For Development Advisers
The Development Adviser role has been developed by the GDC and are named individuals who are approved by the GDC (see section 4 below) to support dental professionals who need to develop their skills and competencies as a result of a Fitness to Practise investigation.
Registrants sometimes need the support of a Development Adviser before a complaint or concern is referred to the GDC either on recommendation of their indemnity organisation, legal team or as a self-referral.
Development Adviser Role
Development advisers are dental professionals who are appropriately trained to support dental professionals who are subject to conditions imposed by a practice committee, or agreed undertakings with a case examiner, as a result of a fitness to practise investigation. They can also provide support to address areas of skills and competencies which require development at any stage of a registrant’s career.
Development advisers support the development and progress of the dental professional’s Personal Development Plan (PDP). This work includes advising and monitoring the progress the dental professional is making to address the issues identified by the decision-maker (e.g. GDC or NHS England). They offer guidance on development, and will monitor progress against the agreed deadlines agreed in the PDP.
Development advisers are responsible for reviewing written evidence when it is complete, and will provide the GDC and/or other relevant bodies with reports at the time intervals specified in the conditions or undertakings, or at any time upon request.
Development advisers are not responsible for supervising the clinical practice of dentists or dental care professionals.
They could also provide mentoring support to registrants in difficulty.
Person specification:
GDC Development Adviser Person Spec
The development adviser must be:
- Registered with the GDC i.e. a trained dental professional.
- Be compliant with CPD requirements.
and should have the following education, training and/or skills:
- Postgraduate qualification in medical education, coaching, mentoring or leadership.
- Development of Personal Development Plans and mapping CPD.
- Knowledge of development tools to increase insight and self-awareness.
- Knowledge of relevant workplace-based assessments, e.g., audit, case-based discussion.
- Knowledge of current standards and guidelines in dentistry.
- Knowledge of the GDC fitness to practise process.>
- Report writing skills.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion policies.
- Effective communications skills.
- Motivating and developing others.
- Good interpersonal skills.
DMUK membership as Development Adviser (DA)
Individuals can apply to be a DMUK Development Adviser
This will entitle them to have free CPD and peer supervision sessions relevant to the role of Dental Adviser and they will have an entry on the DMUK DA Directory.
All applications will be reviewed to ensure that they meet the person specification before acceptance. DMUK have developed a functional CV template that you may find helpful in structuring your CV to meet the DA requirements.
When a registrant requires the support of a Development Adviser, they will browse the DMUK directory of Dental Advisers and choose the DA they would like to work with. The relationship between the registrant and the DA is an independent contract, DMUK does not have a role in brokering this agreement.
The registrant and the DA will agree a contract for support and if the GDC is involved, the registrant will send the DA’s CV to the GDC to check that it meets the essential requirements of the person specification prior to engaging with them.