The value of professional development for

technical staff

Frances GrebencHR/OD Partner (Learning and Development)

University of Edinburgh

How do we learn?

• Kolb’s Learning Cycle

– Doing

– Thinking/ Reflecting

Kolb’s Learning Cycle

Your goals for today• WHY are you here?

• WHAT are you (and your line manager) hoping today will achieve?

• HOW they will you use today’s learning back in the workplace?

What is development?

• Development is what happens when an individual's actions change in a relatively permanent way as a result of experience gained through formal or informal learning.

Continuing professional development

• Aims to raise standards of practice and to ensure on-going professional competence.

It does this through:– addressing development areas

– maximising strengths

– enabling employees to meet the challenges of their profession

Additional benefits

• An overall improvement of knowledge and skills within a work team.

• An increase in motivation for some staff

Identifying Development Needs – When?

• Introduction of new processes or kit, any other changes

• Feedback discussion

• Induction• Annual reviews/Appraisals• Team Discussions• Observation of day to day practice

Identifying Development Needs – How?

Establish:• the main purpose and key responsibilities of the role

• what skills, knowledge and experience the individual needs in order to perform effectively and progress in their role

• what professional qualifications are desirable or mandatory

• what development opportunities are available to the individual

Identifying Development Needs – How?

Continued• the best ways to keep their professional knowledge

up-to-date

• the type of learning that works best for the individual

• the internal (e.g. coaching) and external (e.g. professional body) support that can be made available to the individual

PDP

Meeting Development needs – How?• Training Courses• Self organised seminars• Visiting other areas and institutions/ shadowing• Job swaps/ Secondments• On the Job learning

– Delegation– Projects– Mentoring/Coaching

• Reading• Keeping a personal reflective learning log• Action Learning Groups

Any Questions