The Dental Workforce Development Team
The Dental Workforce Development Team commissions courses to upskill dentists and dental care professionals working across Yorkshire and the Humber in NHS primary care. We provide a variety of courses including Level 2 training in Paediatric and Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Champion training and courses designed to reskill dental therapists. Each of our Dental Tutors has a different portfolio and is keen to engage with stakeholders and the local workforce to develop relevant training opportunities.
Joe Vere, Associate Dental Dean
BDS, MMedSci (Dental Implantology), MPros, FDS (Rest Dent), PhD.
Joe graduated from Cardiff Dental School in 1999 and was appointed as a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry in Leicester in 2015. Prior to commencing specialist training Joe spent 11 years working in general dental practice. In 2018, he completed a PhD at the University of Sheffield, analysing the importance of evidence-based medicine. Joe was Training Programme Director for Restorative Dentistry in South Yorkshire before being appointed as Associate Dental Dean with responsibility for Dental Workforce Development in January 2020. In this role he oversees the upskilling of dentists and dental care professionals working in NHS primary care to meet local and national priorities.
Joe has always been passionate about postgraduate dental education and has lectured extensively across South Yorkshire and the Midlands. As Associate Dental Dean he has overseen the successful development of Level 2 training programme in Paediatric and Special Care Dentistry, a leadership framework for dental care professionals and a number of national asynchronous learning resources. Joe has a keen interest in innovation and evaluation science and actively works with local stakeholders to commission high-quality education resources.
Julia Armstrong, Lead Dental Care Professional Tutor
Julia is the lead Dental Care Professional tutor at NHSE Yorkshire and the Humber where she supports dental teams through the provision of education and training.
Julia spent over 30 years working as a dental nurse in general dental practice. After qualifying, she completed various post registration certificates and extended duties before developing skills as an educator. She graduated in 2013 from the University of Huddersfield with an Honours Degree in Education and Training, completed the Post Graduate Certificate in Digital Education at the University of Leeds, and is currently enrolled on a Professional Leadership Masters.
Alongside her HEE role, Julia works at Leeds Dental School, in the School of DCP Education where she quality assures pre-registration dental nurse education and post qualifications. She sits on the Yorkshire and Humber Dental Workforce Strategy Group, the UK Dental Workforce Development Advisory Group to COPDEND, and both the North and South Yorkshire Local Dental Networks. Julia is a subject matter expert for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses, developing education and examinations to meet regulatory requirements.
Julia is a Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Trainers [FDT] at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and is an executive committee member of the FDT. She is also a Member of the Royal Society for Public Health.
Contact: julia.armstrong4@nhs.net
Esther McDerra, Dental Tutor
Esther is the Major Events Dental Tutor for NHS England (Yorkshire and the Humber) with responsibility for commissioning postgraduate dental education for the whole dental team. Her role involves organizing larger scale core and topical courses.
Esther is also a Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry based in the Community Dental Service and is dedicated to work based training within her specialty. She is a clinical supervisor for dental core trainees and is also involved in teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students at Leeds Dental Institute. She has recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education at the University of Leeds.
Contact: e.mcderra@nhs.net
Geradline Birks, DCP Tutor
Geraldine is one of the DCP Dental Workforce Development Tutors for NHS England responsible for identification and commissioning of high-quality education to meet the needs of the dental workforce.
Geraldine is also a Clinical Case Examiner and Investigating Committee Chair for the General Dental Council, a Dental Specialist Adviser for the Care Quality Commission and is a Lay Member on the Registration and Advisory Committee of the General Optical Council.
Geraldine is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and sits on their Executive Committee of the Faculty of Dental Trainers. She is a Member of the Royal Society of Public Health and the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthetics in Dentistry.
Geraldine holds a BA (Hons) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education, is a dental Licentiate, a Legionella Responsible Person and is qualified in dental conscious sedation and oral health education.
Contact: geraldine.birks@nhs.net
Paul Wright, Dental Tutor
Paul qualified at Sheffield in 1980 and has 38 years experience of working in and running an NHS practice.
