Overview

This module aims to introduce dental nursing and dental hygiene students to learning and working as a body of professionals. It aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding about regulatory requirements and fitness for practice and to act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, healthcare delivery and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients.

Students will apply the concept and practice of professionalism within the dental environment, including the importance of communication, interprofessional working and learning within a team. The concepts of evidence-based practice and reflective practice will be introduced and students will begin to use and record their own reflections on practice to support their continued development as part of their personal development plan

This module includes: •Professional regulation and practice including standards and codes of practice, professional behaviour & boundaries and the expectations of a professional programme •Communication and barriers to communication •Fitness for practice and upholding the reputation of the profession to promote public confidence •Equality and diversity •Reflective practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence and resilience for personal needs and self-care •Continuing Professional Development and Personal Development Planning •Teamwork, human factors •Evidence based practice - locating the evidence to support practice, literature searching, referencing and consideration of learning styles and time management, study skills

Assessment Strategy

This module is graded using the Percentage Grade Scale; the grades awarded are as follows:

Graded Percentage

70% Distinction Excellent understanding of the facts and principles specific to the topics covered in this module and the outcomes being assessed.

60-69% Merit A very good understanding of the facts and principles specific to the topics covered in this module and the outcomes being assessed.

40-59% Pass

<40% Fail

The Personal Development Plan and Reflection assignments are graded assessments as above, all elements of the assessment must be passed at the minimum 40% threshold to pass the module. Students are provided with marking rubrics detailing what is required of them to be awarded a grade within each of the grade boundaries.

To demonstrate developing behavioral competence, student dashboard data, including attendance, engagement and fitness to practice will be used to determine behavioral competence and students will meet with their personal tutor at regular intervals to review progress and discuss any engagement or behavioural concerns that have been identified. This is a Pass/Fail assessment and students are provided with minimum competency requirements they must meet to enable them to pass this assessment.

Students who fail the behavioural competency assessment or fail to meet the 40% threshold or fail the Pass/Fail assessment will be given one further reassessment attempt. Regardless of the overall module score, failure to pass any individual assessment component will result in the student being unable to progress in the programme.

A detailed marking rubrics will be provided to students.

Learning Outcomes

• Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, healthcare delivery and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients. This includes acting with integrity, raising concerns, addressing discriminatory language and behaviour and engaging with systems and strategies to promote and maintain physical and mental wellbeing.

• Demonstrate an understanding of teamwork and the theoretical context, respect own and others contribution to the dental and wider healthcare team and demonstrate effective teamworking including leading and being led.

• Demonstrate awareness of the principles of communication in professional practice and links to advocacy, confidentiality and the process of consent and the barriers to communication.

• Demonstrate understanding of accountability and duty of candour to promote person-centred care

• Identify the principles of health and safety regulation in the dental setting and risk assessment and management.

• Take responsibility for personal development planning, recording of evidence and reflective practice and the giving and receiving of feedback.