Regulators unite to support reflective practice across healthcare

The chief executives have signed a joint statement, entitled Benefits of becoming a reflective practitioner, which outlines the processes and advantages of good reflective practice for individuals and teams.

Reflection is the process whereby healthcare professionals assess their professional experiences, both positive and where improvements may be needed, recording and documenting insight to aid their learning and identify opportunities to improve.

Reflective practice allows an individual to continually improve the quality of care they provide and gives multi-disciplinary teams the opportunity to reflect and discuss openly and honestly.

The statement makes clear that teams should be encouraged to make time for reflection, as a way of aiding development, improving wellbeing and deepening professional commitment.

Chief executives of nine regulators – the General Chiropractic Council, General Dental Council, General Medical Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland – have all signed the statement.