- Develop and maintain your professional performance
- Apply knowledge and experience to practice
- Record your work clearly, accurately and legibly
The above is outlined in detail in the GMC's Good Medical Practice.
Examples of supporting information under Domain 1 include course certificates and a CPD logbook. If you do not use one, a CPD log function is available to use on SOAR. An example learning log spreadsheet is also available for download at the bottom of this page, allowing you to record your learning and credits.
On the online appraisal form in Domain 1, the first two parts of Domain 1 are standard for all doctors. You are asked to:
The forms on SOAR have been designed to encourage your reflections and considerations. Reflective templates are also available to aid your review of learning activities.
The learning that you do over a year will be a mixture of planned education, designed to meet your educational needs (your development plan); totally unplanned and spontaneous learning; and learning which is undertaken because you want to do it, it interests you, but without having a clear-cut objective. The benefits derived from learning can be maximised by reflection upon the learning after the event, and can frequently lead to the identification of new needs.
The GMC have stated that CPD activities must be appropriate and relevant to the specific needs and scope of a doctor's area of practice. The GMC advice indicates this will usually be informed by specialty specific guidance from the Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have suggested that a doctor should aim to achieve 50 CPD credits on an annual basis.
You should present supporting information that reflects that you:
This way of demonstrating educational activity allows maximum flexibility, to suit different learning styles. For instance, a doctor who prefers to learn by taking part in courses may present evidence of completion of a diploma; while another colleague who prefers to learn by personal study can demonstrate what they have learned by presenting the outcome of the learning (such as a protocol, guideline or management plan).
Remember too that we can learn informally in a variety of ways. These can include:
The extent to which this unplanned learning is of value will depend on its relevance to what you do, and on your ability to recall if and put it to subsequent use. You should try to maintain some record of informal and unplanned learning which can help to make it more effective.
If you have your own preferred method of recording your learning, by all means continue to use it. The sample Learning Log below is intended as a guide for those who do not normally track their learning electronically.
Learning Log sample (macro-less version)
An online CPD log has been added to SOAR so you can enter your CPD entries directly, rather than using this spreadsheet. However, if you wish to use the spreadsheet instead, please note the following instructions: This Excel spreadsheet is designed to help the user record their Learning Activities throughout the year. Save this spreadsheet to your computer (right-click > Save target as) and work on this as you go throughout the year. Upload the final version to SOAR when the time comes for your appraisal. Make sure you check the worksheet "Examples and Tips" for guidance. Although originally designed specifically for GPs, it can also be used by consultants (just ignore the impact scoring).
Date updated: 21/04/2021
Size: 42496 - KB
Type: xls
This page was last updated on: 10/03/2022
