East of England

Dental Therapist Foundation Training - Introduction

 

The East of England Dental Therapist Foundation Training Programme is designed for newly qualified Dental Therapists to experience NHS Primary Dental Care.

The programme for 2024-25 will be funded by NHS England WTD&E East of England to a level equivalent to Dental Foundation Training, with reimbursement of the Trainees' salary, a Training Grant and payment of Service Costs. The practice will employ two Foundation Dental Therapists who will each work for two days in practice alongside the Educational Supervisor, plus a further half day of employment for Study Days, e-portfolio work and online learning.

There will be a twenty day Study Day Programme running from the 1st September to the 31st August each year.

We believe that this new format will apeal not only to practices in urban settings but also to those in rural and remote areas.

As the title suggests, the principal duty of the Educational Supervisor is to teach, both within the formal context of the one to one tutorial and in the broader framework of teaching by example.

The Educational Supervisor is in the best position to assess the trainee’s needs. Through the various processes of assessments and tutorials these needs can be identified, discussed and hopefully satisfied. The best Educational Supervisors will not apply the ‘Do as I do’ philosophy, but encourage their trainees to develop their own personal skills and attitudes. This is an active process which requires the Educational Supervisor be responsive to the needs of the trainee and to possess certain qualifications.

i. A willingness to teach

II. An ability to communicate successfully

III. A self – awareness

IV. A perception of the feelings of others

In order that the Educational Supervisor can fulfill these onerous roles, he or she must possess the quality of enthusiasm.

Successful completion of Foundation Training will be based on Attendance of the Study Day Programme, Completion of the Portfolio, Audit, Key Skills, Case Presentation, Exit Interview and Educational Supervisor/Programme Director reports. A certificate will be issued by the Dean on successful completion of Foundation Training.

Benefits of working with Dental Therapists in Practice

Here is a link to video in which Jugminder Sanghera and Jodie Mahoney discuss how introducing dental therapists in your practice is a must, in order to carry out good work.

 

 

 

Here is a link to video in which Jodie Mahoney and Dental Foundation Training Programme Director, Shaam Shamsi, discuss why Dental Therapists are worth including in the practice team.