A standard for professional development: the use of self and peer review; learning contracts and reflection in clinical practice.

An initiative to develop a standard for professional development is outlined. The standard takes a structure, process, outcome format. Its development resulted in several initiatives being introduced to the unit including: the introduction of a self and peer review system, the introduction of learning contracts and the introduction of the concept of reflection. It was considered that these initiatives would promote individual professional accountability, increases self-awareness and reflective practice. The initiatives may be viewed in the context of PREP, United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (1990) and the Higher Award, English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (1991). The audit of the standard may be a tool to measure 'value for money' used in professional development.