C.P.D

Continuous Professional Development

​What is CPD?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It's a record of what you experience, learn and then apply. The same is true for professionals with many year’s experience in the workplace. Continuing professional development is important because it ensures you continue to be competent in your profession. It is an ongoing process and continues throughout a professional's career.
 
Why is CPD so important?
CPD is a known buzz word used around all professional organisations and is now widely adopted across all sectors.  Many historical professions realised how archaic some of the older members had become and how techniques within those professions had moved and changed with the times, mostly for the better on the part of the consumer. So in order to keep those professions moving with the times and to educate and assist longer members of profession up to date the concept of CPD was developed.  Take for example the electric adjustable height table you take for granted, it wasn't even invented 25 years ago when I started grooming. Regular hydraulic tables were extremely expensive, and in today’s money you would have needed to groom 60 Westie’s before you could afford one. So you learned to work from static tables, if you were lucky you had two tables a low one for larger dogs and a taller table for the small dogs.
 
just when you finally saved up all the money after grooming 60 westies, newer tables where available and are seen as a must now for even for those new to the industry AND you got to choose the colour. That is just one example of how little things can make such a big change within a profession. Where did I learn about tables? Again back in the dark ages your mobile phone made calls that was all.
 
CPD has been around as long as me but in a different format.
I recall going to professional events, seminars, dog shows and competitions picking up catalogues and looking at trade stands, often after a having taken a plane journey to get to an event.  I borrowed grooming magazines that came from America from my friend Mary, who in turn had been given them by Betty when she had finished with them.  So using a network of professionals we shared information and introduced each other to new trends, concepts and equipment. We were continuing our professional development.
 
How will you benefit from attending CPD Event?
Well, consider this, do you want to go to the hairdresser that is known as the granny stylist, give you a great shampoo and great at the blue rinse, perm or would you rather the one who knows how to do the long lasting curly blow dry or the get the colour that’s the new trend out there? Your clients want the same, they want to be able to chit chat the latest fad that they have seen on Instagram and expect you to be in tune with that and able to turn your hand to it.  They expect you to be up to date with the latest training methods so that little FiFi won't get her little furry knickers in a twist as her mummy abandons her for the day.  People love those extra finishing touches, personalised bandanas, feather extensions even colouring and stencils. These little finishes can be easily applied once you learn how and are chargeable extras your clients will pay for.  As you the professional can apply your new CPD knowledge on little FiFi and make a difference, they will be impressed and happy to pay for your extra professional skills. So think about it for a minute.  
 
IPDGA Seminars & Events
It is only by attending events within your profession that you can see and experience some of these skills up close and personal. Meet the people who teach these skills or sell these products mostly within a maximum 3-hour drive from home.  It doesn't have to be an IPDGA event though we would expect you to attend at least one of our
events a year, if only to get the value of your membership.  Keep your attendance certificates or even receipts of other events in a little folder so you can look back on the different experiences you have had and the nuggets of information you have learned. Remember, these are tax deductible expenses too, bonus!  Lastly and sometimes most importantly improving your skills and gaining knowledge,
you can't help chatting to the other likeminded people you will encounter at the event. It's great to have a day where you can talk pure 'dog' all day, and show all
your doggy snaps, only groomers get that -they very rarely want to see a photo of your 2-legged child ;-) unless it is with your dog. 
 
Karina
IPDGA Chairperson

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