Foundation Training (North West)

Programme aim

• To support the transition of newly qualified Dental Therapists into primary dental practice

• Provide a structured and nurturing learning environment

• DT can further develop skills and ability to provide high quality care

• Outcome - to produce caring, competent, reflective practitioners who are able to meet the needs of patients

NHSE DTFT Programme Team

• Head of Dental Workforce Transformation and Quality Planning

• Training Programme Manager

• Associate Dean

• Dental Programme Officer

• Dental Education Coordinator

Outline of the Programme

• Areas covered: South Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside

• 1 st Sept to 31st August

• 2-3 days employed at training practice

• Study programme

• Two-weekly tutorials in practice

• E-portfolio

DTFT Programme Curriculum

• Four ‘Domains’ within competency framework

  • Clinical

  • Communication

  • Professionalism

  • Management and Leadership

• Major competencies

• Evidence and regular assessments

• Summative judgement

Study Day Programme

• Approx 18 study days – some will be with Foundation Dentists

• DTFTs (Dental Foundation Therapist Trainees) can also access relevant courses on Maxcourse for free

Training Practices

• Approved training practices

• DTFT will be employed

• Educational Supervisor

• Support, guidance, feedback, assessments

• Time given to carry out treatments - 1hr

• Provide two-weekly tutorials

Tutorial Examples

• Local anaesthesia

• Caries management

• Medications/medical histories

• Materials

• Radiography techniques/interpretation

• Oral lesions

• Anxious patients

• Impressions

• Rubber dam

• Record keeping

• Composite techniques

• Cavity preps

• Oral medicine

• Safeguarding

• Clinical photography

• Extraction techniques

• Exams and treatment planning

Clinical Experience

• Gain a range of experience in all areas of Scope of Practice

• Restorative skills high priority

• DTFT records clinical experience on e-portfolio

E-Portfolio

• Learning development tool

• Provides evidence of DTFT progression

E-portfolio: Work-Based Assessments - ADEPTS

• ADEPTS (Dental Evaluation Performance Tool)

  • Observed throughout whole appointment

  • Performance scored in each relevant category

  • ES to spend time giving feedback and discussing any learning needs

  • DTFT scored on insight into their performance

E-portfolio: Work-Based Assessments – Case-based Discussions

• Verbal presentation of management of a case to the Educational Supervisor using clinical records

• ES will ask questions and grade on insight

• ES notes areas of good performance and areas for development

• DTFT reflects

Learning/Development Needs

E-portfolio - Questionnaires

• Patient Satisfactory Questionnaire (PSQ)

  • ES analyses and moderates the replies before publishing the report

• Multi-Source Feedback Questionnaire (MSFQ)

  • Feedback from colleagues

Other Learning Requirements

• Record card review

• Carry out an audit within the practice

• Case study presentation - 10 minute PP presentation of a patient you have treated

Review of Competency Progression (RCP)

• Early Stage Review

  • Report of progress so far

• Interim Competency Review

  • Report of performance from assessments and other information collected

• Final Competency Review

  • Report of development and progress since IRCP

Self Reflection and ES Feedback

• Essential for learning to take place

• DTFT must reflect on:

  • All work-based assessments

  • ES tutorials

  • Monthly experiences

  • Study days

• ES will provide feedback on your work and selfreflections

Sample of DTFT Feedback 2021

• I have learnt so many new skills and felt so much more confident than when I started. I really feel like I have progressed since last year.

• It was great to have the support from the staff and be with a cohort of newly qualified therapists who were experiencing the same challenges.

• Lots of support both from my ES and the course tutors. The training days were really helpful and we were able to focus on aspects of work we were finding difficult. The tutors were great at responding quickly to any questions we had and the feedback from my ES was very useful.

• Allowed me to gain confidence and build my experience.

Salary and Benefits

• Employed by the training practice

• Paid £136 per day

• Work 2-3 days

• Paid for study days

• Paid for travel to study days

• Tutorial time within working hours

• Funding to attend BADT Conference

• Can lead to permanent post

Top Tips

1. Maintain your professionalism

2. Don’t expect to be a fabulous, competent clinician right away, learn from your (inevitable) mistakes and other clinicians around you

3. Don’t try and run before you can walk, work within your knowledge and competence

4. Look for a supportive practice if not doing DTFT

5. Don’t lower your standards

6. Join an association such as BADT and BSDHT and network with colleagues

Further Information and Application Form

• https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/dental-foundationtherapist-training-scheme

• Closing date for Sept 2024 intake Friday 29th March

• For any questions, email: catherine.fogg@nhs.net tracy.thompson31@nhs.net