Dental Foundation Training Schemes
Recruitment for Dental Foundation Training is via a National Recruitment process (visit COPDEND for further information). In NHS England working across the Thames Valley & Wessex region, trainees are based in NHS general dental practices working with dental practitioners who are experienced Foundation Trainers. There are currently 5 schemes within the Thames Valley & Wessex region, divided up between:
- Berkshire Scheme: Slough | Wokingham
- Buckinghamshire Scheme: Milton Keynes | Aylesbury | High Wycombe | Princes Risborough
- Oxfordshire Scheme: Oxford | Didcot | Witney | Banbury | Bloxham | Sunningdale | Maidenhead | Aylesbury
- Hampshire & Isle of Wight: Aldershot | Alton | Southampton Portsmouth | Havant | Gosport | Isle of Wight
- Winchester Scheme: Winchester | Southampton | Bracknell | Reading | Sunningdale | Ringwood | Fordingbridge
Dental Foundation Training Academic Post : Portsmouth Dental Academy
The Thames Valley & Wessex Academic post is based at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. The school trains dentists and DCPs in a primary care setting. There will be an initial 3-month period where you will be in the Dental Foundation Training Practice and you will attend all the Scheme study days over the year. Following the initial 3-month period in the training practice, you will get a day release for research experience where you will gain exposure to a variety of exciting research projects based at the Academy. You will be able to choose research from dental public health, dental education (including haptic simulation), dental materials, saliva and dental erosion. There will also be an opportunity to get involved with clinical audits.
Practice Allocation Process
After the upgrade deadline has passed, the Thames Valley & Wessex Dental Team will invite you to our local allocation process. New Trainees will be emailed presentations from the local practices and asked to rank them in order of preference. Allocation of trainers is dependent upon the preference made by the FD’s and priority is given to those FD’s with the highest scores received during the national recruitment process. FD’s are notified of their allocated practice and trainer by email and must accept their placement within 48 hours. Failure to respond means the place will be offered to another applicant on the course.