CPD courses for Social Workers

A guide to CPD for Social Workers

Social workers have a varied workload and many different responsibilities. Their role requires them to ensure that individuals are supported and protected from harm. Being a social worker can be rewarding, but it can also be demanding, stressful and emotional. Hence why workers need to learn new strategies and techniques to know how to deal with an array of challenging situations. They must also be capable of coming up with solutions to various problems.

Social work is fast-paced and ever-changing. Legislation, technology and standards are constantly updated, and new approaches introduced. Therefore, social workers need to keep abreast with the latest developments and legislation to ensure their knowledge and skills are up to date to provide high-quality support to individuals.

Social workers must be competent to carry out their roles and responsibilities, regardless of their specific field of work. Competence means having a combination of relevant training, knowledge, skills and experience. Regular CPD training is a vital part of achieving competency in social work.

SWE makes CPD a mandatory requirement for all registered social workers. To comply, social workers need to meet the requirements of the CPD standard, which includes recording CPD online. The minimum requirement for registration (and renewal) is one piece of CPD. However, SWE recommends recording CPD four times a year or more as good practice. The requirements are detailed on the CPD Social Work England webpage.

Some professional bodies and associations may also make CPD a mandatory requirement for members. Some professional bodies require members to undertake a certain number of CPD hours annually. Employers may also ask social workers to undertake CPD as part of their role.

If you are not already aware of the type of CPD training required for your role and responsibilities, you should ask your employer and check current professional development standards. You can also think about where the gaps are in your knowledge and skills and which areas you could improve. Our e-learning courses will help you with your CPD.

CPD courses

Many things count towards your CPD, and they should be relevant to you and your goals as a social worker. For example, you can attend seminars/lectures/webinars, read books/journals, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries and undertake work-based learning. You can also complete e-learning, which will count as part of your CPD.

Our e-learning courses are CPD certified and accredited under the CPD Certification Service. When you complete your course, you will gain an accredited qualification and CPD points (hours). The more training courses you undertake, the more knowledge and CPD points you will achieve.

We have different levels of courses for some areas, e.g. safeguarding levels 2 and 3. If you are looking for more in-depth knowledge on a topic, then a level 3 course would probably be more suited to your needs.

To make the most out of your learning, you should adopt a structured and consistent approach to your CPD by undertaking training that meets your personal development objectives as a social worker.

CPD certificates

Once logged in, you can work through your course in a few hours (depending on the type), and there is no time limit for completion. You can work through it at your own pace at a location of your choice. Very rarely do students need help, but if you do, our staff are here to assist.

After completion of your course, including passing the quiz, you can download your PDF certificate immediately. Our professional-looking certificates are fully CPD regulated. They can provide evidence of training to enforcement authorities, regulators, professional bodies and prospective employers.

You can log onto your account at any time and download your certificates. You can keep them on file or email them through to your manager. It is also easy to print off a hard copy of your certificate and keep it with your other qualifications and awards in your CPD portfolio. You will also receive a copy of your certificate in the post.

Logging CPD hours

Every course that is CPD accredited will have a number of points assigned to it. One CPD point is equal to one hour of active learning, which means that you will get one point for every hour you spend on a CPD activity.

The number of points you will earn on completion of the course is in the course description, along with an estimated time to complete. This will give you your CPD hours.

You can keep a log of your CPD hours for the year and make a record of whether you have met your learning objectives. It is important to maintain an accurate CPD record as part of your CPD portfolio and personal development plan (PDP).

Logging CPD hours and keeping records will have a positive impact on your career in social work. Also, knowing more about the issues that can affect different individuals will help you provide better support.

Keeping evidence

SWE requires social workers to keep a CPD record as part of maintaining their registration. The requirements for keeping a CPD record are detailed on the Social Work England’s webpage.

There is not a prescribed format when recording your CPD. However, SWE does require the inclusion of specific information, e.g. a reflection. They have examples on their website that can help you complete your CPD record.

SWE reviews CPD records on online accounts, and they also randomly select 2.5% of social workers for CPD review. Therefore, it is vital to follow the requirements and keep up to date evidence of your CPD.

Renewing CPD certificates

It is recommended that you renew your CPD certificate every two years. However, you may be required to complete a refresher every year. This will depend on your work setting and what your role entails.

Refresher training also counts towards your CPD. Therefore, you can log CPD hours for every course you undertake, including those taken as a refresher.