You don’t have to navigate your professional development alone.
Developing as a physiotherapist can be exciting, but it can also come with questions, challenges and moments when you’re not quite sure what to do next.
The Independent Practice Development Programme (IPDP) provides a supportive space to step back from your day-to-day practice, talk things through with an experienced physiotherapist and focus on where you want to go next.
Through regular one-to-one development conversations, your mentor can help you explore challenges, reflect on your experiences, discuss real-life scenarios, identify areas for development and build your confidence.
Whether you’re newly qualified, already working in private practice, considering making the move into private practice in the future, taking on new responsibilities or simply looking for someone to help you think through your next steps, the IPDP is designed to support you at your stage of your professional journey.
A supportive partnership focused on you
As a mentee, you’ll be paired with an experienced mentor who can provide a supportive space to discuss your development.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your conversations can focus on the areas that are most relevant to you, helping you make the most of your experience and identify opportunities to grow.
The IPDP can help you:
- Talk through challenges and real-life situations
- Reflect on your experiences and identify what you can learn from them
- Build confidence in your clinical and professional decision-making
- Identify your strengths and areas for further development
- Explore your goals and what you want from your career
- Develop skills and confidence for future opportunities
Supporting your development across the Four Pillars of Practice
The IPDP is aligned to the Four Pillars of Practice, helping you take a balanced approach to your professional development.
Clinical Practice
Build confidence in your clinical practice and decision-making.
- Talk through complex cases and clinical challenges
- Reflect on your assessment, reasoning and decision-making
- Explore different approaches to patient care
Leadership & Management
Develop the confidence to take ownership of your career and development.
- Identify your priorities and development goals
- Build confidence in communication and decision-making
- Explore leadership and management challenges
Education
Make the most of opportunities to learn, reflect and develop.
- Reflect on your experiences and learning
- Identify areas where further development could help
- Develop skills to support others in the future
Evidence, Research & Quality
Develop a reflective and evidence-informed approach to your practice.
- Discuss evidence-informed practice
- Identify opportunities to improve the quality of your work
- Develop your critical thinking and reflective skills
Could you support another physiotherapist?
The IPDP isn’t just about being a mentee. Experienced physiotherapists can also make a real difference by sharing their knowledge, experience and perspective as a mentor.
You don’t need to have all the answers. Being a good mentor is about listening, asking questions, sharing your experience and helping someone think through their own challenges and opportunities.
The approximate commitment is 6 hours plus light administration across the programme cycle.
Registering as a mentor
Registering your interest as a mentor means you will be considered for the programme; it does not commit you to a specific mentee at this stage.
Take time to invest in yourself
Professional development doesn’t always have to mean another course or qualification. Sometimes, having the time and space to talk, reflect and learn from someone with experience can make all the difference.
The IPDP is an opportunity to pause, ask questions, explore your challenges and take the next step in your professional journey with greater confidence.
You don’t have to have everything figured out. The IPDP is here to help you work it out.
Ready to get involved?
Choose the pathway that’s right for you and register your interest today.
Register as a Mentee Register as a Mentor