CSP encourages members to engage with statement supporting 'reflective practice'

The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and eight other regulators published a joint statement, which sets out requirements for reflection. It also offers advice for registrants on how to approach reflection effectively, both as an individual and a team.

The HCPC said the work is part of a shared commitment to ‘drive an open and honest culture where healthcare professionals feel able to reflect on their experiences to support development and learning.’

CSP head of learning and development Nina Paterson said the statement strengthens a number of messages that CSP actively champions:

• that reflective practice should be the norm within the physiotherapy workforce
• that the responsibility lies with both staff themselves and their employers
• that there are tangible benefits to be reaped by making the time to reflect.

‘We have long advocated that members take time to pause to think about their practice,’ said Ms Paterson.

‘The act of consciously analysing one’s own decision-making processes, drawing on evidence, and then relating these back to your practice is crucial for delivering high quality patient care and for our members themselves in terms of their own professional development.

‘I hope that members, teams and employers will find the statement useful.’

Direct impact

HCPC chief executive Marc Seale said: ‘As well as reinforcing how reflection can help registrants gain insight into their whole practice, the statement highlights the direct impact it can have on improving services and patient care.

‘It endorses the value of registrants reflecting in groups, teams and multi-professional settings to help develop ideas that can bring about positive change in practice. Employers should encourage their teams to make time for reflection as a way of aiding development, improving wellbeing and deepening professional commitment.’

The statement also provides advice on making reflection more effective and gives some practical examples of models and methods that can help drive reflection.

CSP members can formally record their reflections with the CSP ePortfolio designed to help them reflect using a number of different reflective cycles.