ARCS CPD Competition Winner!

As the end of my ARCS 5-year CPD cycle was approaching, the CPD competition was a simple way to earn some extra points. The “reflective diary entry” criteria seemed easy enough because we all reflect on our day, even if only subconsciously. I wrote about an unintentional bias that I realised I held after speaking with friends who were having fertility treatment. I took it as an opportunity to learn and improve my practice while trying not to be too self-critical – which is so easily done in our field. Initially I wasn’t planning to submit the entry because nobody likes to acknowledge their prejudices publicly but felt that the changes I made were worth recognising.

we all reflect on our day, even if only subconsciously.

As luck would have it, I was also selected at random for an HCPC CPD audit in July this year! Although daunting at first, once I got to grips with what was expected I realised how the ARCS CPD scheme fits so neatly with the HCPC CPD standards. Most of the work was already done – I was able to simply export my ARCS CPD entries to the HCPC CPD profile and chose which activities to explain in more detail to show that I met the standards.

Completing the HCPC audit really made me see how useful the ARCS CPD tool is, and how to use it productively. My top tip would be to add any CPD activities as an attachment to your ARCS CPD profile at the time of the activity. This means there is a record of all activities, rather than trying to gather lots of evidence as the 5-year deadline is looming. The reflective review can be completed a few days later, giving time to mull over each activity and record any resulting changes.

Completing the HCPC audit really made me see how useful the ARCS CPD tool is, and how to use it productively.

Having never won a thing (except the HCPC CPD lottery), I was delighted to be able to attend the ARCS annual symposium in beautiful Birmingham and took the opportunity to attend the further education day also. Speaking with people who had completed the FRCPath exams and HSST programme has given me more to reflect on to develop my career. All the symposium speakers were excellent, and the Policy and Practice Special Interest Group hosted a lively discussion about workforce planning. The most memorable talk for me was from Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK. It was an insightful and emotional presentation surrounding the rights of donor conceived individuals and the implications of non-disclosure at an early age.

I am very grateful to ARCS for awarding me the CPD prize and hope to be able to attend the 2026 Symposium. 

Mandy Gall – Clinical Embryologist – Glasgow Royal Infirmary