Your responses demonstrated the breadth of our membership community – from different training routes, career stages, specialties and locations across the UK and overseas.
From what you’ve told us, four clear priorities have emerged:
- Maximising the value of membership
- Enhancing your learning experience
- Advocating for impact
- Building a strong and supportive community
Your voice is helping to shape the future direction of our College. I’m really grateful to everyone who took time to share their views and experiences in our member survey. As we develop our next three-year strategy, we'll continue to listen and ensure our members feel valued, supported and represented.
Priority 1
- What you told us
You continue to view us as an essential organisation for education, professional standards, career development and child health advocacy.
Our clinical guidelines, Child Protection Portal, resources co-created with children and young people, and CPD opportunities were among the top benefits you associated with membership.
However, the survey suggested a gap in members’ awareness of the full breadth of benefits and opportunities available to them. Nearly half of you (44%) said your perception of value for money improved after reviewing the full breath of benefits.
- What we will do next
We will:
- Ensure that benefits and opportunities are clear to both new members joining the College, and established members, enabling you to make the most of all the ways that we can support you.
- Continue to develop our member resources, tools and services – such as our website, member portal and Help Centre – making them easier to access so they provide maximum value.
- Improve and personalise our communications to ensure we’re sending you the right information at the right time, via the channels that suit you best.
- Continue to seek your feedback and enhance our membership offer, ensuring it’s something all members are proud of and provides maximum value for all career stages, locations and interests.
Priority 2
- What you told us
Access to our training and continuous professional development remains central to why you join and stay with us – with 96% of you valuing this. 61% of you told us that RCPCH learning opportunities and CPD have had the greatest impact on your clinical knowledge.
You told us that you prefer a more accessible approach to learning, combining the convenience of on-demand, virtual learning products, with opportunities for face-to-face networking and events. 57% of you would also like more support to further develop your management and leadership skills.
But the survey also highlighted ongoing pressures on member wellbeing and work-life balance. 54% of you reported that you did not have sufficient time to continually develop your skills and knowledge, and almost two-thirds (62%) of you reported struggling to switch off from work.
- What we will do next
We will:
- Continue to develop accessible, practical learning opportunities that fit around the realities of clinical practice, such as our popular Grand Rounds, webinars and podcasts, helping you to learn when, where and how it suits you best.
- Further develop the digital version of Milestones magazine to ensure it brings you peer case studies, opinion pieces and latest news to complement your formal learning, in the most digestible format.
- Expand opportunities for members, in a variety of formats, to further enhance their leadership, management and quality improvement skills.
- Although many of the factors driving workplace pressure sit beyond the College's direct influence, we will continue to support your wellbeing by championing your needs, providing resources on job planning and rostering guidance, and connecting you with your peers.
Priority 3
- What you told us
Representation and voice are important to you as a member – with 82% of you feeling that we understand what matters to paediatricians and other child health professionals.
85% of you agreed that we have a vital role in advocating and lobbying, both on behalf of the profession and for children and young people. Raising awareness of child health inequalities; workforce wellbeing and staffing pressures; amplifying the voices of children and young people; and improving child health outcomes were key areas you’d like us to continue to prioritise.
45% of you shared that you can visibly see our impact on child health services nationally, yet only 25% of you felt that impact on services at a local level.
- What we will do next
We will:
- Regularly update you on our national and local lobbying activities that amplify the voice of paediatricians and children and deliver real change in service provision, child health inequalities, and national workforce planning.
- Continue to engage with governments and regulatory bodies to champion the issues that matter most to you including workforce pressures, child health inequalities, and public health prevention.
- Create more accessible opportunities for you to share your expertise, experiences and insights from frontline services to help inform our advocacy work, such as our Paediatric Influencing Network.
Priority 4
- What you told us
Peer support, and networking came up strongly in our survey. 60% of you shared that being a member helps you feel part of a professional community. However, many junior members and those earlier in their career were less likely to feel connected.
41% of you were interested in contributing and supporting other members through education and training. Yet many of you told us that a lack of time, and uncertainty about what opportunities are available, prevented you from doing this.
- What we will do next
We will:
- Continue to provide opportunities for face-to-face and online peer networking, including our popular conferences and Membership Ceremonies, helping you to build strong professional networks.
- Deliver enhanced support to those of you who give their valuable time to College activities and roles. We will aim to make members of all career stages feel inspired and welcome to contribute in any way they can, and ensure this dedication is recognised and supports your personal development in return.
- Develop and share stories from a range of our members, across locations, specialties and career stage, to help you inspire each other and share best practice.
Staying accountable
Your voice will continue to be heard as we look to develop our next three-year strategy. We will share regular updates on our progress through our communications channels and at our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Thank you for sharing your views and experiences – it is hugely valuable for us and your feedback matters. We want all our members to feel supported, valued and part of a thriving community.
Join our 'Maximise your Membership' webinar
For a reminder of all your member benefits as well as updates on College activities, register your place at our next Maximise your Membership webinar on Tuesday 24 November at 12:30.