Paul has been a tutor in postgraduate education since 2003 and currently holds the positions of Postgraduate Dental Tutor (Sheffield) and Restoring the Efficiency of Registrants (RER) Adviser (Yorkshire and the Humber)
Contact: paul.wright8@nhs.net
Rachael Nichol, Dental Tutor
Rachael is the Regional Advisor in Community Dentistry for Health Education England (Yorkshire and the Humber) with responsibility to produce courses for the whole dental team with a relevance to the Salaried Dental Services.
Rachael is a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry based in the salaried dental service and has over 16 years of experience of working with children in the CDS. She has a passion for training and has recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education at the University of Leeds. She is also involved in the teaching and supervision of dentists at core and specialist level.
Contact: rachael.nichol1@nhs.net
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Steve Ross is a general dental practitioner in Guiseley, near Leeds who is Postgraduate Tutor with focus on practical, hands-on courses in the Yorkshire region. Contact: stephenross88@hotmail.com |
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Trevor Johnson, BDS, MFDS, DPDS, MSc, MHPE, FHEA, FFGDP(UK), FDSRCSEng is a Postgraduate Tutor at Health Education England (Yorkshire and the Humber), working as part of the Dental Workforce Development Team, based at Leeds University. His role involves commissioning postgraduate dental education for the whole dental team and he also sits on the Yorkshire and Humber Local Dental Network, which helps to inform the Deanery’s role in Workforce Development. He is a full time clinician for Defence Primary Health Care (DPHC). In addition to this role, he is the DPHC Northern England and Scotland research lead for Medicine and Dentistry. Trevor has been an editor at the Cochrane Oral Health Group for many years and is an author of systematic reviews. He is a member of the INTERVAL NiHR Trial Study Group into dental recall. He also teaches part time at Hull York Medical School and works within the Department of Medical education. Trevor was on the National Board of FGDP(UK) and helped develop the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties examination, (MJDF), being appointed the Chair from 2012 until 2016. Contact: trevor.johnson2@nhs.net |
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Sarah is one of the DCP tutors in the Dental Workforce Development team at Health Education England (Yorkshire and the Humber). She is based at Don Valley house in Sheffield and lives and works in this area. Sarah studied law at university before her career change into dentistry. She has worked in the field for over 13 years, qualifying as a dental nurse before moving onto practice management over 6 years ago. Sarah gained the ILM in Leadership and Management in 2022 and currently manages two mixed general dental practices alongside her HEE role.
Sarah brings a wealth of experience to the team and is passionate about supporting the development of practice managers and the wider DCP workforce. Sarah has a special interest in peer review and will be providing opportunities for engagement and learning across the region. Sarah would love to hear from all DCPs, particularly those in the South Yorkshire region and can be contacted at sarah.brown235@nhs.net. |
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Donna Ashby DipHE in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, NVQ L3 Oral Health Care: Dental Nursing. Donna has worked with in dentistry for 25 years starting her journey as a Dental nursing then completing the certificate in Oral Health Education, Orthodontics and Radiology. After 11 years Donna started the Dental Hygiene and Therapy course at Sheffield University and for the last 11 years she has been working in general practice as a Hygiene Therapist. Donna has worked in several practices over her career working in both NHS and Private practices and have supported DTFT’s in primary care as an Educational Supervisor. Donna has joined the workforce development team as a Dental Care Professional Tutor for Health Education England, based at Blenheim House Leeds. This role involves the development, provision, and commissioning of high quality CPD and training for the workforce across the region. Contact: donna.ashby3@nhs.net .
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Divya has been the Postgraduate Dental Tutor for HEE Yorkshire and Humber since 2011 as part of the Dental Workforce Development Team. She is a Consultant Oral Surgeon at Bradford Teaching Hospitals and has an active role in training and education both in the region and nationally through sitting on the Council of the British Association of Oral Surgeons (BAOS) and on the Committee of the West Yorkshire Managed Clinical Network (MCN).
Divya is passionate about life-long learning for the whole dental team and more broadly healthcare in its widest term and organises courses and events to aid them in maintaining this learning. She also delivers courses and lectures pertinent to Oral Surgery.
Divya has a special interest in the young dentist and supports them in achieving a fulfilling and successful career. As Tutor as well as recent Regional Training Programme Director (TPD) for Oral Surgery and Local TPD for Dental Core Trainees (DCTs), Divya can engage with this cohort and enable them to develop their potential with appropriate training, courses and mentoring.
Contact email details: dkeshani@nhs.net