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Professional Development Phase (PDP)
The following Q&A help explain the PDP. If you are the employer of a new graduate who is about to embark on the PDP, or has already started using it, download Guidance on the PDP for Employers. (PDF 1.5Mb)
What is the Professional Development Phase?
Can I see a preview of the database?
What role does an employer play?
What is the role of an RCVS appointed postgraduate dean?
How long will the PDP take to complete?
How do I know I've completed my PDP?
What are the benefits of signing up to the PDP scheme?
Who to contact at RCVS for more information?
How to register to use the PDP database?
What is the Professional Development Phase?
The aim of the Professional Development Phase is to provide a structure whereby new graduates can continue to develop their professional and clinical skills, reflect on their progress and plan their future professional development. The PDP system is also useful for veterinary surgeons who are returning to work after a career break, or moving to a different area of work - for example, from small animal to equine practice.
PDP provides a logical link between undergraduate and postgraduate development. The veterinary degree equips graduates with the essential "Day One Competences" needed for safe practice immediately on graduation, but these are only a starting point. The new graduate's professional competence needs to be further developed in a structured manner during the first year or so in practice until they can perform confidently as a fully effective professional in the work place. RCVS has set out a set of "Year One Competences", together with a list of clinical skills covering small animal, equine, and farm animal practice. The Year One Competences cover the same general areas as Day One, but with the expectation that that Year One graduate "will be able to perform a range of common clinical procedures, or manage them without close supervision, in a reasonable period of time and with a high probability of a successful outcome".
PDP works best when the new graduate is supported by senior colleagues in practice, and when the new graduate is able to discuss their performance and development with their employer or other senior colleague. RCVS recommends that PDP should be built into practice appraisal systems, which can be carried out either formally or informally, so that the new graduate's professional development can be structured and focussed towards achieving the Year One Competences.
PDP is based around a set of generic competences that a veterinary surgeon should normally have acquired after about a year in practice. These are supplemented by the list of clinical skills and procedures, which RCVS developed in consultation with the profession, against which the new graduate should be recording their day to day experience in clinical practice and reviewing how they met the Year One Competences.
PDP is more than just filling in case numbers. To get the most out of PDP, the new graduate should review their progress continually, making a conscious effort to fine-tune the skills. The PDP system is there to assist the new graduate to think about what they are doing to encourage them to continue to develop their competence. If you are new graduate, it is important to remember that once you do begin your first position in clinical practice, that you register for the PDP. If you do not plan to go straight into practice straight after university, then you don't need to register until then. As PDP is not time-bound, you can complete your PDP at any time, but it is recommended that you register in your first year as a practising veterinary surgeon. If you are working as a practising veterinary surgeon overseas during your first year in practice, you don't necessarily need to use the PDP system, but you can do so if you wish, and start to record your caseload to ensure you are acquiring the necessary Year One Competences. The main thing you need to do is make sure that the experience you do accumulate overseas has the depth and breadth of experience equivalent to the experience you would gain in the UK.
The PDP database
To help new veterinary surgeons record their achievement of the Year One Competences, RCVS has developed a web-based database in which they can log their experience across a range of clinical skills and procedures in small animal, equine and/or farm animal practice. Graduates can choose to undertake their PDP in the context of small animals, farm animals or horses, or any combination of the three. If they are in a truly mixed practice, they would need to ensure that an equal amount of time is spent across each species area.
By keeping a record of their clinical experience, they are encouraged to reflect on their development against the list of Year One Competences, and use this record to inform discussions about their ongoing training needs with their employer or other senior colleagues in practice. As well as keeping a running log of case numbers, the PDP database allows the individual to keep notes against each skill area, and there is a confidential action-planning area where the user can record notes on their strengths and weaknesses and critical incidents.
When the graduate believes that they have gained sufficient experience in their area of practice to meet the RCVS Year One Competences - as evidenced by their log of clinical procedures - they are invited to submit a declaration to this effect to RCVS. A senior colleague or other mentor in the practice is asked to counter-sign the graduate's declaration, confirming that there has been a discussion about their performance, and that they have seen the record of procedures as supporting evidence. The colleague or mentor in practice is not asked to assess the graduate's competence.
Each new graduate is allocated an RCVS-appointed postgraduate dean who will be available online to provide guidance on completion of the records, and who will review clinical logs before the graduate is confirmed as having completed PDP.
