Supporting dentists qualified overseas

SpaDental supports dentists qualified overseas

SpaDental group offers support to dentists from overseas who are registered with the GDC as therapists and wish to work in England while they wait for an opportunity to sit their Overseas Registration Examinations (ORE) or Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS).

Lucy Tupman is Clinical Director for SpaDental, and a dentist at SpaDental Chard. 
“In my role as Clinical Director, I enjoy helping colleagues to perform to high clinical standards. Understanding how training and operating procedures vary from country to country, I act as a mentor, helping clinicians new to practising in England understand how we work. As well as helping them feel confident that they fulfil both patient expectations and CQC standards, I believe our collaboration increases their chance of successfully achieving GDC recognition as dentists.”

New hires begin a supportive induction programme

The recruitment process, includes a clinical interview, preferably face-to-face but online is an option when location or travel is prohibitive. Once offered a position and contract, the clinicians have a structured induction before meeting their own patients.

Clinicians begin in the practice, or practices, where they will be based. They spend time with the practice manager and nurses, learning their way around the facilities and getting used to our practice management software, R4.  They also begin the induction training mandatory for all staff, such as health and safety procedures, evacuation drills, and safe-guarding.

The next two days are spent at SpaDental Chard, a mixed practice in Somerset. During the morning sessions, clinicians are scheduled to see patients for hygiene treatments, supported by experienced team members who can help build familiarity with tools and materials. The Clinical Director opens her surgery in the afternoon, and the clinician provides patients with treatment within their scope of practice under supervision. We also schedule time for examinations of children’s teeth.

The induction ends with a feedback session highlighting the clinicians strengths, and also discussing areas to develop and opportunities for professional development (CPD).  At this point, provided assessment criteria are met, the Clinical Director signs clinicians off to practice independently as dental therapists.

If the clinician needs additional support after the first induction week, they are given specific learning objectives, and signposted to relevant CPD courses to undertake in their own time and at their own cost.  During this time, the scope of dental activity the clinician can engage in will be restricted, but they will be able to work. Moreover, as soon as they feel ready, we schedule another session of direct clinical observation in Chard, aiming to sign them off for independent work within their full scope of practice.

Ongoing support

At the end of each week, for the first month, an individual catch up is scheduled to discuss any concerns the clinician has, as well as any feedback from managers and patients. Regular, open conversations help the clinicians understand their patient base and develop in their role.

After a month, clinicians are effectively ‘graduated’, but the team keeps in close communication so no-one should ever feel as though they are working in isolation.

Clinicians, whether they are new to SpaDental, or have been with us for a while, are all encouraged to ask for advice or support for any concerns.  The Clinical Director has an open door policy encouraging all clinicians to come directly to her with their clinical queries. In addition, information is regularly shared about clinical courses, relevant or essential CPD, and clinical updates.

Working towards success

Our dentists with overseas qualifications are valued members of the whole team. We appreciate their positivity and the important contribution they are making in their practices. Moreover, we hope our support helps our clinicians secure the ORE/LDS results they need so they can continue as successful dentists.

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