Keeping Professional Practice Current

Keeping Professional Practice Current

Reflect, learn, apply and improve

Continuing Professional Development helps FEDANT registrants maintain safe, informed and effective practice throughout their professional lives.

What Is CPD?

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the ongoing process of learning and development throughout a professional career. It enables those working in the antenatal and postnatal sector, including Antenatal Educators, Breastfeeding Counsellors, Infant Feeding Practitioners, Doulas, Postnatal Practitioners, Complementary Therapy Practitioners and Relative Sector Practitioners, to develop in their roles and demonstrate continuing competence in their registered area or areas of practice.

CPD is not limited to attending courses. Effective CPD involves identifying learning needs, planning appropriate development, taking action, reflecting on learning and evaluating how it supports safe and effective practice.

A Requirement of FEDANT Registration

All FEDANT registrants must undertake and record CPD as a condition of registration. This requirement applies whether a registrant works full time or part time, has limited or no direct contact with parents or families, is taking a temporary break from regular practice, or wherever they live or practise.

Registrants should follow the current CPD criteria and recording requirements available in the secure Registrant Area.

You may already be completing more CPD than you realise. Relevant professional reading, webinars, reflective practice, peer discussions, supervision, research and reflection on practice may contribute when appropriately recorded.

The CPD Cycle

1

Reflect

Consider your current practice, feedback, responsibilities and areas where knowledge or skills could be strengthened.

2

Plan

Set relevant learning objectives connected to your FEDANT register category and scope of practice.

3

Learn

Choose suitable activities with clear learning outcomes and reliable, current information.

4

Apply

Use the learning appropriately within your competence, professional boundaries and working environment.

5

Evaluate

Review what changed, what further learning is needed and how the activity benefited practice.

6

Record

Keep an accurate CPD log and supporting evidence in accordance with current FEDANT requirements.

What May Contribute to CPD?

Depending on its relevance, quality and the current FEDANT criteria, CPD may include:

Courses and Events

Relevant courses, workshops, conferences, seminars and webinars.

Professional Learning

Structured reading, research, reviewing professional standards, guidance or evidence.

Peer Development

Supervision, mentoring, peer discussion, case reflection or professional networks.

Practice Review

Audit, evaluation, reflective practice, feedback and learning from complaints or significant events.

Teaching and Presenting

Developing or delivering professional learning where this produces identifiable learning for the registrant.

Role Specific Updates

Learning connected to safety, safeguarding, consent, equality, communication or the registrant’s specialist area.

An activity should not be counted simply because attendance took place. Registrants should be able to explain its relevance, what they learned and how it informed their practice.

Recording Your CPD

A clear CPD record helps demonstrate that learning is purposeful and connected to professional practice. Follow the current FEDANT template and guidance, and record information such as:

  • the date and title of the activity;
  • the provider, facilitator or source;
  • the reason the learning was selected;
  • the learning outcomes and relevance to the registrant’s category;
  • reflection on how the learning affected or may affect practice; and
  • supporting evidence, such as a certificate, programme, notes or reflective account.

Records should be accurate, legible and retained for the period required by FEDANT. Any information about parents, families or clients must be anonymised and handled in accordance with confidentiality and data protection responsibilities.

Choosing Relevant CPD

Choose learning that is appropriate to your FEDANT National Register category, current responsibilities and identified development needs. Consider the provider’s expertise, the evidence base, learning outcomes, assessment where applicable and how the activity relates to safe practice.

Approved CPD Activities

FEDANT CPD accreditation applies to the exact activity that has been reviewed. It does not mean that every activity offered by the provider is accredited.

CPD Does Not Extend Your Registration Category

CPD supports continuing competence within professional practice. Completing CPD in another subject does not itself change the category or categories for which a registrant has been granted admission to the FEDANT National Register.

CPD cannot alter or add a registration category, but relevant completed CPD may be listed within the qualifications area of the registrant’s National Register entry.

Registrants must describe their FEDANT registration accurately and work within their competence, qualifications, professional insurance where applicable and the exact category or categories shown on their National Register entry.

Registrant CPD Resources

Log in to the Registrant Area to access professional resources, practical guidance and ongoing support available through FEDANT registration.

The guidance, logs and approved-course resources are held within the secure Registrant Area and may require you to sign in.

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