Newly qualified dental nurse will be the ‘first of many’

Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is the first training provider to deliver the new qualification which was developed collaboratively with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, Bangor University and Agored Cymru, both of whom are specialists in the delivery of level 3 apprenticeship qualifications in Wales.

The new qualification makes it possible for individuals wishing to study dental nursing, to do so in Welsh and is part of a wider drive to provide Welsh medium education, to protect Welsh-speaking communities, and to provide a future Welsh-speaking workforce.

Commenting on the successful delivery of the first dental nurse apprenticeship, Amy Thomas, Apprenticeship Manager - Health and Social Care said:

“We are over the moon that the first of the ‘All Wales’ dental nurses has passed her apprenticeship qualification with flying colours! There’s no doubt that Caitlin Etheridge, who completed her apprenticeship with Danadd Davies Dental Practice in Caernarfon is the first of many dental nurses who will train with us.

“We currently have 36 individuals undertaking their apprenticeship with us, we plan to steadily expand delivery inline with increasing demand for quality work-based training in dental nursing. There is a waiting list - such is the demand!”

Nicola Jones, Dental Nurse Assessor added:

“Dental nursing has changed and developed a great deal in recent years and the new qualification reflects this modern and flexible way of working while strengthening relationships through the medium of Welsh.

“As the lead assessor for this qualification I have developed my own skills and practice in dentistry. My role as an assessor allows me to develop others, watch them transform, grow and develop into confident practitioners.”

The inspection panel from the General Dental Council praised Busnes@LlandrilloMenai’s delivery of this new qualification saying:

“Our training partner [Busnes@LlandrilloMenai] has delivered exceptional support, well mapped and constructive feedback for learners which is backed up by robust evidence.”

Dental nurses completing the qualification are entitled to register with the General Dental Council and are as such granted licence to practice.

Mr Martin McElvanna further emphasised, “The GDC has a set of Standards for Education that we expect programmes that lead to registration to demonstrate. These Standards are the framework of our processes and are used to look at whether a programme produces students / learners who demonstrate a particular range of learning outcomes when they have completed their programme of studies. The learning outcomes for each of the professions that we register are contained in the document Preparing for Practice.”

To find out more about how the qualification visit: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses/diploma-in-dental-nursing-level-3-wales