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Job summary

Main area
Dental
Grade
GP Educator GP00
Contract
Fixed term: 6 months (Starting from 01/09/2026 until 31/03/2027)
Hours
Part time - 3 sessions per week (12 hours per week)
Job ref
990-MID-EC1387-E
Employer
NHS England
Employer type
NHS
Site
23 Stephenson Street
Town
Birmingham
Salary
£113,917 3 Sessions at GP00 (progressing to GP01 subject to review)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/04/2026 23:59
Interview date
09/06/2026

Employer heading

NHS England logo

Dental Foundation Training Programme Director

GP Educator GP00

Our Organisation

The NHS is building a culture that is positive, compassionate and inclusive – and we all have our part to play.

As employers we are committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution and supports us to be an Employer of Choice, while helping our colleagues to deliver high quality services for our patients and communities.

As a flexible employer, we want to support you to work in a way that is best for the NHS, our patients and you. Talk to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time, hybrid working or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer which means that every colleague working for our organisation and third-party contractors will earn a real Living Wage.  We are one of over 15,000 organisations, who voluntarily chose to pay the real Living Wage.

Job overview

The Training Programme Director is responsible for the co-ordination, running and quality control of the Dental Foundation Training programme across a defined regional Midlands footprint. There are currently approximately 15 trainees allocated to each scheme, but this is subject to change based on a review of the regional and national programme numbers.

The educator roles are usually recruited to substantive posts, however due to NHSE organisational change currently we are only able to offer contract till 31 March 2027. We are hoping this will be reviewed soon and is also subject to a satisfactory appraisal outcome. The postholder reports to the Associate Postgraduate Dean (APD) for Foundation Training.

The post is 3 sessions per week (each session equates to 4 hours) and will be based in the Midlands region covering the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Scheme.

Main duties of the job

Management of defined Scheme directing the local scheme study programme ensuring the programme meets curriculum requirements and e-portfolio management and feedback for trainees.

Build key relationships with Regional Postgraduate Dental Dean, Heads of School, Associate Postgraduate Deans and relevant NHSE (WT&E) staff, Educational Supervisors, Training Programme Directors across Midlands region.

Co-ordination and participation in the Interim and Final Review of Competency Progression (IRCP and FRCP) process in consultation with the Dental Dean as necessary

Overseeing the progress of individual trainees through the curriculum; ensure learning objectives are set, appropriate assessments carried out, and appropriate supervision and support

Support Educational Supervisors (ES) in the programme, advising on trainees with difficulties and liaising with the Trainee Support Tutor, PSU and Lead Employer.

Input into Educational Supervisor recruitment and development including supporting Induction and Educational events, including undertaking practice visits under the International Dental Graduate process.

Provide support for dentists in training who are experiencing competence or performance difficulties, with referral to the Professional Support Unit if required, and ensure that the Postgraduate Dental Dean, Associate Dean and Trainee Support Lead is advised of potential problems at an early stage.

Working for our organisation

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

  • Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
  • Making the NHS a great place to work, where people can develop and make a difference
  • Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
  • Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
  • Delivering value for money

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in-person.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and any other supporting documents.

Secondments 

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application. 

Person specification

Behaviours and Values

Essential criteria
  • Able to demonstrate NHSE WT&E’s values and commitment to the values described in the NHS Constitution
  • Commitment to own personal development
  • Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Commitment and enthusiasm for education and training
  • Adaptable in approach including the flexibility to work in changing environments
  • Work as part of a team to support others and improve services

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Problem solving abilities and a flexible, practical approach
  • Excellent communication, coaching and liaison skills – a readiness to listen and empathise
  • Good organisational ability, including time management
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, written and verbal presentation skills
  • Able to gain trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support to others
  • Ability to support others (pastoral skills) and to help others develop and progress
  • Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty

Experience and Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Current or recent Educational Supervisor
  • Good working knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes
  • Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
  • Experience of working with learners in training in a Primary Care NHS setting
  • Experience of clinical and educational leadership
  • Awareness of the issues around dealing with trainees who are failing to progress and require additional support
  • Have genuine enthusiasm for education and relevant, up-to-date training in teaching methods
  • Have detailed, up-to-date knowledge of the DFT curriculum, portfolio, selection criteria, examinations, FRCP and other assessment methods
  • An experienced Primary Care Dental Practitioner with a current demonstrable personal NHS commitment to primary dental care, which should be maintained throughout the tenure of the TPD role
Desirable criteria
  • Previous or current appointment as a leader in healthcare education
  • Previous experience in the recruitment and selection
  • Awareness of funding streams for healthcare education
  • Understanding of current health, social care and education policy
  • An understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • Fully registered with the General Dental Council as a Dentist
  • Equality and diversity training in the last 3 years
  • Training in appraisal and giving feedback
  • Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development
Desirable criteria
  • Higher educational qualification such as a postgraduate certificate, diploma or master’s in education
  • Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty or professional association relevant to the role
  • Training in recruitment and selection methods

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoDisability confident committedStep into healthAccredited Living Wage Employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Claire Tulloch
Job title
PA to Post Graduate Dental Dean
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01164788642
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