Dentistry is an ever-evolving field of healthcare with dental techniques and technology constantly and rapidly changing, so keeping up to date with the latest developments to provide patients with the best possible care whilst continually building skills and knowledge is key to future proofing an exciting and fulfilling career.
Dental professionals at Newcastle Hospitals work both independently at the Newcastle Dental Hospital and as key members of many multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, surgeons and other allied health professionals offering the most up to date, professionally evidenced and critically appraised advice.
Professional development ensures we provide consistently high standards of patient care which can be literally life-changing.
As our Trust provides the second largest breadth of specialist services in the UK, including major trauma, maxillo-facial reconstruction and head and neck cancer services, we offer excellent career prospects and are committed to ensuring our dental professionals have access to all the education and development support that they might need.
Dental professions
Our specialist Dental Hospitals our professions include:
- Dental nurses
- Dental radiographers
- Dental sedation practitioners
- Dental technicians
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Lifelong learning and development throughout your career is at the heart of what it means to be a successful dental professional
CPD provides a supportive framework to ensure you not only stay compliant with your regulatory body (it is mandated by the General Dental Council) but also be able to demonstrate high levels of competence in your profession whilst refreshing existing skills and gaining new ones.
Dedicated and protected time for CPD forms part of your supporting professional activities within your job plan and therefore this should be factored into your working week to ensure you can continue to develop as a clinician.
CPD support at Newcastle Hospitals
Career aspirations can be discussed at annual appraisals in close liaison with line managers, or at any other time of the year, to help understand and plan how we can help you to take steps forward and achieve your goals.
For example, you may wish to specialise in a particular area of practice or explore teaching or research. Further training can support you to prepare for a future role – you may wish to become an advanced clinical practitioner or progress into management.
Annual appraisals help to shape personal development plans to set out learning opportunities which can be provided either in-house or externally.
Remember
You have the power to make your own decisions about which CPD activities are most beneficial to you, your practice and your career.
General Dental Council (GDC) support
CPD is a vital part of the regulatory system that protects the public and patients and is compulsory part of GDC registration for all dental professionals. Not meeting minimum CPD requirements can put your ability to practise dentistry at risk.
An Enhanced CPD scheme was introduced by the GDC in 2018 setting out all CPD requirements including:
- Completion of a minimum number of verifiable CPD hours for your profession over a five-year cycle including a minimum of 10 hours of CPD in every two-year period, including when you end one CPD cycle and start a new one.
- Making a CPD statement by making either an annual or end of cycle statement as part your annual renewal of registration, even if you have not completed any CPD during that year.
- Ensuring your CPD is relevant to your field(s) of practice.
To support its members to uphold the highest standards of professional practice and to develop themselves continually throughout their working lives, the GDC offers a wide range of support and activities.
Their website has a dedicated Education and CPD zone which includes:
- Enhanced CPD scheme requirements for all dental professionals
- Guidance on keeping CPD records including activity log and personal development plan templates
- How to submit CPD statements
- The importance and benefits of reflective practice
- Recommendations of CPD topics
Clinical practice and development support
Our dental professionals can access dedicated clinical learning and practice education support with signposting to a wide and diverse range of resources.
Lorraine Olsen, Dental Nurse Manager
Email: lorraine.olsen@nhs.net
Contact us
- To find out more about how to benefit from CPD funding and other learning and development opportunities at Newcastle Hospitals, speak to your line manager in the first instance or get in touch with our Newcastle Clinical Skills Academy team.