scheme and must be completed by all dental professionals. The research indicates that the dental team could benefit from more support in creating and maintaining an effective PDP to ensure it is tailored to their needs, regularly updated, and supports the selection of high quality CPD activities.

The regulator now plans to engage with dental professionals on the value of creating a PDP that meets their own learning and development needs, supports career progression and improvements in the quality of care. It will also build on current guidance so more dental professionals can feel the benefits of a customised PDP. 

Based on the findings, the GDC will also consider:

• Creating additional guidance on how make to CPD activities verifiable, including peer learning.
• Updating its guide for employers and managers of the dental team, to put more emphasis on supporting staff to find the right CPD and sufficient time to complete it.
• Updating the information provided on recommended topics.

GDC Executive Director, Strategy, Stefan Czerniawski, said: “Lifelong learning and continuing improvement in knowledge and skills are central to what it means to be a professional. Our CPD requirements are intended to support dental professionals to develop their professionalism.

“The results of this research are encouraging and underline the importance of the CPD scheme in ensuring that the dental team is well-trained and delivering high standards of care. The research also offers us valuable insights into the motivations and priorities of dental professionals when it comes to CPD, which will help to inform updates to our support and guidance.”

View the research here

With just under two weeks to go to the deadline for dental care professionals (DCPs) to make a compliant CPD statement, almost 6,000 are yet do so. Within that number, around 4,600 are yet to make a statement at all, and 1,400 have made statements which do not comply with the rules.

CPD rules require dental professionals to make a compliant statement every year, as well as at the end of their five-year cycle, by the 28 August, and the GDC is calling on DCPs to make sure their statements are in order before it’s too late.

GDC Chief Operating Officer, Gurvinder Soomal, said: “The vast majority of dental care professionals renewed their registration last year with no complications, but more than 3,100 didn’t meet the CPD rules in 2021. That’s 3,100 DCPs who had paid their annual retention fee and made an indemnity declaration but failed to be compliant on CPD. We know that many of these were simple administrative oversights.

“This can have serious consequences for the individual, and for the team they work in, as non-compliance can end up with removal from the register. I’d encourage DCPs to check now to make sure everything is in order.”

For the last eight weeks the regulator has been urging DCPs to check to make sure they are compliant on CPD and encouraging employers and the wider dental team to think about how DCP colleagues could be supported to avoid problems. More recently, this has included a range of communication with DCPs who have not yet submitted a compliant statement — the latest instance being a text message on Friday 12 August — and affected DCPs are encouraged to read that information and get in touch with the GDC if they are unsure about what to do.

The quickest and easiest way to make a CPD statement is through eGDC, and it takes just five minutes to set up an account if one is not already in place. The GDC provides further guidance and information about Enhanced CPD on its website.

With just a few days to go to the deadline for dentists to make their annual or end-of-cycle CPD statement, the General Dental Council (GDC) today revealed there are still more than 1,800 dentists yet to make a submission. The regulator also highlights that, of those yet to make a statement, the large majority are in the position to be able to make a ‘zero-hours’ statement for 2020 (83% in the case of annual statements and 67% in the case of end-of-cycle statements)

CPD rules require all dentists to make a statement every year, including at the end of their five-year cycle. With the deadline of 28 January 2021 fast approaching, the regulator is calling for all those yet to make annual or end-of-cycle statement to do so as soon as possible.

GDC Executive Director, Registration and Corporate Resources, Gurvinder Soomal, said: “2020 has been extremely challenging for dental professionals and we know that access to CPD will have been hindered by Covid-19. We have reassured professionals whose CPD has been affected by the pandemic that those with a shortfall will not be penalised. But dentists do still need to make a CPD statement as part of the renewal process, and with so many yet to do so this is a real concern. Our records also show that most are in the position to make a zero-hours statement, and so there really is no reason for registration to be put at risk. To dentists I say, if you are not certain that your statement has been made, check your record on eGDC today.”

The regulator is keen to highlight that neglecting to make a compliant annual or end-of-cycle statement could lead to dentists being removed from the register and, therefore, no longer being able to practise in the UK.

The quickest and easiest way to make a CPD statement is through eGDC, and it takes just five minutes to set up an account if one is not already in place. The GDC provides further guidance and information about Enhanced CPD on its website.