The Educational Supervisor: Glen Taylor: I qualified from Kings College London in 2000 and had been an ES on the Stevenage scheme for 10 years. Since graduating, I have worked in both NHS and Private practice and now find myself working in CDS because I wanted a new challenge. I still work with some access patients, but have found focusing on the care of children and adults with additional needs exceptionally rewarding. My move to CDS has also allowed me to develop my management skills, such as becoming the chair of the employee owned representative body.
In 2010 I was awarded Dentistry magazines "Best Young Dentist " for the South East region. I am also passionate about lifelong learning, gaining diploma’s in Restorative Dental Practice and Medical education. I also have a post graduate certificate in Advanced General Dental Practice, have studied Sports Dentistry; this has allowed me to pass on the new skills I have learnt to my FD's.
I have worked with over 12 FDs and have enjoyed every moment of it! I always have an open door and will be available to offer guidance, help and support whenever it is required. I find seeing my FD’s grow in confidence and develop their skills as the year progresses remarkably rewarding.
Lydia Chao: Lydia will be absent owing to maternity leave, and will not be playing an active role this training year.
The Practice: The Dental Care Centre (DCC) is a modern clinic containing 8 spacious surgeries, an x-ray room, a decontamination suite, a beautiful summer garden, a staff room and three separate office spaces. We have a bariatric chair, right/left handed units, a wheelchair recliner and 3 microscopes. All surgeries have built in facilities for inhalation sedation and we also provide IV sedation sessions. We have recently purchased 2 phantom heads to assist you with your educational needs.
Liverpool Road Is a 7-surgery clinic where you will work alongside other dentists and dental therapists. We are a well-established FD practice where the nurses are friendly, helpful and experienced and you will see a wide range of patients. Approximately 85% of our new FD’s work will involve treating those routine patients as you would in general practice giving you a similar experience to any other FD. However, you will also have the opportunity to:
- attend pediatric and special care GA sessions
- treat patients under Inhalation sedation
- shadow and learn from our team comprising of: endodontists, a periodontist, a special care specialist and a restorative consultant
- attend domiciliary care
- shadow or work on our mobile unit
- Put in the effort and we will offer you an amazing FD year with a twist!
Community Dental Service is a large social enterprise and we pride ourselves in delivering quality, patient-centred dental care.
The Areas: Bedford was founded on the River Great Ouse which passes through the town centre. We are close to Milton Keynes and are less than a 1 hour train ride from the centre of London. It is a great town and whilst many of our team reside locally, each year we have many different clinicians who choose to commute (drive or train) from the London area. Bedford hosts an annual international Kite festival, and bi annual River festival. Just outside the town lie the Cardington airship hangers, famous for the construction of the infamous R101. The hangars have been used to shoot scenes for movies such as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and Inception. Milton Keynes is great for shopping, and socialising. It has several cinemas including an IMAX, a ski centre, and a sky diving centre. Willen Lake is one of Milton Keynes’ most popular parks. Over one million visitors a year take part in water-sports activities, go cycling, enjoy the playground, try the high ropes course or simply picnic along Willen’s shores.
Luton is a diverse and exciting place to work and is easily accessible via the M1 and Thameslink rail network
Further information on CDS can be found at: www.communitydentalservices.co.uk
Other Points of Interest: What do previous FDs say?
Mahad Farrukh FD 2019-20: “I couldn’t have asked for a better environment to work at than CDS during my FD year! It will be a different feel to working in general practice, but I have found the perks of working here to be incredibly valuable for my development, a lot of which other FDs in other practices have missed out on. The staff here really are all friendly and approachable, all willing to provide support when you will most need it, particularly in the first few months of the FD year. Glen and Lydia are both exceptional ESs who have a wealth and breadth of knowledge to pass on relating to general practice and community settings, and yet are also so approachable to the point that you feel like another colleague of theirs rather than a student at Dental School – and this is something which is encouraged at CDS, to slowly but surely transition from a recent dental graduate to independent and confident clinician. We are very fortunate to have specialists to approach and seek advice from – periodontal, endodontic, special care, and restorative specialists to name a few – so you will never feel short of support here. The true colours of this depth of support has really shown through during the COVID-19 pandemic - we’ve been given some well organised and detailed tutorials over video conference calls each week, so that we are making the most of our time during this pandemic. All in all, one of the best decisions I made"
Further information on CDS can be found at: www.communitydentalservices.co.uk