It is strongly recommended that graduates make good use of their notes and reflections in the notes section under the various clinical skills headings. Making such notes is all part of the learning process, and over time, should help graduates see how they are progressing. It is recommended that graduates try to make notes based on their personal reflections for example on how they felt they have coped with a particular case or procedure, and what they might need to do to improve their performance in a particular area. This need only be brief. An example might be: 'Problems doing IVs in dogs using the cephalic vein; probably need to make sure vein is suitably raised and blood aspirates easily before injecting'. Then perhaps later in the notes: 'Much better at doing IVs, fewer veins blown or haematomas'.
Once the graduate feels competent with a particular procedure, they can indicate this in the notes section, and not record any more case numbers for that particular procedure. Once in a while a particular skill may not 'fit' with the PDP template. In such cases, the graduate should use the category which fits the closest and add a suitable note to explain the position.
Many skill areas are prefaced with the phrase "clinical assessment and management of". Bear in mind that graduates are not expected at this stage to be dealing on their own with complicated cases which may fall under these headings, especially if they feel they are beyond their current competence. However, participants may be dealing with cases which could fit under these headings. They may be making the initial clinical assessment, seeking help from a colleague with a diagnosis and treatment plan or even referring the case on to a specialist. But if the ongoing management and oversight of the case is handled by the graduate, then these cases can be included. Again - the graduate should remember to add notes to show what their involvement has been.
Can I see a preview of the database?
You can see a preview of the PDP database at http://pdp.rcvs.org.uk/
You can click on the 'preview' screen and review all the lists and guidance notes, without having a password.
You will need a password if you want to register as a user. Passwords will be issued on request to new graduates, other new registrants, and to those who are returning to practice, or who are undergoing a career change.
What role does an employer play in the PDP system?
The RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct states that "New graduates must be supported and assisted by senior colleagues until they are confident of their own ability to provide a full professional service. It is strongly recommended that employers of new graduates support their continued development through an appropriate appraisal system, to enable them to complete the RCVS PDP".
Once registered for the PDP, graduates will need to advise their employer that they are undertaking the PDP. PDP will be more effective if the participant is able to discuss their performance and development with a senior colleague who will act as their mentor. The appointed mentor should be familiar with the graduate's work, and should be the graduate's first point of contact if they experience a problem and need to seek advice about their work. It will help if the employer allows the graduate some time during the day (it should take no longer than 10 minutes) to complete their PDP recording.
Opportunities to take part in performance appraisal will vary from practice to practice and in many cases may be informal. Practices accredited under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme should ensure that the CPD records of their staff are up to date, and practices accredited at Tier 2 will have systems for monitoring and discussing the clinical outcome of common procedures. So the PDP can form a central part of appraisal discussions with the employer, for the purpose of the new graduate's own professional development and also as part of the monitoring of the practice's performance.
If the graduate's practice does not have a performance appraisal system in place, graduates should still ask their employer or other colleagues to comment periodically on how they are progressing so that an informed third party's view of their progress can be obtained.
The graduate's employer is not asked to formally examine/assess the graduate's Year One Competence for the purposes of PDP. When a graduate has completed their PDP, they will need to print out and sign the declaration which can be downloaded from this website and sent in to RCVS. The graduate's employer should also countersign it to confirm that they have taken part in the process, and that they have discussed the graduate's record with them.
While graduates are responsible for recording their procedures on a regular basis, they should ensure that the employer is aware of their progress. Ideally, the graduate's practice will identify a mentor to support them during these early days in practice, and to ensure time is allocated for the graduate to fill out their PDP record, discuss their progress and help to plan their further development.
The RCVS has communicated the benefits of PDP to employers, and new graduates, via RCVS publications, veterinary publications, online and at RCVS Regional Question Time meetings. The RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct states that "New graduates must be supported and assisted by senior colleagues until they are confident of their own ability to provide a full professional service. It is strongly recommended that employers of new graduates support their continued development through an appropriate appraisal system, to enable them to complete the RCVS PDP". PDP can also be used to fulfil certain requirements of the Practice Standards Scheme. Graduates are encouraged to help raise awareness about PDP with their employer. PDP offers employers a national standard for new graduates and can be used during existing staff appraisals and recruitment.
PDP for employers does not have to be time-consuming or involve any extra cost on top of that already needed when employing new graduates. Indeed, not supporting new graduates may well prove costly for practices, in terms of animal welfare and client implications.
For more information download Guidance on the PDP for Employers. (PDF 1.5Mb)
What is the role of an RCVS appointed postgraduate dean?
