Being an Educational Supervisor (ES) for Dental Foundation Training can be very rewarding and brings with it additional opportunities.  Many Educational Supervisors relish the opportunity to develop the skills of the dentists of the future as well as enhancing their own. An ES is an experienced NHS general dental practitioner with high clinical standards, good ethical values, is currently included on the National Performers. An ES needs to have the skills to create a learning environment for the trainee, and to assess the learning that takes place.   

The ES must:

• be available to provide help and advice, be it at the chairside or otherwise
• undertake a weekly tutorial lasting one hour, during normal working hours.
• the ES is also required to take part in not less than 14 sessions (7 days) of postgraduate activity associated with Dental Foundation Training but most of these sessions are taken up with attendance at events and meetings organised by the Scheme or the Region.

ESs and FDs are formed locally into  schemes comprising of 14-16 FD’s and their Educational Supervisors. Schemes are managed by Training Programme Directors.

Programme Details 

Dental Foundation Training and Dental Therapy Foundation Training programmes both start on 1st September each year and lasts for a period of twelve months, during which four weeks holiday may be taken (plus Bank Holidays). On Satisfactory Completion of one year of Dental Foundation Training year in an approved and quality managed training scheme and practice. Foundation Dentists are awarded a Foundation Training Certificate which allows for full acceptance to the NHS Performers List. Foundation Therapist are awarded a Certificate of Participate with listed competencies.

Foundation Dentists will attend a maximum of 30 study days during the training year. On weeks when there is a study day the FD will work in practice for 28 hours. 

Satisfactory Completion of Dental Foundation Training is mandatory for a full listing on the NHS Dental Performers List. During the Foundation Training programme, FDs will undertake many different assessments and these will be recorded in an on-line ePortfolio.  The ePortfolio is used as an educational aid throughout the year.  On a regular basis each FD records achievements and concerns,  and describes and analyses events that have occurred recently.  The Educational Supervisor works with the FD and the ePortfolio to produce action plans and regular assessments of development.

During the period of Training the ES is paid a Training Fee of £11,700 per annum (£975 per month). A sum representing the service cost of employing the FD of £5,347 per month is also paid (figures correct at November 2023).The FDs are employed by a Lead Employer and work at the practice (Host Organisation) 

At the end of the year, the FD may wish to remain in general dental practice or alternatively may wish to leave to enter a hospital post.  In the past, many FDs have remained at their Training practices as a full NHS Performer and gained further precious experience, however this is not always possible.  

Dental Therapst Foundation Training  has some varianace - more inforamtion can be found in the Dental Foundation Recruitment Guidance notes. 

Outline Conditions

To be selected as an Educational Supervisor these are some of the outline conditions:

• You must have significant experience as a performer in NHS Primary Care (typically equivalent to four years full time experience), and in your present practice for not less than one year.
• You must have a personal commitment to the NHS of not less than 1,000 UDAs or £25,000 per annum.
• You have to provide a surgery for the Foundation Trainee to work in, together with a trained and experienced dental nurse
• You must be available in the practice for at least three days a week whilst the FD is working, and you are expected to be able to make yourself available for help throughout the day.
• There must also be the presence of another dentist, able and prepared to provide supervision of the FD in the practice at times when the ES is not present

More detailed information can be found in the Practice and Person Specification documents