1. ARA Professional Development Programme Practical tips
ARA SE training day on CPD
26 November 2018
Charlotte Berry

2. Practical tips
I. Registration candidates transferring from the old Registration Scheme
II. Registered members undertaking CPD Review
[IF TIME ALLOWS OR LATER IN DAY:
III. Fellowship, software demo and draft portfolio]

3. ARA Professional Development Programme Practical tips (I)
Registration candidates transferring from the old Registration Scheme

4. Old Registration Scheme
Eligibility and validity of credits
Enrolment (via ARA Office and Registrar)
Mentor
Submission (via ARA Office and Registrar)
Portfolio structure
Assessment fee
Assessment (via ARA assessors and RSC)
April and October
Feedback (via ARA Registrar)
RMARA status and certificate

5. PDP - Registration Eligibility and validity of competencies
Enrolment (via PDP online software)
Mentor
Fees
Submission (via PDP online software)
Portfolio structure
Assessment (via ARA assessors)
March and September
Feedback (via ARA CPD Programme Manager)
RMARA status and certificate

6. Old Scheme – portfolio structure
Application form CV
Role descriptions
Mentor reference(s)
Learning Outcome Forms for 12 credits
Evidence
Four work areas – Formal Training; Private Study; Work Achievements; Contribution to Profession
Max. 4 credits for Formal Training
Max. 7 credits for other work areas

7. PDP Registration – portfolio structureCV
Mentor reference(s)
Write-ups for 8 competencies
Evidence
Three areas: Organisational; Processing; Customer/Stakeholder
Max. 3 competencies at Level 2
At least 2 competencies from each of the 3 areas

8. PDP Registration – guidance

9. Old portfolio to new PDP
12 credits > 8 competencies
Old credits can be split into more than one competency
More flexibility and less fixed choice of content
Portfolio:
Activity-based Learning Outcome Form > Competency-focused Submission Form
Max words
Personal/professional development
Reflection
10 year validity
Evidence
Mentor reference(s) CV

10. Mapping across old credits to new competencies – sample portfolio
Work achievements:
Preservation Assessment Survey (B15)
Managing staff (A4, A7)
Report for private house archive (?)
Archives Awareness Week programme (C6)
Researching cataloguing software (B5, C5)
Managing volunteers (A4, A7)
Making business case for a professional archivist post (?)
Contribution to profession:
Officer role, Scottish Records Association (A3, A8)
Organising conference on digital business records (A8 , C6, C9)
Formal training course:
Oral history, BL (B18, C10)
Private study:
Skills and sources for Scottish records, Dundee (B18)

11. LOF > Competency Submission Form
Learning Outcome Form:
Title/dates
Description and personal motivation
What I learned/achieved from the activity
Follow up / continued benefit
Evidence (max. 3)
Competency Submission Form:
Competency/dates
Level
Context
Activity
Progression & Learning
Reflection
Follow up
Evidence (max. 3)

12. Competency Submission Form
Name: Hilary Jenkinson
Competency: Competency reference number and title
Level claimed: Level of attainment claimed
Development period: Overall dates in which competency was developed for this assessment level
Context
Give a brief outline of the context in which you developed this competency. For example, your previous and current job roles or responsibilities
Activity
Give a brief description and examples from your professional activity and practice which demonstrate your competency at this level. Link this section to the competency definition in the Framework.
Progression & Learning
Give a brief summary of how your skills, knowledge and experience within this competency have developed or been maintained during this period. Include examples of the different skills, knowledge and experience developed and the types of learning undertaken such as formal training, study or research, work achievements, contributions to the profession etc.
Reflection
Reflect on and evaluate what you have learned from the activities you have undertaken to develop or maintain this competency. For example, what went well/not so well? What would you do differently next time?
Follow up
How have you applied your skills, knowledge and experience within this competency since? What do you intend to do next to maintain or further develop this competency?  
Evidence
You are able to provide up to three pieces of additional evidence which validate and substantiate the evidence you have presented in this form. If you provide evidence please list the items below using the document title, and submit these documents with this completed competency form.

