Longitudinal Joint Dental Foundation and Core Training (JDFCT): Evaluation of a pilot programme

Title: Longitudinal Joint Dental Foundation and Core Training (JDFCT): Evaluation of a pilot programme

Abstract:

Introduction: The UK NHS faces a critical dental workforce shortage, compounded by geographical inequities in access to care. Traditional postgraduate dental training follows a sequential pathway from Dental Foundation Training (DFT) to Dental Core Training (DCT), requiring multiple national recruitment processes and often necessitating frequent geographical relocation. These structural features create social, financial, and logistical barriers for trainees and may negatively impact workforce retention. In response, NHS Midlands developed a pilot Longitudinal Joint Dental Foundation and Core Training (JDFCT) programme as part of an early-career workforce initiative. This integrated two-year model combines DFT and DCT1, with the aim of enhancing training continuity, clinical competence, and workforce stability, particularly in underserved areas.
Methods: An anonymous mixed-methods survey of trainees and educational supervisors was undertaken to evaluate the pilot programme. Outcomes assessed included overall satisfaction, clinical exposure and competency development, confidence in secondary care, and perceived preparedness for future roles.
Results: Respondents reported substantial benefits, including improved integration of learning across primary and secondary care, earlier exposure to complex cases, enhanced continuity of supervision, and increased clinical confidence. 93% of trainees indicated they would choose the programme again. Challenges identified included administrative burden associated with dual portfolios, variable access to surgical experience particularly in oral surgery during the initial supernumerary phase and inconsistent induction processes across placements.
Discussion and Conclusion: Targeted recommendations included the introduction of a unified induction, streamlined portfolio requirements and protected surgical training opportunities. Subsequent iterations of the programme have addressed early limitations. The JDFCT pilot demonstrates a promising, adaptable model for postgraduate dental training that may support trainee development, workforce retention, and reduction of health inequalities. Further evaluation is required to assess long-term outcomes and scalability, but this model offers valuable insights for those seeking to reform early postgraduate dental education.

Biography:

Shaun Dolby holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Genetics from the University of Nottingham (2011) and completed his graduate-entry dentistry degree at King’s College London in 2015. Following Dental Foundation Training (DFT) in the East Midlands, he undertook Dental Core Training (DCT) years 1 and 2 in Oral Surgery and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) within the Yorkshire Deanery, during which he achieved the MJDF qualification. From 2018 to 2024, he worked as a Specialty Doctor in the OMFS department at James Cook University Hospital. He is currently undertaking an Advancement Fellowship within NHS Midlands, focusing on workforce support, professional development, and the identification, management, and prevention of professional burnout, following completion of a Leadership and Management Fellowship in Oral Surgery. Clinically, he works as a Specialty Doctor in Oral Surgery at Birmingham Dental Hospital. His professional interests include oral surgery, the management of medically compromised patients, and the provision of urgent dental care. Ultimately, he aspires to become the Clinical Director of an urgent dental care centre, providing direct patient care alongside workforce development.