| 25 November 2024
Skills for Health has launched a public consultation in support of a review of the Oral Health National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Dental Nursing. The consultation has opened following the publication of the General Dental Council’s (GDC) Safe Practitioner Standards in November of last year.
A UK-wide steering group and subject matter experts have been working in tandem to align the content of the NOS to the new Safe Practitioner Framework.
Skills for Health is inviting individuals and organisations to contribute to the review via an online survey before midday on 23 December 2024.
Take part in the surveyCaroline Taylor, Associate Postgraduate Dental Dean at NHS Education for Scotland, is chair of the steering group responsible for undertaking the Oral Health NOS review. Explaining the importance of the review to the future of the profession, she said:
“The National Occupational Standards (NOS) Strategy 2022 aims to refine and modernise the NOS and ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in creating a skilled workforce, for now and the future. The NOS underpin all apprenticeships and vocational qualifications in Scotland.
“The GDC has published the new Safe Practitioner Framework which details behaviours and outcomes for dental professional education, and the clinical knowledge and skills specific to the scope of practice of each professional group.
“Therefore, to ensure that the Oral Health (Dental Nursing) NOS are fit for purpose for the future dental workforce and are reflective GDC Safe Practitioner Framework by August 2025, all of the Dental Nursing standards have been reviewed and updated for consultation.”
Skills for Health is the Sector Skills Council responsible for the development and review of the Oral Health NOS. Heading up the charity’s NOS project team is Maeve O’Connell, who comments:
“What it means for an individual to be deemed competent and able to fulfil their duties to an agreed standard is something that changes over time.
“The underlying aim of this review therefore is to help bring forward the skills development required to maintain service standards and ensure alignment with regulatory standards in the dental sector.
“Against this background, the consultation gives scope for any necessary fine tuning to ensure that we have a workable set of NOS that can be used across the UK for many years to come.”
Take part before midday on 23 December 2024.
Take part in the survey