Dental Foundation Training

Jason Atkinson, Associate Postgraduate Dental Dean

As Associate Postgraduate Dental Dean for primary care Dental Foundation training in NHS England working across the Yorkshire and Humber region, I oversee the education of all Dental Foundation Trainees on the DFT programme, the two-year JDFCT programme, Dental Therapy Foundation Training (DTFT) and the PLVE programme (Performer List Validation by Experience).

I have broad experience across Foundation Training and Multi-Professional Education, having previously worked as a Training Program Director, Dental Tutor, Educational Supervisor and a Vocational Trainee.

As Associate Postgraduate Dean I am fortunate and proud to work with a great team. This team, from Educational and Clinical Supervisors, DCP’s, TPD’s and the many Support staff that work in our training practices and for NHSE have one goal; to support and develop our trainees through a challenging and rewarding year. I recognise that these early years are crucial in developing skills and behaviours that will go onto shape the basis of our trainee’s long-term success and happiness in General Practice.

Policies and Processes

Details of the processes and systems used with the School of Dentistry are available here.

Details of the policies and guidance used within NHS England Yorkshire and the Humber are available here.

Areas

Recruitment for Dental Foundation training is via a National Recruitment process. In NHS England working across the Yorkshire and Humber region, trainees are based in NHS general dental practices working with dental practitioners who are experienced Foundation Trainers. There are currently 8 schemes within the Yorkshire and Humber region and these are divided up between:

Area 1 - mainly North Yorkshire and Humber with some posts in West Yorkshire

Area 2 - mainly West Yorkshire with some posts in South Yorkshire

Area 3 - South Yorkshire

Joint Dental Foundation and Core Training (JDFCT Scheme) - The JDFCT scheme is a two year scheme alternating between practice and secondary care and covers all areas of Yorkshire and the Humber.

Placements for these positions are distributed across Yorkshire and the Humber, with training spread across primary and secondary care, over two years. By the end of your training you have the opportunity to gain both DFT and DCT1 completion.

Local Allocation and Schemes

Trainees have the option to preference the training practices.

All successful trainees will be sent a link, after recruitment has been completed, which will contain a practice profile of the approved training practices in the trainees' allocated area (Area 1, Area 2, Area 3 or DFTDCT). This will take place in mid-June, once the outcomes of the university final exams are known.

The list of practices in the region will not be available before this date.

The trainee will then rank all of the practices in their area via an online portal and will be advised of their allocated training practice shortly afterwards.

You will receive notification from Dental Support when this process will open and the deadline for completing the ranking.

You will be notified of the practice you have been appointed to and the Scheme that this is within. Details of the Schemes is available here.

Lead Employer

In YH, we have a Lead Employer for all Dental Foundation placements.

For Foundation Dentists and JDFCT1s from September 2025, this is Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust. Their contact details is lead.employer@sthk.nhs.uk.

For JDFCT2s, this is Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Their email address is leedsth-tr.medicalrecruitment@nhs.net.

The Lead Employer will hold your employment contract so will be your main point of contact for the following:

Pay and Pensions
Annual leave
Absence including sick leave, parental leave and adoption leave
Travel expenses
Requesting an NHS.net email address

DFT Curriculum

The one year foundation training programme covers four main areas: Clinical, Communication, Professionalism, and Leadership and Management. Within these areas, trainees must attain key skills and abilities. These are known as “major competencies”. Click on link to the COPDEND website.

This training year (2024-25) we will be trialling the Early Years Curriculum. The training curriculum statement can be found here.

Social Media Guidance

Please ensure that you are aware of the BMA and GDC guidance on appropriate use of social media.

BMA - Ethics of Social Media Use
GDC - Guidance on Using Social Media

Community Projects

There are a wide range of community projects for Foundation Dentists to get involved in. These are an excellent opportunity to work with a range of demographics, inlcuding homlessness, refugees and communities that struggle to access dental care, to enhance your skills and support your completion of the DFT curriculum.

Benefits of participating in these projects includes:

Increased understanding of these services
Access to other volunteering projects
Increased understanding of commissioning issues, patients with high needs, social issues, complex medical histories, equality and diversity, fairness in society, ethics
Working within other teams, working in other spaces, dentistry outside ‘practice’
Management and leadership opportunities.
Interaction with local schools for works experience for up and coming dentists

Bevan

Bevan House is a flagship medical practice based in Bradford which provides a range of integrated medical and social care to refugees, asylum seekers and unregistered patients. It is a medical outreach centre where FDs support the practice by providing dental education, basic prevention and screening following a medical examination for those refugees and asylum seekers just entering the country.

You have the opportunity to see how this type of integrated medical and dental care works in the interest of patients.