CHANGE MANAGEMENT ON AN UNDERPERFOMING VDP - Essay Example

es and frameworks, in their efforts to bring about the necessary changes by the VDPs to increase the performance levels and thereby patient satisfaction. The practise of dentistry in the United Kingdom requires all dentists to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC is the monitoring body for the dentistry practice and in its perspective the register of dentists “is not simply a list of those who call themselves a dentist. It is a list of professionals, who are recognised under the Law to be properly trained, qualified and fit for current practise and subject to regulations”. (1) Vocational Training (VT) has become mandatory for dentists to retain their own contract with a PCT.

VT in general dental practice originates from the generic term ‘on-the-job-training’ (OJT). OJT for long has been acknowledged, as the preferred means for developing practical and other workplace skills. Trainers with adequate teaching and assessment skills are responsible for the work of VDPs. Through weekly tutorials; trainers supply their VDPs with help on demand and adequate supervision. Development of peer and self-review and the need for enhanced professional education, training and audit, as a lifelong continuous process are encouraged throughout the VT. (2). R Rattan Curbing unsatisfactory performance has become necessary.

To this end the GDC utilises the assistance of the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS), to provide the assessment service. The GDC has effected this assessment through the new powers it received since July2006, to strengthen its procedures in taking decisions on the fitness of a registrant to practise, in case of misconduct, ill health, and in establishing new procedures to check unsatisfactory performance. I faced such a challenge in my dental practice last year, when several factors including an increase in patient complaints identified trainee performing unsatisfactorily.

For improvement change initiatives were proposed,