Continuing Professional Education
SASW Continuing Professional Education (CPE) policy establishes the requirements for completion of annual CPE by registered members. Members are encouraged to undertake reflective practice in which learning needs and goals for practice are the basis for engaging in CPE. What do I want and need to learn? What are my strengths and weaknesses?
Below are a number of questions and answers to provide further guidance and clarification to members on appropriate CPE activities.
Q0. Why does SASW require members to submit 40 hours of Continuing Professional Education each year?
A0. The Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers (SASW) is the authorized organization that governs and regulates the profession of social work.SASW through its mandate, has an obligation to ensure professional competence of its members to meet its primary obligation of “protection of the public”. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) has been generally accepted and proven as an acceptable mechanism to assure professional competence.
“Social workers, like many other professionals, have completed programs that provide an educational and practicum basis for entry to practice. As graduation concludes an education, the start of professional practice signals the beginning of lifelong learning. Maintaining competence in service provision should not be aspirational but rather a duty intertwined with working in the best interest of clients. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) aids in increasing individual knowledge and strengthens the profession’s reputation. As a professional, I view CPE as an external mechanism that assists in the development of conscious and critical self-reflection on practice.” (Selena Batemen BSW/MSW/RSW, Director of Professional Practice, BC College of Social Workers.)
CPE should be viewed as activities undertaken by the member to proactively maintain and more importantly to enhance and further develop skills.
Social workers work in diverse practice settings and areas of practice. The categories of activities established within the SASW’s CPE policy attempt to capture that diversity and provide a level of flexibility for members. That said, the Category definitions are at times subject to varying interpretation. Part of the interpretations may be the result of the primary roles and functions of social workers within practice. Social workers are often educators, facilitators, mediators, researchers, program developers and mentors to name of few. These same function titles are used to define certain CPE activities. Reflective practice would challenge one to separate what is part of everyday practice and what constitutes CPE that enhances that practice. In other words, how do I separate out what is a task of my job versus what is CPE?Category A
A4. Acceptable “online training” has the same intent as the other Category A CPE definitions for more “formalized” education or training opportunities. Generally, the education or training is more in-depth involving a series of interactions to gain knowledge and skill in a specific area of practice. Often online training opportunities of this nature are purchased by the member and a certificate of completion provided upon successful completion of the training.
A6. Although it was delivered within the workplace it should be submitted as a Category A activity, “Workshop” as the training is specific to practice skill and knowledge development.
If the training then led to an in-service training session put on by the employer to educate workers on a new policy or procedure for addressing the issue of suicide these hours would not be claimable CPE hours
However, if the training was specific to a social work assessment tool embedded within the computer or electronic system, that part of the training may be appropriate CPE. When submitting CPE hours members should ensure they are very specific about what part of the training was practice specific.
There are many online courses and webinars members may access where certificate of attendance/completion is provided (i.e., CASW webinars). There are also a number of free online courses however if you want/need a certificate of completion you are required to pay a fee. These courses are generally more in-depth involving a series of interactions/sessions to gain knowledge and skill in a specific area of practice. You do not specifically need to pay for an actual certificate. Supporting documentation to show you have taken the course may include, e-mail confirmation of registration, handouts/PowerPoints provided, notes taken, and/or screen shots of sessions/exam results.
There are many 1–2-hour webinars where you will not get a certificate. When submitting CPE hours for these types of activities it is important to include the URL so as Registrar I can locate and review. To a certain extent I have to trust the member has undertaken the activity they have submitted.
A9. This can be difficult in terms of setting specific parameters given the massive amounts of information one can access through the internet. Members should be looking at three things when determining whether an online source is credible.
- Is the organization/sponsor/leadership of the event considered reputable, legitimate, and recognized in the field?
- Do the presenters have academic qualifications, experience and expertise in the topic area? Do others in the field reference their work?
- Is the topic/course content related to social work practice?
