What is an Educational Supervisor?
An educational supervisor is a named trainer who is appointed by the provider to be responsible for the overall supervision and management of a specified trainee’s educational progress during a training placement or series of placements.
An educational supervisor may be responsible for several trainees, but normally no more than four. Where possible, it is desirable for trainees to have the same educational supervisor for the whole of their training programme or for stages of training (e.g., the early years or more advanced years of training).
Educational supervisors should:
- Be adequately prepared for the role and understand educational theory and practical educational techniques
- Be trained to offer educational supervision and undertake appraisal and feedback 13
- Undertake training in competence assessment, appropriate for the level of trainee
- Be trained in equality and diversity
- Provide regular appraisal opportunities (a minimum of two per annum)
- Develop a learning agreement and educational objectives with the trainee which is mutually agreed and is the point of reference for future appraisal
- Be responsible for ensuring that trainees maintain and develop their portfolio and participate in the assessment process
- Provide regular feedback to trainees on their progress • Ensure that reports are completed within the necessary timescales
- Contact the employer and the Postgraduate Dental Dean should the level of performance of a trainee give rise for concern
- Be able to advise the trainee about access to career management
- Be responsible for their educational role to the TPD
A Reference Guide for Postgraduate Dental Core and Specialty Training in the UK (The Dental Gold Guide, 2023)
How do I become an Educational Supervisor?
Core and Specialty Training
Educational Supervisors in Dental Core and Specialty training programmes are appointed through the Trust. Once appointed, every Educational Supervisor should register with the School of Dentistry using this form: https://forms.office.com/e/EPYSgfHJtX
This allows us to have an accurate list of Educational Supervisor's so that we can ensure effective communications and access to training requirements.
Foundation Training
In Dental Foundation training programmes, the appointment programme is more formal, with an application being made annually.
| Start of January |
New applications and re-approval applications for Educational Supervisors open |
| Start of February | Application window closes |
| March | APLAN Registration opens for new applicants |
| March and April |
Practice Visits are required for all new dental practices. Reapproval practice visits are due every five years. Please ensure that your PM and ES Applicant are available the following weeks as we will be conducting the visits during these weeks:
New ES applicants at existing training practices will require a ES appraisal. |
| End of April |
Approval Panel is held Decisions will be communicated to all applicants. Where conditions need to be met prior to approval being confirmed, a deadline will be provided with a final decision on approval being made by the end of May. |
| Mid May | All applicants to reconfirm their intention to be an Educational Supervisor in the following year and to confirm the capacity at their practice. |
| Start of July | Confirmation that a Foundation Dentist has been allocated to the Educational Supervisor |
| 1st September | Training year commences |
What experience will be taken into consideration when applying to be a DFT Educational Supervisor?
- A minimum four years practice experience with full GDC registration in a general practice environment at the time of application.All dental specialisms which will enhance the Foundation Dentist experience will be considered (e.g. Orthodontics, endodontics, minor oral surgery, domiciliary visits, sedation).
- Minimum of one year in current practice with a significant NHS commitment.
- Ideally before applying an ES should have attended a ‘So You Want to Be A Trainer’ course or other regional equivalent which covers practice requirements and responsibilities of a trainer. If not, this can be completed during the application process.
Do I have to be in practice all the time?
You should have at least 3 coincident days where you are in the practice together with the FD. If you are not available full time the other two days should be supervised by either a joint trainer or another clinical supervisor in the practice. There should always be an additional dentist in the practice who can cover times when you are on holiday or ill.
What will be assessed at the practice visit and/or new ES appraisal?
- Practice equipment - please see DFT equipment requirements
- Clinical standards
- Professional standards
- Communication skills
- Leadership and Management skills
- Infection Control
- Health and Safety
- Radiography
- Medical Emergencies
- Patient Care
- Staff Managemenr and Development
- Clinical Governance
- Foundation Dentist's Surgery
What happens if circumstances change during the training year?
Please notify the Associate Dean for Dental Foundation Training and england.dentalsupport.yh@nhs.net in any of the following circumstances:
- Change of practice ownership without a change of Educational Supervisor
- Change of named Supervisor
- Changes to an FD's surgery
- Relocation of an FD to different premises
- Changes as a result of unplanned circumstances (such as ill health, force majeure or maternity leave) including change of existing Educational Supervisor or Educational Supervisor arrangement.
- Changes where the Educational Supervisor (s) or training practice could not continue to provide appropriate training in the long term (longer than one month)
- Where ES UDA’s fall below the minimum requirements of 1000 UDAs/yr or go above the maximum of 8000 UDAs
Where a change of Educational Supervisor or Training practice is proposed, the School of Dentistry reserves the right to terminate the agreement and move the FD.
Can I register my interest in becoming an Educational Supervisor now?
Yes. Please email england.dentalsupport.yh@nhs.net at any time during the year. They will keep a list of expressions of interest and will contact you once the application window opens.
Will I receive an annual appraisal?
Dental Foundation Training Educational Supervisor's will have an annual appraisal each year with their Training Programme Director. This will normally take place in November/December. Your Training Programme Director will contact you directly to arrange this.
What are the training requirements for an Educational Supervisor?
The Educator Development Framework below details both the mandatory training requirements for all Educational Supervsiors, as well as other optional training opportunities.
We try our best to include a range of courses that apply to all streams of Dentistry and our Educational Supervisors are constantly looking for new courses to further develop their skills. For any suggestions to improve our current Educator Development Framework, please contact england.dentalsupport.yh@nhs.net.
There is a Dental Educator Development Day held in November each year. Further details on the 2025 event are available on Maxcourse.
Further Information
Useful Information for Educational Supervisors on Dental Foundation Training is available here: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/gXyoNQfaZnRXjMov?ref=email
