CPD reflective statements: a guide for insurance intermediaries
The Development Zone team frequently receive feedback from insurance brokers who use the system, asking why they need to complete a reflective statement when recording Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
A CPD reflective statement records what you have learned from a learning activity and how you have applied, or plan to apply, that learning in your work. Completing one helps brokers consider how their CPD supports their competence and professional development.
Why should brokers reflect on their CPD?
Reflective practice is a requirement of some professional bodies, such as the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), as a means of demonstrating compliance with their standards and requirements. By completing a reflective statement, you can provide evidence of your compliance and commitment to ongoing professional development.
Reflective practice involves reflecting on experiences, analysing what happened, and considering what could be done differently in the future to improve outcomes. The same can be applied in a learning context.
By completing a reflective statement, you can document what you have learned and demonstrate how you have applied that learning to your professional practice. This can help you identify areas for future improvement, strengthen knowledge, understanding and application, and ultimately improve the service you deliver to your clients.
What should a CPD reflective statement include?
A CPD reflective statement should include a brief description of the learning activity, the key learning or development gained, and how you have applied or plan to apply it in practice. This may include changes or improvements to your work, such as your approach to working with clients or dealing with colleagues.
Use your reflective statement to analyse what you learned and how it relates to your work. Ideally, write in the first person and use specific examples to explain how you have applied the learning, or how you intend to apply it.
A strong reflective statement will also demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development and how you plan to continue learning in the future. This may include identifying areas for further development and setting goals for future learning activities, which may be carried out on the Development Zone or through tutor-led training.
Example of a CPD reflective statement
A reflective statement does not need to be long. Here is an example:
“I recently completed the Development Zone course on vulnerable customers. The course highlighted the importance of understanding and empathising with the unique needs and challenges that vulnerable customers may face. As I reflected on my past interactions with customers, I realised that I could have been more patient and attentive when dealing with individuals who may have been struggling with personal or financial issues. Moving forward, I will make a conscious effort to approach each customer interaction with empathy and understanding and take the time to listen and address their concerns in a sensitive and appropriate manner, meeting regulatory requirements such as the Consumer Duty. I will also continue to seek out opportunities for further learning and development in this area to better serve our customers.”
This reflective statement is a good example of how to effectively record CPD for several reasons:
- It clearly identifies the CPD activity undertaken.
- It provides a summary of the key learning points from the course, including the importance of empathy and understanding when dealing with vulnerable customers.
- It connects the learning to past interactions and identifies where the learner could improve their approach.
- It identifies specific actions the learner will take in the future to improve their practice, including a commitment to approach each customer interaction with empathy and understanding.
- It acknowledges the importance of ongoing learning and development in this area, indicating a commitment to continuing to improve and develop their skills.
Users of the Development Zone benefit from an easy-to-use CPD recorder allowing learners to record not only CPD hours, but their reflections on the learning and how competence is applied in practice.
Author: Nicola Mathias
Nicola is a Training and Competence Consultant who draws on her experience in insurance and recruitment to support firms in meeting their training needs.