RCVS will allocate every graduate to a postgraduate dean upon registration. The postgraduate dean will be the point of contact for assistance with the PDP database. The appointed postgraduate dean will also review and sign-off the record once the graduate submits the PDP declaration form.
How long will the PDP take to complete?
It is expected that the PDP should take on average One year to complete for most graduates. Despite the fact that we refer to 'Year One' Competences, it is important to bear in mind that PDP isn't time-bound as some graduates may complete PDP in less than a year, while others may take longer, depending on their case load. Furthermore, PDP doesn't necessarily need to be undertaken in just one practice, or post.
How do I know when I've completed my PDP?
The main indication that the graduate has completed PDP is if they are able to perform a range of common clinical procedures, or manage them without close supervision, in a reasonable period of time and with a high probability of a successful outcome.
When the graduate believes that they have gained sufficient experience in their area of practice to meet the RCVS Year One Competences - as evidenced by their log of clinical procedures - they are invited to submit a declaration to this effect to RCVS. A senior colleague or other mentor in the practice is asked to counter-sign the graduate's declaration, confirming that there has been a discussion about their performance, and that they have seen the record of procedures as supporting evidence. The colleague or mentor in practice is not asked to assess the graduate's competence.
Internships and PDP
PDP is about acquiring 'year one' first opinion practice skills, and interns may be able to complete some of these but they have to accept that they may need to go into general practice for a period of time to complete the rest of their experience. It is important to remember that PDP is not time-bound -and furthermore, it doesn't necessarily need to be undertaken in just one practice, or post. Some graduates may complete PDP in less than a year, others may take longer, depending on their case load. It would be helpful if institutions employing interns make it clear that they may not be able to complete their PDP there because of limited exposure to a varied workload or they may not have primary responsibility for their cases.
To complete PDP, graduates will need involvement with first opinion cases, and will also need to have primary responsibility for the clinical decision, which is one of main competences that need to be developed during PDP. Universities and other institutions may need to review their internships, and should be encouraged to distinguish in adverts between 'PDP confirming internships' and PDP non-conforming internships', which would help to provide greater transparency for new graduates.
Who needs to undertake the PDP?
All newly qualified graduates from 2007 onwards are required to complete the Professional Development Phase regardless of where they qualified. Anyone who is returning to work after a career break is also encouraged to use the system until they feel they have adequately refreshed their skills.
What are the benefits of signing up to the PDP scheme?
Participation in the PDP scheme demonstrates that the new graduate is taking their continued professional development seriously, and helps them to identify their training needs more effectively. Using the RCVS PDP database provides them with a record of their clinical skills, which can be benchmarked against others in their year group. The PDP website has an on-line mentoring facility, with an RCVS appointed postgraduate dean available online to provide guidance.
While there is no specific action RCVS can take against someone who does not complete the PDP, it should be something that new graduates want to do for their own development, to raise standards and take the stress out of their first year as a vet. A new employer may ask about PDP at interview stage or require confirmation from the graduate that they have completed it.
RCVS requires its members graduating after 2007 to have completed the PDP before enrolling on the RCVS Modular Certificate.
For employers, the PDP system provides a ready-made structure for staff appraisal, and will be a useful adjunct to CVs when recruiting new staff in the future.
PDP candidates receive a 50% discount on the individual library membership fee!
RCVS Trust Library can help you access the information you need whilst you are completing your PDP. The Library holds over 30,000 books, reports and conferences, all available for postal loan upon request. In addition, for a small annual membership fee, library members can enjoy access to our range of electronic resources from home and work PCs. This includes being able to download full-text articles from over 2,600 journals and carry out your own literature searches with access to millions of abstracts. Library membership also provides substantial discounts on services as photocopies of journal articles, postal loans, literature searches and quarterly updates.
PDP as part of the appraisal process
PDP has been designed to fit in with appraisal processes, when a new graduate joins a practice. Appraisals, whether formal or informal, are an important part of supporting new graduates in practice. RCVS recommends that PDP should be built into practice appraisal systems to structure and focus the new graduate's professional development. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has information on appraisal procedures and how to get the most out of them.
Who to contact at RCVS for more information
RCVS Education Department
Tel:
Email: pdp@rcvs.org.uk
How to register to use the PDP Database
Email pdp@rcvs.org.uk to ask for a password. Let us have your full name, RCVS registration number, contact details, and email address.
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