The Education Centre.... is a purpose built two story building. The ground floor houses several seminar rooms one of which converts into a 6 unit practical skills room. Upstairs there is a large library with a dental section containing a selection of tomes and many major periodicals. The library staff would be pleased to order any research papers for you. The library also contains an 8 station computer suite with internet and medline access.

This floor also contains a large seminar room and access to the main lecture theatre

Recently a catering company has refurbished the dining area and food and coffee is available throughout the day

Along the corridoor are the centre offices including the dental office

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Vocational training.... is about preparing new dentists for unsupervised general dental practice. This involves

• securing and adding to the clinical skills learned in the teaching hospitals
• understanding and implementing clinical governance, the processes by which all interested parties are assured that dentists operate a safe, legal and evidence based practice

During this year Vocational Dental Practitioners work in selected practices with approved trainers treating a normal dental list.

The VDP will also attend a course of interactive study days, 30 in total, designed to encourage the VDP to reflect on current knowledge and enhance problem solving skills.

A portfolio is kept to help demonstrate the progress of the VDP

3 projects are also completed through the year

• 5 Key skills identified by the Faculty of GDP's for the membership exam are compiled and marked and should be certificated.
• A clinical audit or series of mini audits
• A clinical case presentation on Powerpoint

The training dosn't all take place at the education centre. Throughout the year individual schemes visit the BDA & the GDC. There are also combined events with the 3 KSS schemes including a careers day in London. We also have a residential induction weekend in Tunbridge Wells, a 2 day conference based at Center Parcs and we attend the BDAconference, this year being held in Liverpool

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01483 571122 x 4381
ynicholson@royalsurrey.nhs.uk

Personnel..

Yolande Nicholson is the dental administrator responsible for implementing VT and section 63 courses She is available for dental queries Tuesday Thursday and Friday. Yo has been in post for a few years(!) and seen off several dental advisors. She will assist you with booking courses and expense claims

Mike Kelly
BDS MSc MFGDP MGDS PGCE
is in his second stint as a VT adviser. A general practitioner in Edenbridge Kent he also teaches on other VT schemes in other regions. After VT his other passions are the guitar & skiing

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