This apprenticeship has been retired

This is not the latest approved version of this apprenticeship. View the latest version

Overview of the role

Managing all non-clinical aspects of a dental surgery, leading the practice team and achieving excellent patient care and cost efficiency.

Dental practice manager

Reference Number: ST0109

Details of standard

Role/occupation

Dental Practice Manager

Level

4

Duration of Apprenticeship 

24 Months

Role Profile

The Practice Manager is responsible for managing all non-clinical aspects within a specified practice/s to achieve excellent patient care, quality, cost and delivery performance in line with practice strategy, goals and values. The Practice Manager leads the team by providing support and direction to enhance performance, skills and knowledge of all practice staff.

Competencies

Knowledge

The practice manager will have knowledge of:

Human Resources

Policies, procedures and processes for:

  • recruitment, selection, contracts
  • personal/professional development planning (induction and training)
  • performance management (supervision and appraisal)
  • equality, diversity, grievance, discipline, whistleblowing
  • rota management and absence management

Patient Care

Clinical frameworks, guidelines and processes for:

  • establishing high quality patient care/customer service standards
  • managing the patient journey
  • managing patient records and databases (updates, recalls, governance)

Clinical

  • understanding and knowledge of all roles within dental team
  • broad understanding of dental diseases
  • understanding and executing of clinical audits
  • understanding of dental terminology

Marketing

The market within which the practice operates with regard to:

  • size, share, competitor profile
  • effective strategies for attracting and retaining patients
  • how to represent the practice in the local community

Risk Management

Legal and ethical requirements set out by external regulators with particular reference to:

  • General Health and Safety (e.g. facilities, fire)
  • Healthcare Safety (e.g. Infection Control, Waste, Radiation, Medical Emergencies)
  • Information Governance (e.g. confidentiality, information security, data protection, access to records)

Quality Assurance

A Registered Manager’s responsibilities to:

  • Establish internal standards (policies & procedures) for high quality care
  • Train the team to meet internal and external standards
  • Implement monitoring systems for continuous improvement e.g. complaints handling, learning from feedback, incidents, complaints

Finance

How to collect, use, interpret and report relevant financial data to: - establish budgetary & production targets

  • manage claims and monitor compliance with claim requirements
  • meet the expectations of organisational stakeholders

Dental Industry

Requirements for:

  • service delivery and remuneration under the National Health Service
  • service delivery and remuneration for private delivery of dental care
  • local / national changes in dental service delivery
Skills  The practice manager will be able to:
Leadership skills 

Lead (in non-clinical matters) and motivate the practice team effectively by:

  • Understanding the role and responsibilities of a manager
  • Communicating the organisation’s vision and strategy
  • Clarifying & supporting company policies

  • Setting clear goals and expectations

  • Supporting individual personal and professional development

  • Providing mentoring & coaching for individual team members

  • Being able to seek feedback on workplace performance

  • Leading by example

  • Strategic thinking at a local/practice level
Management skills

Organise efficient operational practice systems by:

  • setting SMART objectives
  • planning and delegating work
  • allocating resources efficiently to meet deliverables and deadlines
  • monitoring, evaluating and improving individual and team processes
  • developing advanced IT Skills to meet requirements in role (SOE/R4)
Communication Skills

Communicate effectively with internal/ external stakeholders (senior management, patients, team, dental reps, colleagues, third parties) when:

  • negotiating
  • presenting internal & external marketing plans and campaigns
  • presenting and interpreting data for Senior Management
  • briefing the work team
  • communicating change

Behaviours

The practice manager will demonstrate:

Ethical

Integrity and moral leadership

Commitment to the General Dental Council Standards for the Dental Team

Professional

An approach which is fair, equitable and credible

Reliability with high standards

A commitment to excellent customer service Effective time management and self-management Willingness to help others as required, e.g. on reception

Commercially astute

  • ability to be business focused and patient/customer centric.
  • capability for managing budget, practice development and growth
  • ability to improve data from local knowledge e.g. using practice profiles

Passionate

  • A caring approach toward patients and colleagues
  • A commitment to striving for the best at all times

Responsible

  • ownership and accountability for practice and leads team.
  • informed decision-making to ensure safety and best practice at all times

Reflection and Self Awareness

  • Impact and influence when working with others
  • an awareness of how to get the best from each individual

Progression

This is an entry level role which provides the foundation knowledge, skills and experience for progression into a number of career paths including Practice Manager, Area Manager and Regional Manager leading to Senior Management roles.

Qualifications

Our approach to ensuring that the apprentice is on track is based on a combination of an externally validated qualification and an in house

Performance Management (PM) process.

Level 4 Qualification – Certificate in Leadership & Management

Alternatively where employers feel that there is evidence of higher academic aptitude, the apprentice could opt for a more demanding higher level qualification that would enable fast tracking through the progression routes available on completion of this apprenticeship.

English & Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL


Crown copyright © 2024. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence

Status: Retired
Level: 4
Reference: ST0109
Version: 1.1
Date updated: 27/08/2024
Approved for delivery: 26 March 2015
Route: Business and administration
Typical duration to gateway : 24 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £9000
LARS Code: 20
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Genix Healthcare, 211 Dental – Ravi Rattan, 543 Dental, Bupa Dental Services, Den Dental, Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH), Oasis Healthcare, Rodericks Dental, Smile Care Group, Smile Impressions Ltd, Association of Dental Groups, Aesthetic Dental Laboratory, Acodent Dental Laboratory, CosTech Elite, Knight Dental Design, Optimum Dental Laboratories, PDS Dental Laboratory Leeds Ltd, S4S Dental Laboratory, SB Dental Laboratory Limited, Sparkle Dental Labs Ltd, Dental Technologists’ Association, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date Latest end date
1.2 End-point assessment plan revised 27/08/2024 Not set Not set
1.1 End-point assessment plan revised 28/08/2019 26/08/2024 Not set
1.0 Retired 26/03/2015 27/08/2019 Not set

Is this webpage useful?

Thank you for your feedback

Tell us about your experience