How do you keep up with professional development?

1 Identify your needs and interests

The first step to keeping up with professional development is to identify your own needs and interests as a social worker. What are the areas of knowledge, skills, or values that you want to improve or expand? What are the gaps or challenges that you face in your current or desired role? What are the emerging trends or issues that affect your practice or client population? You can use self-assessment tools, feedback from peers or supervisors, or professional standards and competencies to guide your reflection.

2 Set SMART goals and action plans

Once you have identified your learning needs and interests, you can set SMART goals and action plans for your professional development. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This means that your goals should be clear, realistic, meaningful, and have a deadline. For example, instead of saying "I want to learn more about trauma-informed care", you can say "I want to complete a 10-hour online course on trauma-informed care by the end of June". Your action plan should outline the steps, resources, and support that you need to achieve your goal.

3 Seek diverse and accessible learning opportunities

There are many ways to stay up-to-date with professional development as a social worker, depending on your preferences, availability, and budget. You can choose to pursue formal or informal, online or offline, individual or group, or accredited or non-accredited learning opportunities. For instance, you can take courses, workshops, webinars, or podcasts offered by universities or professional associations. Additionally, reading books, journals, blogs, newsletters, or reports on relevant topics is a great way to stay informed. Joining or creating a peer learning group, mentorship program, or community of practice is another option. You could also consider attending or presenting at conferences, seminars, or events. Plus, participating in or conducting research projects and evaluations is an excellent opportunity for growth. Finally, volunteering in different settings or roles is a great way to gain experience.

4 Document and track your learning activities

As a social worker, it is important to document and track your learning activities for both your own benefit and to meet the requirements of your employer, regulator, or funder. You can use a portfolio, logbook, resume, or digital tool to record these activities. The information you should include is the date, duration, and provider of the activity; the title, description, and objectives of the activity; evidence of completion or participation (such as a certificate, badge, or feedback form); and a reflection on your learning outcomes (e.g. what you learned, how you applied it, and what needs improvement).

5 Evaluate and update your learning plan

The last step to keeping up with professional development is to evaluate and update your learning plan regularly. You should review your goals and action plans periodically and assess your progress and achievements. You should also seek feedback from others, such as your clients, colleagues, supervisors, or mentors, and incorporate their suggestions into your learning plan. You should celebrate your successes and identify your areas for improvement. You should also be flexible and adaptable to changing needs and opportunities in your practice and profession.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?