Please click on the following link to view the Vocational Training Portfolio 2011-2012 

Vocational Training is currently managed by a team of Dental Advisers and Administrative staff under the direction of the Postgraduate Dental Dean.

The aims of vocational training (VT) for the General Dental Services (GDS) are to meet the needs of unsupervised general dental practice by developing the clinical skills learned as an undergraduate and teaching administrative and practice management skills to promote high ethical standards and quality care for patients.

The aims are achieved by:

• introducing the Vocational Dental Practitioner (VDP) to general dental practice;
• identifying personal strengths and weaknesses and balancing them through a planned programme of training;
• enabling the VDP to practise and improve skills free from undue financial pressure;
• promoting the implementation of peer and self-review;
• establishing the need for professional education, training and audit as a continuing process throughout the dentist’s professional life.
  

The objective of VT is that the VDP should be eligible to practise unsupervised as a principal within the GDS. By the end of the training period the VDP should be able to:

• demonstrate the clinical skills, knowledge and values relevant to the work of a GDS principal;
• demonstrate the necessary knowledge and some of the skills for the organisation and management of successful practice; 
•  manage the psychological aspects of patient care;
• work successfully as a member of the practice team;
• make competent and confident professional decisions with an awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses, including the need to refer when appropriate;
• demonstrate that he or she is working within the relevant guidelines regarding ethics and confidentiality of general dental practice;
• implement regulations and guidelines for the delivery of safe practice;
• know how to draw on the wide range of advice and support available to general dental practitioners and health care workers;
• demonstrate that he or she understands that continuing professional development should be a lifelong commitment.

For any further information or to answer any queries you may have, please contact Lesley Whan, Dental Training Co-ordinator at NIMDTA at lesley.whan@nimdta.gov.uk or Telephone 028 90400014.