PDA Preparing a Dental Practice for Inspection SCQF level 8

Professional Development Awards (PDAs) extend or broaden professional or vocational skills and are linked to National Occupational Standards. The PDA in Preparing a Dental Practice for Inspection at SCQF level 8 covers the following high-level transferable skills:

  • Guidelines and legislation from the Health and Safety Executive: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).
  • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
  • (RIDDOR) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which inform the practice inspection criteria.

This qualification covers areas such as the standards against which the practice will be measured and the processes to follow to gather and present the practice inspection criteria.

This qualification is available through colleges, training providers and some employers. It has been designed to be delivered as a taught course and will normally be available as a combination of workshops and self-directed study.

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The PDA in Preparing a Dental Practice for Inspection has been developed in partnership with employers and dental educators, so it is suitable for the current sector.

It will help employers meet skills gaps and provide continuing professional development for staff, while learners will gain knowledge and skills needed for progression in the workplace.

The unit-based structure aids timetable flexibility. Units are typically 40 hours of learning and they can be delivered on a full-time or part-time basis.

This PDA provides progression routes to further study (see Progression).

The target audience is those in work, or seeking employment, who require a specific skill set.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

  • Access to this PDA is at the discretion of the centre. The learner must be involved in a role where they fully contribute to practice inspection preparation and process. It is strongly recommended that the learner be working in a role where they may exercise some autonomy and initiative in a dental practice which is subject to inspection criteria.
  • Learners must be able to access opportunities to meet the unit’s learning outcomes and demonstrate the evidence requirements.

The content of the unit has been aligned to the professional guidelines and standards of the dental profession’s regulatory body, the General Dental Council (GDC). Such standards must be embedded into working practices towards ensuring professional conduct of staff and the delivery of quality patient care and services.

Learners would have the opportunity of progressing to other PDAs such as:

  • Managing Quality Improvement in Dental Practice at SCQF level 8.
  • Dental Practice Management at SCQF level 8.

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority are required to come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

Each unit specification gives detailed information on the evidence requirements and approaches to assessment for the unit.

Ongoing course assessment will apply.

Assessment will allow candidates to enhance their own practice. The use of reports and projects is crucial to this.

Learners may access a range of resources for relevant professional bodies to assist their development of knowledge and skills, for example Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) guidance: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP), the SDCEP Practice Support Manual’ (PSM).

Group award code: GV3K 48 (16 SCQF credit points)

The PDA in Preparing a Dental Practice for Inspection at SCQF level 8 consists of one mandatory double-credit unit.