This policy needs to be read in conjunction with the Membership Policy and the Code of Ethics and the Requirements and Recommendations for Professional Practice.

Introduction

The overarching purpose of continuing professional development (CPD) is the protection of the public by ensuring the maintenance and improvement of standards of practice. CPD has the potential to be a creative tool in the enhancement of professional practice and seeks to build on the current model of reflective practice, which is facilitated by professional consultation/supervision. Professional development involves the active reflection on experience in a way that allows for the individual to specify what has been learned, or reconfirmed and to consider requirements and goals for the following year.

The UKATA fully supports CPD as a professional requirement, as it parallels the philosophy of TA and the UKATA Code of Ethics and the Requirements and Recommendations for Professional Practice which states:

Continuing Professional Development: Certified members are required to follow a process of continuing professional development which meets their learning and development needs as well as reflecting their specific working environments and field of application and personal interests. Practitioners are required to maintain professional competence in all areas of their work. Demonstration of CPD is an annual requirement and necessary in order to maintain membership and/or registration with the UKATA and UKCP.

(UKATA, 2008: 9)1

1 UKATA (2008) Code of Ethics and the Requirements and Recommendations for Professional Practice UKATA Ethics and Professional Practice Committee, available online via www.uktransactionalanalysis.co.uk Last accessed 25 January 2020.

and the EATA Ethical code, Professional Practice Guidelines and Ethics Committee which states:

EATA members who apply transactional analysis in their professions will demonstrate a commitment to keep up-to-date in their fields of application through activities such as conferences and seminars, professional writing and reading, as well as to be constantly informed about the TA associations’ interests.

(EATA, 2014: 2)

2 EATA (2014) EATA Ethical code, Professional Practice Guidelines and Ethics Committee, EATA Examination Handbook Section 3 EATA, Available online www.eatanews.org (Last accessed 25 January 2020)

and requires that all qualified members of the organization, from all fields continue to actively develop their learning and standards of practice and as such is a requirement for membership. The following policy allows for autonomy and self-direction, integrates theory and practice, and is contractual and systematic. For UKCP members please also note the UKCP randomly audit 3% of its members annually.

The Policy

The UKATA CPD policy aims to maintain quality and excellence of practice through the demonstration of competency and lifetime learning, as well as accreditation. The selfdesigned programme will meet individual learning and developmental needs, reflect specific working environments, field of application and personal interests.

Requirements for all qualified members, UKATA Diploma and RTE Diploma holders (but not CTA trainees),

Qualified members include CTAs, PTSTAs, CTA Trainers and TSTAs.

Basic Requirements for the first five years following initial qualification.

• All practicing members will ensure that they receive appropriate supervision of their work on a regular basis from someone who is suitably skilled and qualified in their chosen field. The recommendation is a minimum of eight times (minimum of an hour per occasion) a year for Certified members as per the UKATA Code of Ethics and the Requirements and Recommendations for Professional Practice

• The member is required to maintain a business practice of at least 5 hours per week.

Basic Requirements for those qualified for more than five years;

• All practicing members will ensure that they receive appropriate supervision of their work on a regular basis from someone who is suitably skilled and qualified in their chosen field. The recommendation is a minimum of eight times (minimum of an hour per occasion) a year for Certified members. as per the UKATA Code of Ethics and the Requirements and Recommendations for Professional Practice.

• A business practice maintained.

• A 5-year group peer review of all CPD is required. All such groups will require at least one member who is of a different therapeutic modality from TA and one member who is a Transactional Analyst from any field.

Expectations of all Qualified UKATA Members

CPD is a requirement for membership

• A minimum of 250 hours of CPD activity over a 5-year period; For semiretired practitioners this may be reduced. The hours required and relevance of CPD activity are to be agreed with the supervisor.

• Normally a minimum of 20 hours during any year in that period;

• Members devise his/her own CPD programme to stimulate, stretch and support the individual and to keep abreast of recent developments in the fields. Activities may include research, reading, professional writing, attendance at conferences and workshops, further training in TA or another discipline, service to UKATA or other recognized TA organisations, personal therapy, peer group contact, spiritual practice, personal interests and life experiences relevant to professional development. All trainers are encouraged to engage in one peer observed session per year.

Management of CPD Records

It is the responsibility of the individual to keep a record of their CPD. A UKATA CPD form will need to be completed and submitted on renewal of UKATA Membership, as it forms part of the renewals process, this applies to all members even if they are also a member of any other professional organization. For psychotherapists is a requirement for UKCP re-registration. It is also the responsibility of the individual to keep a record of their CPD with evidence in the form of a personal portfolio or logbook. If the member is chosen for the random audit they will need to show documents evidencing the CPD undertaken for the period.

Monitoring Process

Yearly Monitoring

This is intended to provide each member with the opportunity to reflect on his/her practice over the previous year, to consider and articulate learning and progress.

Each year all qualified members will articulate via the annual summary form:

• How the specified CPD activities have contributed to his/her development and the learning gained;

• How the CPD has impacted on their professional practice;

• The number of client hours, supervision hours, training hours, voluntary work for UKATA, conferences etc. As well as the name of their supervisor.

• Challenges, frustrations, celebrations and achievements which have occurred in the period the form covers;

• An outline plan for the following twelve months.

These are to be signed by the member’s Supervisor to recommend re-registration. The supervisor may identify recommendations to be met, and any checks to be made at next annual registration and/or five yearly assessment. Once signed the forms are to be submitted to the UKATA administrator who will check the forms and refer any anomalies to be managed to TASC on a case by case basis. In addition to this a small percentage of the submissions will be audited. If the member is selected for audit, they will need to show documents evidencing the CPD undertaken for the period.

Five Year Peer Group Review

The 5-year review provides each qualified member an opportunity to reflect upon what has been achieved over the previous five years and how, when appropriate, the plans stated at the previous review have been implemented and met.

Every five years the member is required to meet with a group of not less than three colleagues (one of whom should be from outside the member’s orientation and, if possible, the UKATA and one who is a Transactional Analyst). The member is required to present their portfolio or logbook for the last five years which will contain certificates, and the Annual Summary Form for each year covered, explaining how the portfolio demonstrates effective CPD what has been learned, the impact on business practice and his/her current learning needs and devise a plan for future continuing professional development.

Group members review the portfolio and certificates and give feedback and decide whether to endorse the portfolio. The group may decide to recommend a further course of action prior to endorsement of the portfolio. Group will sign the form which is countersigned by the individual’s supervisor who is not part of the peer group.

On satisfactory completion of the group review process, the member submits the signed endorsement form confirming their on-going professional development to UKATA Administrator.

If the member concerned disagrees with their assessment or the recommendations of their peer group, an appeal may be made through the UKATA TASC. If a member fails to maintain effective CPD, or provide the necessary documentation, and upon request by the UKATA Administrator or TASC fails to comply with this Policy, s/he will be referred to the UKATA Ethics and Professional Practices Committee.

The UKATA will review all 5-year reviews for psychotherapy members to enable UKATA to confirm re-accreditation with the UKCP.

Exceptions to the Process

UKATA appreciates that there will be times when a qualified member will need to have a break in his/her practice for example due to family issues or illness or have an enforced break due for example due to a disciplinary matter, or wish to take time out for sabbaticals etc. It is the responsibility of the member to inform the UKATA Administrator at the start of the break and, when the member wishes to return then to contact the UKATA Administrator for a re-joining form. Please also see the UKATA Membership policy that details the policy and procedures for membership.

Version 1.0 Ratified by UKATA Council July 2017 Reviewed January 2020 Ratified by council February 2020