As HEE and NHS England come together on 1 April 2023, agreement has been reached that all dental applications to join the NHS (England) (Dental) Performers List will be managed in accordance with the existing NHS England Policy for Managing Applications to Join the England Performers Lists (published 11 February 2022). From this date all applicants who are not exempt from foundation training under Regulation 34 (4) (c) and who would previously have been assessed by the HEE Performers List Validation by Experience (PLVE) scheme will instead be invited to engage in a structured conversation process to assess their knowledge, skills and experience. There will not be a separate ‘PLVE’ application form and no fee will be payable by any applicant to NHS England.

The structured conversation will be conducted jointly by an NHS England Dental Advisor and a representative of the Post-graduate Dental Deans. If learning or support needs are identified, an educational/clinical support plan (ECSP) will be drawn up jointly by the Dental Advisor and representative of the Dental Deans and offered to the applicant using Agreement Terms to enable the applicant to practice under the terms set out in the Agreement. The Agreement will set out how success against the terms will be monitored and the process to be followed if for whatever reason the agreement terms are not satisfactorily completed. Until any amendment to the Regulations is enacted, the assessment of equivalence under Regulation 34 (4) (c) will be linked to the requirement of the ECSP and will be used to bring forward evidence of equivalence at the end of the Agreement Term period.

This process mirrors that already in place for EEA-qualified dentists and returners, and in addition to ensuring equitable treatment of all applicants, seeks to address perceived barriers to overseas dentists joining the NHS primary care dental workforce.

The first quarter of 2023/24 will provide a transitional phase to ensure that this streamlined process is managed effectively and safely. The following principles will apply during the transition period:

1. No fees will be payable to NHSE on or after 1st April 2023 regardless of where an applicant is in the process.
2. There will be no reimbursement of fees paid prior to 1st April 2023.
3. Applicants who have been included on the Performers List under the HEE PLVE route prior to 1st April 2023 will continue on that route and their portfolio will be assessed by former HEE colleagues.
4. Applicants who have not been included by 1st April will be considered under the new route described above.