Building Reflective Practice through Preceptorship: The Cycles of Professional Growth

Abstract

A preceptorship process for newly qualified occupational therapists is presented, highlighting the importance of reflective practice within the preceptorship period to extend the skills of new practitioners and to promote professional growth. Models drawing on the learning cycle (Kolb 1984) are used to explore links between the processes of reflective practice, continuing professional development and preceptorship. This opinion piece introduces the National Health Service Knowledge and Skills Framework (Department of Health 2004) as a development tool and summarises the findings of a pilot study to show how preceptorship supports graduates in maintaining good habits of reflective practice and continuing professional development.