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Enhancing CPD Through Reflective Practice

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
14 views2 pages

Enhancing CPD Through Reflective Practice

Uploaded by

sampath
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Achieving CPD Excellence in Changing Workplace Contexts

CPD habits: looking backwards

This document is fifth in a series of


seven documents making up the
CPD habits series. It is a summary
of a more detailed online resource
about reflective practice available
on the CSP ePortfolio CPD
resources gateway. It aims to
highlight the link between
reflection and achieving CPD
excellence. It introduces you to
how reflection can inform your
journey around the CPD cycle, and
facilitate you to reflect upon your
current approach to reflective
practice in detail.

What is reflective practice?


Reflective practice is ‘The process of reviewing an episode of practice to describe, analyse,
evaluate and inform professional learning; in such a way new learning modifies previous
perceptions, assumptions and understanding, and the application of this learning to practice
influences treatment approaches and outcomes’ (CSP, 2002).

It is a way of exploring and explaining events, which may lead to changes in everyday work
practices.

“We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.”


John Dewey, 19101

So what will developing my reflective practice allow me to do differently?


In order to learn (ie make long-term changes to your perceptions, assumptions,
understanding and behaviours) from an event or experience, you need to personalise the
event so that it is relevant to your own situation and context.

Reflective practice is the process by which to achieve this, and it can enable you to turn any
event into a learning experience. It will allow you to:
 Critique the quality of your practice
 Highlight your strengths and successes
 Identify areas for development
 Bridge the gap between theory and practice
 Demonstrate your accountability and professionalism
 Facilitate change (personal and organisational)

References
1. Dewey J (1910) How we think. Boston; DC Heath & Co.
Developing a more critical thinking approach to reflection
You have received a letter of thanks from a patient. They are particularly grateful for the
manner in which you dealt with them, which showed a great deal of empathy and
understanding. They were particularly pleased with your input as they had previously been
seen by your colleague, who they felt had been dismissive of their concerns. You decide to
put the letter in your portfolio, and add a reflection to go with it:
Reflection 1:
This letter provides evidence of my interpersonal skills. It is reassuring to get this feedback as I
am often shadowed by students. I will continue to approach patients in the same manner so
they feel listened to and understood.

Reflection 2:
What?
This letter provides evidence that my behaviour is appropriate to my level of practice, as
defined within the Physiotherapy Framework. I was mindful to maintain an open, non-
judgemental approach to communication within my assessment and intervention.
So what?
For me: This was a positive experience. I was able to listen to the patient in an unbiased
manner. My advice at the end of the intervention was the same as my colleague had given,
but the patient accepted it as they felt they had been fully listened to and understood.
For the patient: This approach to communication is really important to ensure that the
patient feels valued, listened to and understood.
For my service: Better patient recorded outcomes; fewer complaints; fewer re-referrals.
Now what? I will share this learning with my colleague as part of peer review. I will use this
reflection as evidence of effective communication within my appraisal. I will use this example
(anonymously) to illustrate the importance of effective listening to my students.

 Which reflection takes a more critical thinking approach?


 What are the important differences between the two reflections?
 Which one do you feel demonstrates most learning?

Now what else do I need to know?


For more information on different approaches to reflective practice, take a look at ‘my
learning space’ within the CPD resources section of the ePortfolio:
[Link]
id=1546750&pageoid=1535087
Reflective journals: For a research paper on the topic, take a look at:
[Link]
journals-useful-develop-reflective-thinking-p
For further information on reflection and reflective practice, visit:
[Link]
For specific up to date information and research about reflective practice, from a wider
perspective, look at the Reflective Practice Journal:
[Link]
The CSP Library and Information Service have information on reflective practice models:
[Link]

Created by: Sophie Wickins & Jo Etherton as part of the Championing CPD Project, February 2013

Common questions

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Developing a critical thinking approach to reflection enhances learning outcomes by enabling individuals to analyze and evaluate their experiences more deeply. This process allows for more significant modifications of previous perceptions, assumptions, and understanding, thus leading to meaningful and long-term changes in behavior and practice. Critical reflection drives a more profound engagement with learning materials, encourages open-minded consideration of feedback, and supports the development of higher-order cognitive skills necessary for effective problem-solving and decision-making .

Reflective practice facilitates change at a personal level by allowing individuals to critique the quality of their practice, highlight their strengths and successes, and identify areas for development. This self-analysis helps bridge the gap between theory and practice and fosters accountability and professionalism. At an organizational level, reflective practice can lead to improved treatment approaches and outcomes as new learning is applied to practice, thus facilitating broader organizational change .

Maintaining an open, non-judgmental approach to communication is essential in reflective practice because it fosters a trusting environment where patients and colleagues feel respected and valued. This approach allows for honest and constructive dialogue, which can lead to improved patient satisfaction and outcomes. Additionally, it supports a reflective mindset by promoting openness to diverse perspectives, which is integral to learning from experiences and adapting behavior accordingly .

Reflective practice demonstrates accountability and professionalism by systematically analyzing and evaluating one's experiences to improve practice. It encourages self-awareness and responsibility for personal growth, ensuring that practitioners are continually assessing and enhancing their competence. By documenting reflections and aligning actions with professional standards and frameworks, individuals showcase their commitment to professional ethics and quality care .

Reflective practice bridges the gap between theory and practice by enabling practitioners to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. Through reflection, individuals can critically analyze how theoretical frameworks and principles relate to their experiences, leading to a deeper understanding of their effectiveness. This analysis helps refine and adapt theoretical concepts to fit specific practice contexts, thereby enhancing the practical applicability and relevance of academic knowledge .

Effective listening is fundamental to successful reflective practice as it enables a deeper understanding of patient needs and perspectives, which can inform more personalized and empathetic care strategies. In patient relations, it ensures that patients feel heard and valued, contributing to their satisfaction and trust in healthcare services. This feedback loop from patients helps practitioners to validate and challenge their assumptions and practices, leading to continuous improvement and adaptation .

Following a reflective event, specific actions to ensure continued professional development include documenting reflections in a portfolio for future reference, discussing insights with peers during reviews or meetings, and setting personal development goals based on identified areas for improvement. Practitioners can also seek feedback to validate their reflections and adjust their practice accordingly, and engage in further learning or training to address knowledge gaps and enhance skills .

Sharing reflective practice learnings with colleagues can lead to collective professional growth and development. It encourages an exchange of ideas and best practices, fosters a supportive learning environment, and enhances peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. This sharing can also lead to improved service delivery by aligning individual insights with organizational goals and strategies, ultimately enhancing overall quality of care and increasing efficacy in team dynamics .

One can effectively personalize an event by relating it to one's own situation and context, thus making the learning more relevant and meaningful. This involves critically examining one's role within the event, the outcomes, and the influencing factors. By explicitly linking personal experience with theoretical knowledge and identifying actionable insights, individuals can transform any event into a valuable learning opportunity that informs future practices and behaviors .

Empathy is crucial in effective communication as it ensures that patients feel valued, listened to, and understood. This approach not only enhances patient satisfaction but also leads to better patient recorded outcomes, fewer complaints, and reduced re-referrals. Empathic communication facilitates reflective practice by providing feedback that reinforces the appropriateness of one's behavior in professional practice, promoting continued use and sharing of effective communication techniques .

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