13. What next? Take action! Register on new PDP website Mentor:
Free until 1 Jan 2019
£35 otherwise for each year enrolled
Mentor:
Get in touch with your old mentor and link to them via the new PDP website
Find a new mentor and link to them via the new PDP website
Guidance and Competency Framework
Update CV, collect evidence, keep a CPD log
Do it! Start planning and building your portfolio and keep in touch with your mentor
Submit portfolio and pay assessment fee £75
Consider doing Foundation assessment if not yet eligible for Registration assessment (6 competencies at Levels 1 & 2)

14. Practical tips (I) Try not to choose your line manager as your mentor
Give yourself enough time to complete your portfolio for the deadline
Avoid use of ‘we’ – this is about you!
Think about your personal and professional motivation
Avoid too much description – analyse and reflect as much as possible
Plan more competencies than you need and choose the strongest/most varied for writing up and assessment
Blow your own trumpet and help the assessors out
Cross refer between competencies where there is overlap
Collect evidence and write up as you go along
Don’t rush to submit your portfolio after 3 years of qualification
Include the failures as well as the successes

15. ARA Professional Development Programme Practical tips (II)
Registered members undertaking CPD Review

16. CPD Review Pilot, spring 2018
Available from Jan 2019 or when called to participate by ARA,
CPD activities over last 5 years are reviewed
‘Light touch’
Confirms existing RMARA status and ongoing engagement with CPD
Assessment fee £35
Regular assessment periods every month
Online submission
Cycle repeats every 5 years

17. CPD Review – Criteria and Submission
All Registered members are starting from scratch.
You will need:
Access to the online system
Guidance
Competency Framework
Levels
Criteria for each of the three Areas
Online submission:
Four Development Objective write-ups
Development Statement CV

18. CPD Review – Development Objectives
Four Development Objective write-ups:
Any area, any competency, any level
No evidence required
No mentor’s reference required
Max. 750 words each
Structure:
Development objective (and related competency/ies)
Development period
Development activity
Reflection

19. CPD Review – Development Statement
Max. 500 words
“Please give a brief overview of your development during the past 5 years and consider what development you might need over the next 5 years”

20. What next? Take action! Register on new PDP website Find a peer pal?
Guidance (out soon) and Competency Framework
Start planning and building your Review
Notify CPD Programme Manager, or:
Wait for ARA to call you to take part
Update CV, keep a CPD log
Do it!
Submit portfolio and pay assessment fee £35
Re-use elements of Review if planning Fellowship application

21. Practical tips (II)
Use CPD Review as a chance to look back at and reflect on your recent career, and to spend time planning for the future
This is not your Annual Review at work! Think ‘Bigger Picture’
Avoid use of ‘we’ – this is about you!
Doing new CPD in order to stay still is fine
Find a peer pal
Give yourself enough time to complete your Review for the deadline
Avoid too much description – analyse and reflect as much as possible
Plan more development objectives than you need and choose the strongest/most varied for writing up and assessment
Blow your own trumpet and help the assessors out
Cross refer between competencies where there is overlap
Include the failures as well as the successes

22. Questions?
Charlotte Berry ARA Board member for Professional Development (01865)

23. ARA Professional Development Programme Practical tips (III)
Fellowship criteria
Software demo
Draft Fellowship portfolio

24. Fellowship - Criteria
Eligibility – Registered member with 9 years’ work experience + completion of one CPD Review
£50 enrolment/annual fee
Assessment periods: May and November
£100 assessment fee
Pilot programme, winter 2018/19
Open to new candidates in Nov 2019

25. Fellowship - PortfolioCV
6 competency submission forms (max words each)
Levels 4 & 5
Minimum 3 competencies at Level 5
Competencies from at least two areas
Professional contribution statement (max. 750 words)
Professional development statement (max. 750 words)

26. What next? Take action! Complete CPD Review
Re-enrol on PDP website for Fellowship (£50)
Find a peer pal? Speak to pilot Fellows?
Start planning and building your Fellowship portfolio
Update CV, keep a CPD log
Do it!
Submit portfolio and pay assessment fee £100
Re-use elements of Fellowship portfolio in future CPD Reviews (every 5 years)