If it is not readily apparent that you are accessing a credible source than it is probably not acceptable for CPE. If members are not sure if an online source is acceptable, please feel free to send me an e-mail.
Category B
A10. The primary supervisor can claim a maximum of 20 hours over the course of the practicum.
Other social workers within the organization may spend time with the student to provide the student with exposure to other areas of practice. One could view this as a professional responsibility and obligation.
In cases where the student would spend significant time with another social worker to learn about a certain practice area this could be claimed as a Category C activity “Educating Others About Social Work”.
A14. You may claim a portion of your orientation hours as CPE under Category B “Mentoring” supported by a specific orientation plan or learning contract. You can claim hours for new learnings (knowledge/skills/practice methods) that are practice specific. You cannot claim hours for orientation to the practice setting on policy and procedures of the organization or just job shadowing.
Members orientating to a new practice setting may also find they are doing additional readings to develop knowledge and skills. This activity can be claimed as a Category C under “Self-Directed Learning”.
Job shadowing is not considered appropriate CPE.
As noted above, orientation is generally more focused on the organization and the policy and procedures of the organization.
Members in these circumstances should guide their CPE activities based on the concept of reflective practice. How does the activity enhance my skills and knowledge?
A20. CPE is intended to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of social work skills. It would be reasonable to claim CPE in this circumstance for the developmental/research portion of the work.
A21. Reflective practice should be the guiding principle for any CPE submission. If the activity involves the application of attained knowledge and skill then it should not be considered CPE. However, even within the workplace, activities that involve the need to attain new knowledge and skills to deliver the services may meet the intent of CPE.
If your role is more about informing the research team because of the expertise you have in a practice area, this may be claimed as a Category C activity under “Educating Others About Social Work”.
If part of your role is informing clients, for the purpose of enrolling them in the research project, or trouble shooting implementation issues, these hours should not be claimed as CPE.
Category C
In general, the meeting or business portion (i.e. review of minutes, financial statements, election of board members, report presentations, etc.) of the AGM would not be considered for CPE hours. However, if the AGM includes an educational portion (i.e. guest speaker on a specific topic relevant to social work practice, presentation of a report that provides new knowledge to the member on a social issue or the agency that supports the members practice ) that portion of the AGM can be claimed.
However, there may be specific portions of the training that are relevant to social work practice such as conflict resolution and mediation knowledge and skill development. Portions that would not be social work practice specific may include, managing grievances or progress discipline.
However, depending on the role a member may take within the context of this type of work there may be activities undertaken that may qualify for CPE. For example, if a member is required to review policy and legislation to inform the work of the Executive or Committee that is relevant or impacts social work practice than it could be claimed as “self-directed” learning. If the member undertakes specific research to produce a position paper to inform policy/program those hours may be claimed for CPE under “Research and Writing” (Category B).
However, members should be guided by the principle of “reflective practice”, how does the activity support the maintenance or enhancement of practice? If the activity informs the member’s practice it may qualify under Category C “Self-Directed Learning”. The member needs to provide the detail and make the link to practice when submitting for CPE hours.
For example, a member may spend time with a First Nations Elder to gain a better understanding of cultural practices or seek input on how to best approach an issue that is present in the community.
Or
A member may attend a sweat lodge to understand the significance for the First Nations community they are working in.
Or
A member may spend time with agencies that are providing services to newcomers to better understand their culture or the challenges and issues facing newcomers in accessing services.
Activities in this category are more informal. Engagement in more formal cultural training sessions such as the “blanket exercise” are claimable a Category A.
As always, members should be guided by the principle of “reflective practice” which involves the maintenance and enhancement of social work knowledge and skills. Members engage in many activities that are self-care in nature however they are not necessarily activities that fit for CPE for a regulated profession.
General Questions
In cases where you have submitted the required 40 hours CPE at time of renewal any CPE submitted after renewal will be credited toward the following year. For example, if you renew in October, and then attend a workshop in December, you can go into the online system and enter the Dec workshop. It will automatically be credited to the next year’s hours.