Level 4 Oral Health Practitioner
Apprenticeship from Harlow College
This Level 4 apprenticeship qualification presents an opportunity for dental nurses to expand their roles in practice and potentially allows practices to engage in a broader range of service delivery.
These professional Dental Nurses (OHPs) will have a high degree of autonomy and will work directly with patients performing a range of oral health preventative procedures, working in a patient’s mouth. Working under the direction of dentists they will take bacterial plaque indices, debris scores, apply fluoride varnish, take clinical photographs, take impressions and carry out tooth brushing in the patient’s mouth.
Other functions and duties will include the handling of bio-materials and infection prevention procedures. They will assist with patient education to targeted groups including older persons, children and antenatal groups and their care givers. Signposting and referral to other dental care or general health professionals will also be part of daily work in practice.
Satisfactory completion of the Level 4 apprenticeship qualification includes gaining the Royal Society of Public Health Level 4 Diploma for Oral Health Practitioners.
The learning also includes within the programme
• RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding and Delivering an NHS Health Check
• RSPH Level 2 Award in Supporting Behavior Change
• RSPH Level 2 Award in Understanding Health Improvement
Entry requirements are simple and straight forward, to undertake the L4 program, a candidate must already be a Dental Nurse, or other appropriate registered dental care professional, with the GDC.
The apprentice must be employed, PAYE, on a permanent contract for a minimum of 30 hours per week. The apprentice will be required to hold a valid DBS check. Naturally, the full support of the employer is required to allow the apprentice to carry out additional procedures in practice as well as in formal lesson or assessment sessions.
Typically, a Dental Nurse, aged 19+ and will not be required to undertake any additional maths and English training.
Naturally, apprentices are also required to be compliant with appropriate residency and eligibility rules.
The assessment for this programme consists of the following elements:
1. The MCQ exam – a multiple-choice exam paper
2. Observation of practice – in the workplace or exam setting
3. Professional discussion – a formal two-way discussion with an independent assessor
While an apprentice is enrolled on the apprentice program and is aged under 25 years of age, there is an exemption for PAYE ENICs. The savings in costs for an employer of such apprentices may be in excess of £4,000 for Class A contributions.
Experienced Dental Nurses may have accredited prior experience or learning (A P E L) an initial Skill Scan, will determine what, if any, these skills will exempt the apprentice from any parts of the training program. Evidence and certification will also be required. The cost of the program is assessed by Skills England at £9,000, with Levy paying organisations taking the cost from their levy pot.
SME employers are required to pay only 5% of the actual cost e.g. £450.
The NHS can offer a Levy Transfer to cover the whole of the cost of the program. Harlow College has an arrangement with PAHT to cover any Levy Transfer requirements for applicants to this program, if not already available from other Levy holders.
The program is co-designed and co-delivered with the Community Dental Service and we are both proud and delighted to have Jane Dalgarno delivering the key dentistry components, working alongside our College Science and Health Care teachers.
The duration of the program is typically 14-18 months, with attendance being required at Harlow College one day per week, during normal working hours, Fridays 9.30am-4.00pm.
We believe we are the regions' only provider who offers face-to-face, in-class learning. We believe that a classroom experience fosters peer-to-peer learning and development, by shared experience, practice and knowledge. This compares and contrasts to solely online and remote self-taught learning, which is completed in isolation without direct teacher and peer support.
Some clinical tests and training take place off-site at other locations e.g. at CDS Bedford Skills Labs, or at an approved NHS site. At the end of formal learning, Harlow College will arrange an End Point Assessment date, where a professional external examiner will confirm the final award of completion and attainment against the assessment plan.
Part of your training will take place at CDS Training Centre in Bedford.
The Training Centre comprises a Lecture Theatre, a Dental Skills Room and a Breakout Space that can be used for additional teaching or simply to relax over lunch. We offer a brand new, state-of-the-art Dental Skills Room is a bright, welcoming, airconditioned environment in which to teach. It is designed to teach up to seven delegates, and, as standard is equipped with:
• Seven DSE Expert phantom heads and teeth
• One teaching station
• 3D scanner
• Cone Beam Computer Tomography is also offered, to enhance learning capabilities
Haptic head technology will also be available, employing a specialised device and software. Haptic simulators mimic the physical sensations of real-world dental procedures, creating an immersive and interactive training environment.
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If you would like to know more about this course, visit our website through the link below, or contact one of our Apprenticeships Advisors on 01279 868240.
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