The Foundation Therapist Role

The Foundation Therapists will be employed in a salaried position at their training practice placements for 3 days a week. An Educational Supervisor (ES) will provide support and mentor with a focus around developing clinical experience alongside the completion of an ePortfolio. Treating patients at the practice will enable the Foundation Therapist to gain a range of experience within their scope of practice under excellent support.. 

The role of an Educational Supervisor (ES)

The role of an ES is to provide support within the practice environment to the FT. This may take the form of chairside help and supervision, bespoke tutorials, or case-based discussions. The ES is in the best position to assess the FT’s learning needs, which are identified through. This is an active process which requires the Educational Supervisor to be responsive to the needs of the trainee and to possess certain qualifications.

Benefits of Foundation Training: 

• 12 month employed placement in a primary care NHS Practice, 3 days per week. One of which is a study day. Study days will vary across the regions.
• Joint organised study days with the foundation dentists to help integrate skill mixing within the workforce.
• Verifiable CPD hours on study days
• A designated Educational Supervisor in practice to support the foundation therapist.
• Peer support and networking from your peers
• Access to the National e-portfolio for Foundation Training

Duration of the Programme 

The DTFT start date is Monday 1st September 2025. The scheme will run until 31st August 2026. All applicants must be UK graduated, GDC registered and indemnified before the start date. 

The Foundation Therapist will be expected to be in practice for 3 days working clinically with one of those days being a study day. It is expected that when the Therapist does not have a study day, their study day is spent attending their training practice, either treating patients clinically or doing non-clinical work (by agreement with their ES).  The foundation therapist is free to work the remainder of the week in any other setting, but this will not influence or contribute to their foundation year.

Training Practice Locations

Practice Locations: Our training practices are carefully selected to participate in our DTFT program. These sites are primarily located within London. Each site is chosen based on a pre-approved NHSE vetting process to ensure quality and suitability. Please note that we are unable to match applicants to a practice based on their residential area.

Practices Allocations: If an applicant declines the allocated practice, the placement will then become available to the next applicant in line.

As a result, applicants should be prepared for a potential commute of up to 90 minutes each way within and around London for the entire duration of the programme including study days.

Postgraduate Study Day centres 

Our study days will be at one of our Post Graduate Centres across London and KSS. These will be face to face with hands on sessions when applicable. Applicants should be made aware that travelling to and around London will be required and mandatory as part of DTFT.

 These study days will be joint with foundation dentists.

You may not take holidays that coincide with the study days, as attendance is mandatory.   

Completion of programme

Successful completion of Dental Therapy Foundation Training will be based on various aspects that are delivered throughout the year.  

• Professionalism throughout the year.  
• Attendance of ALL the Study Days 
• Completion of the ePortfolio including IRCP and FRCP
• Completion of minimum clinical requirements
• APLAN Case
• Mini Case Presentation and Final Case Presentation

A certificate will be issued by the Dean on successful completion of Foundation Training.