BTEC Professional Diploma in Dental Practice Management - Level 4

Course Contents
Unit One:
Dental Practice Management Skills

Unit Two:
Administration and the Law

Unit Three:
Marketing Dental Care

Unit Four:
Team Communication Skills

Unit Five:
Personnel Management Skills for Dental Managers

To gain the award, learners are required to produce evidence of outcomes in the form of:
- Work from case studies
- The production of documentation for workplace projects
- The production of policies
- The production of training documents for practice staff

Over recent years dental teams have needed to introduce practice management skills into the skills set, to enable them to provide the quality of care and service demanded by the public and the dental profession. In the UK there is currently a shortage of dental professionals with recognised dental practice management qualifications; this programme introduces generic management theory and practise in the context of general dental practice, the areas of work include:

• Management Skills
• Quality Systems Management
• Marketing Dental Services
• Communication Skills
• Personnel Management

Course Outcomes: student will be able to
• Adopt a solution- focused approach to management
• Make a valuable and rewarding contribution to the management of the practice.
• Be pro-active in your own professional development, and that of other team members.
• Increase your work satisfaction and confidence

On completion of the course students are expected to
• deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make informed judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• demonstrate self direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level;
• continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level

In addition, will have the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:
• the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
• decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
• the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development

The course is divided into two blocks. College-based teaching alternates with practice learning opportunities. Besides the academic input, students undertake practice learning in a range of settings. Participants undertake practice learning throughout the programme.

Work placements
You will be prepared for your work placements by undertaking a Fit for Practice module by undertaking 10-day work-based placements.

What is the fee?
The fee for the course is £4500 per year and must be paid in advance. Scholarships of up to £300 are available and are considered on a case by case basis. Please check with the College for more details. A student, who requires a Student Visa to enter or remain in the UK, will be entitled to a refund of the tuition fee if his/her visa application is refused.

Assessment
The assessment of students’ academic work is carried out on a continuous basis throughout the programme by a variety of means including written and practical assignments. Students will also be expected to produce other evidence of their learning, including practice reports and oral presentations.

Key requirements are:
• Bachelors in healthcare related subjects/ Bachelors in biology with health care experience /recognised dental qualification from the university.
• Age 21 + years
• In addition to a good command of spoken and written English, competence in at least two other languages.
• Passed IELTS – (International English Language Testing Service) with minimum 6.00 grades or equivalent.
• Evidence of skills and abilities central to professional management work practice in the UK such as excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a caring nature, and sensitivity to the needs of different people.
• Evidence enthusiasm to develop a professional management career in the UK.

All applicants are expected to demonstrate their understanding of dental care issues in their applications to the programme.