X
Dental

Oral Health Practitioner - Level 4 Apprenticeship (Starting between August 2024 and July 2025)

Start Date: Between 01/08/2024 and 31/07/2
Site: Employer Premises

Apply

Course Overview

The oral health practitioner apprenticeship is typically a 15-month programme of learning and assessment that develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours of dental nurses so they may undertake both oral health interventions to individuals and groups. This includes carrying out the additional duties of a dental nurse which includes taking impressions, carrying out intra oral scanning, applying topical fluoride, carrying out plaque indices and undertaking intra and extra oral photography. In addition, the apprentices are trained to profile areas for health in equalities and plan and deliver systemic health interventions.

Work Experience & Industry Placements

The dental nurses undertaking this apprenticeship will come from general dental practice or a salaried dental service. In addition to attending the taught days, they will be required to undertake a large number of practice or clinic based activities such as taking impressions, delivering oral hygiene instruction to individual patients and providing oral and systemic advice to various groups, such as carers for older people, anti-natal groups, school children etc.

Qualification Gained

IfATE Level 4 Apprenticeship Certificate of Completion - Oral Health Practitioner Royal Society of Public Health Level 4 Diploma for Oral Health Practitioners

After The Course

On completion of the apprenticeship, the learners will be employed in providing both oral health and systemic health advice to patients on individual bases or to identified groups. This qualification may lead to progression to train as a dental hygienist. In addition, individuals may wish to progress into wider public health roles.

What Will I Learn

The principal objective of the apprenticeship and level 4 RSPH Diploma for Oral Health Practitioners is to provide learners with the knowledge and skills to promote oral health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities. In addition, it allows learners to carry out a range of oral health procedures, deliver oral health advice and carry out treatments in accordance with treatment plans. It is a 12-unit programme of learning, which includes: Principals of Health improvement, supporting behaviour change, understand how to deliver the NHS health check, legislation, health inequalities and behaviour change, conduct motivational interviews, anatomy, physiology and nutrition, understanding clinical practice, carry out clinical practice, understand preventive practice, carry out preventive group sessions and displays and understand the role of the oral health practitioner.

English And Maths

Candidates entering this apprenticeship should hold level 2 maths and English.

Our Lecturers

The course is taught by well qualified and experienced lecturers who are dedicated to ensuring student success through effective curriculum delivery and high-quality pastoral support. The team includes staff with relevant sector expertise.

Teaching Learning and Assessment

A typical week has around 6 hours of contact time in taught sessions, plus additional 1-1 support available by student request. As with all HE programmes, students are required to take ownership of their learning and development and should expect to spend time studying and completing assessment tasks with independence outside of lectures.

Course Expenses

The course fees will be met through the apprenticeship levy. As all apprentices will come from a dental practice or salaried dental service, they will have a DBS check in place. Each practice or salaried dental service will have indemnity in place for carrying out the practical skills.

How Will I Be Assessed

At the end of each unit an assessment is undertaken, this may be a multi choice question paper, short answer paper, written reflection, practical log sheets of clinical activity, professional discussion and/or completion of a demonstration of practice.

Entry Requirements

Hold a General Dental Council recognised dental nurse, award or qualification and hold current registration. Hold a current DBS check, have completed safeguarding level 2 for children and adults, and have undertaken recent (within the last year) medical emergencies training. The employer has indemnity in place in order that the dental nurse additional skills may be undertaken.

Required Experience

At least six months experience as dental nurse.

Apply