After you have worked with your manager to create your own Personal Development Plan (PDP), it is important to review it regularly to ensure you are on target and keep your progress updated.
This means keeping a log of any training or other learning that you have completed as well as keeping hold of any certificates that you have been awarded.
This is important for several reasons.
Firstly, it will be evidence that you are competent in certain areas. Many employers will ask for proof of your training and development at the interview stage and without an accurate record you will not be able to prove this.
It is also important for employers to have a log of learning and the specialist skills of their employees, not only from a practical point of view (e.g. sourcing a relief member of staff with epilepsy training to support an individual with epilepsy) but also for legislative and standards compliance.
Finally, we are all fallible and, given enough time, will probably forget some of our achievements. Keeping a record allows us to look back on our personal development and ensure we remember what we have learned. It is also nice to see how far we have come since starting work in the industry.
It is advisable to record your progress in your Personal Development Plan. You could use a table like the one below to do this.
| Objective |
Method |
Due Date |
Reviews |
Comments |
| Gain a nationally recognised qualification in care |
Government-funded Diploma in Health & Social Care Level 2 |
July 2015 |
Informal discussion with manager every month |
In progress |
| Learn life-saving first aid |
Practical first aid course at head office |
14th December 2014 |
Discussion at next supervision |
Course went well, learned lots |
| etc. etc. |
|
|
|
|
