CPPD

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) operates a continuous professional & personal development scheme (CPPD). Grand sounding, but what does it mean?

Essentially the scheme is a way for employees to ensure that their skills, knowledge and competencies are as up to date as possible. Each member of the trading standards profession (whether a member of the Institute or not) has a personal responsibility to maintain his or her professional competence. The TSI has a responsibility to invest resources to aid this development – hence the birth of the CPPD scheme.

The scheme has three main purposes:

• to enable individuals to develop their knowledge, skills and experience for their present trading standards role and in preparation for their potential future roles
• to demonstrate to the employer that the individual has taken a planned approach to their development, and that their competencies have been maintained in a structured and integrated way
• to provide a means for the employer to demonstrate that their staff are professionally competent in a recordable and retrievable manner

The scheme operates on an annual basis from the beginning of April to the end of the following March, and during that time registered CPPD participants will be required to undertake 20 hours of CPPD activity. The type of activity will be defined at the outset via an individual learning and development plan and a portfolio of evidence will need to be collected, and possibly submitted for verification.

The CPPD hours can be gained in many ways, including attending seminars or conferences, shadowing or mentoring of experienced colleagues, writing a learned published article or undertaking research leading to a formal presentation to a group of people.

CPPD is a great way not only to maintain your competencies, but also to explore new areas. With commitment from you, the backing of your employers and the support of TSI you can expect to reach your potential and develop a full, exciting career within the profession.

CPPD Registration Form (Adobe PDF file)