Welcome to CPD in focus 2021

CPD comes in many different guises. It's not just formal courses, qualifications or certifications. Most people's learning is informal and takes place outside of a classroom structure.

CPD in focus returns for the week beginning 22 November 2021. Each day, we will be exploring some of the many different forms of learning outside the classroom.

• Day one introduces the many different forms of learning outside the classroom 
• Day two explores learning from colleagues and the forms this might take
• Day three focuses on learning through social media
• Day four explores the opportunities for learning through difference
• Day five shows how important learning is for leaders, whatever your rank or level

How learning outside the classroom could benefit you

It can be a struggle to find time to attend courses as part of your CPD. This is why learning outside the classroom plays such an important role in supporting professional development. It often doesn’t take up as much time as more formal learning and can be adapted around you and your schedule.

Make sure you record your learning and that it’s acknowledged when talking about the steps you take to support your personal and professional development. These activities are an important and valid part of your learning as you prepare for your personal development review, a promotion or a lateral job application or interview.

An informal de-brief after an incident with a more experienced colleague or considering what you took from the latest edition of Going equipped are both just as effective as a course in supporting your development.

As everyone in policing faces ever more complex challenges, keeping up to date with your learning and development is more important than ever. Recognising informal learning outside of the classroom is important too.

Events to take part in

The College is hosting two webinars during CPD in focus week. The webinars are available to everyone in policing.

Learning from social media 

• Wednesday 24 November, midday to 1pm 
• Hosted by Inspector Caroline Hay and Sergeant Owen Messenger

For most of us social media has become part of our daily routine. We use it to connect with our friends and family but also as a space to learn from each other. In this webinar, we will hear from two police officers with very different social media experiences.

Inspector Caroline Hay from City of London Police will speak about #WeCops, a fortnightly ‘tweetchat’ that offers a forum to develop and share knowledge, ideas, best practice and evidence-based research. Caroline will discuss her learning journey through #WeCops, highlighting some of the most successful sessions so far and suggesting ways you can use social media for your own CPD.

Sergeant Owen Messenger from Devon and Cornwall Police has been working with a local YouTuber to create videos to engage with young drivers and the modified car community – vulnerable road users who are traditionally hard for the police to reach. 

To date the project has attracted 380,000 followers on TikTok, 37,000 subscribers on YouTube and 35,000 followers on Instagram, while a video released recently achieved 1.7 million views in less than 24 hours.

• Book your place now

A recording will be available after the session (you will need to sign up to receive the recording).

Learning to lead

• Friday 26 November, midday to 1:30pm
• Hosted by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, Chief Superintendent Raj Kohli, Inspector Tuseef Ahmed and Sergeant Chris Excell

Through a series of ‘Ignite’ style presentations and a keynote presentation, a range of police leaders will consider issues such as the importance of personal and professional development for leaders across policing.

Our leaders will reflect on how they role-model positive engagement with CPD. They will also share how they create an environment that supports everyone in their teams, departments and forces to positively participate in CPD to support their personal and professional goals. The range of speakers from across all levels of leadership will provide examples of approaches and considerations towards CPD.

Each presentation is just seven minutes in length, so expect sharp and punchy presentations with plenty of time for a Q&A.

• Book your place now

A recording will be available after the session (you will need to sign up to receive the recording).

Get involved in CPD in focus

Join the CPD Focus Knowledge Hub group (you will need to log in to this) to access a range of learning resources and book onto events that forces across the UK are running as part of CPD in focus 2021.