One-to-one support services

Access to one-to-one advice, across a huge range of matters, from a team of advisers with extensive professional experience and expertise. All one to one Advice Services can be accessed by telephone or e-mail, or by appointment at the BDA’s offices, during the Association’s working hours.

Advice Services

The range of one to one advice services (‘Advice Services’) available to members in this tier includes the following, subject to the Association’s Policy on the provision of advice to non-salaried members.

Employment, self-employment and staffing matters:

• Associate agreements: guidance for negotiation of the terms of associate agreements, reviews of agreements, advice on variations to agreements and advice on breaches of agreement terms

• Hygienist and other Dental Care Professional (DCP) contracts: guidance for negotiation of the terms of DCP contracts, review of contracts, advice on variations to contracts and advice on breaches of contract terms

• Employment contracts: guidance for the negotiation of staff terms, review of staff contracts, advice on variations to contracts and advice on breaches of contract terms 

• Employment status: advice on contract terms and the implications of any historic course of dealings 

• Recruitment: advice for practice owners on planning and implementing recruitment processes including placing adverts, shortlisting and interviewing and guidance for addressing matters arising from the recruitment of staff and self-employed personnel; and advice for associates on preparing for and taking part in recruitment processes and interviews 

• References: guidance for practice owners on legal responsibilities for acquiring references prior to recruitment, and for the provision of references post-employment; and guidance for associates on legal rights and responsibilities in relation to references 

• Statutory employee rights and employer obligations: guidance on legal requirements for providing information to staff, staff pay entitlements, requirements for parental and family leave and sickness leave arrangements, duties of trust and confidence and working time responsibilities 

• Statutory rights for self-employed personnel and duties owed to self-employed personnel: guidance on rights of associates as workers 

• Obligations of NHS providers and rights of NHS performers: guidance on contractual obligations including requirements for the carrying out of pre-engagement checks, and advice for providers and performers in relation to claims for NHS additional payments and superannuation 

• Performance management: guidance on implementation of performance management policies and advice for practice owners on addressing performance concerns with staff and self-employed personnel; advice for associates in addressing performance management concerns raised 

• Equality and discrimination: guidance on employment policy requirements and statutory responsibilities, and advice for addressing equality and discrimination concerns in practice 

• Employee rewards: guidance for implementing and making changes to employee reward schemes 

• Staff appraisals: guidance for implementing appraisal processes and addressing matters arising from staff appraisals 

• Associate disputes: advice and guidance for addressing disputes arising from conduct concerns and breaches of contract terms 

• Employment disputes: advice and guidance for addressing disputes arising from conduct concerns and breaches of contract terms 

• Disciplinary matters: recommendations for drafting disciplinary policies, and advice for employers in addressing staff disciplinary matters. Attendance at staff disciplinary hearings might also be available on a consultancy basis, subject to terms and conditions 

• Grievance matters: recommendations for grievance policies and protocols and advice for employers in addressing staff grievance matters. Attendance at staff grievance hearings might also be available on a consultancy basis, subject to terms and conditions 

• Sickness absence management: advice on supporting staff and self-employed personnel through periods of sickness and addressing concerns about sickness absence 

• Sickness absence support: advice for NHS performers when incapacitated due to sickness 

• Dismissal and termination: advice on preparing to address disciplinary matters, implementing disciplinary procedures and terminating contracts with staff and self-employed personnel 

• Redundancy: guidance on statutory and contractual responsibilities, and practical advice for preparing for and implementing staff redundancy processes 

• Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment (TUPE): guidance on statutory responsibilities, and practical advice for addressing staff transfers 

• Practice sale implications for associates: advice on the implications of practice sales in relation to the engagement of associates 

• Employment policy requirements: guidance on statutory requirements, and advice for drafting policies to ensure compliance with employment law 

• Employment legislation: advice and updates 

• Employment tribunal processes and procedures: advice on employment tribunal processes and procedures, in relation to disputes with practice staff, up to the point that a claim is submitted to a tribunal. 

​General practice matters:

• Practice contracts: advice on legal matters relating to contracts for supplies, equipment, laboratory services, waste services, cleaning services and communications and advertising services

• Patient contracts: advice on legal matters relating to contracts with patients, and the application of Sale of Goods and Services legislation 

• Information management: guidance on statutory requirements under Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation 

• Patient consent: advice on legal requirements for obtaining and recording patient consent 

• Record keeping: advice on legal requirements for retention and storage of patient records 

• Referrals: advice on regulatory and NHS contractual requirements and General Dental Council (GDC) standards relating to referrals 

• Safeguarding: advice on the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable groups, guidance on Criminal Records Bureau check requirements, and information on disclosure and barring obligations o Patient confidentiality and privacy: guidance on legal requirements, and practical advice for implementing patient confidentiality 

• Professional Regulatory requirements: advice on training and CPD requirements for dentists and Dental Care Professionals 

• Advertising and marketing: advice on legal matters relating to advertising and marketing, including statutory requirements and GDC standards 

• Equality and diversity requirements: guidance on statutory responsibilities for addressing equality and discrimination matters and practical advice for complying with disability access requirements 

National Health Service matters:

• General Dental Services (GDS) contracts and Personal Dental Services (PDS) agreements in England and Wales: guidance for negotiation of contracts, advice on variations to contracts, guidance on application of contract terms and advice on breaches of terms and termination 

• GDS and PDS contract reviews in England and Wales: reviews of GDS contracts and PDS agreements, and advice on contract terms 

• PDS Plus agreements in England and Wales: guidance for negotiation of contracts, advice on variations to contracts, guidance on application of contract terms and advice on breaches of terms and termination 

• GDS and PDS contract performance in England and Wales: advice for addressing anticipated and historic underperformance against contract targets, financial clawback, breach and remedial notices, and guidance for assessing NHS performance data 

• NHS Performers List matters in England and Wales: advice on legislative and contractual requirements for applications for inclusion on a performers list, the imposition of conditions, suspension from a performers list, refusal for inclusion on a performers list and removal from a performers list, and guidance for addressing non-clinical PCO performance concerns 

• GDS and PDS contract disputes with Primary Care Organisations in England and Wales: advice for addressing contract disputes with Primary Care Organisations 

• GDS and PDS contract payments in England and Wales: guidance on PDS and GDS contract payments and recurrent and non-recurrent funding arrangements 

• Additional payments under the GDS and PDS Statement of Financial Entitlements in England and Wales: advice on claims for additional payments due under the GDS and PDS Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE), including long term sickness leave pay, parental leave pay, Foundation Dentist payments, seniority pay, non-domestic rates reimbursement and suspension pay. 

• Applications for NHS funding in England and Wales: advice on approaching requests for NHS funding and making applications for advertised, non-recurrent funding 

• Tendering for GDS contracts and PDS agreements: advice on tendering processes, and guidance for addressing questions in tender documentation. Attendance and one to one support to assist completion of published tender documents might also be available, on a limited consultancy basis, subject to terms and conditions. 

• NHS Claims in England and Wales: guidance on regulatory and contractual requirements including treatment bands, UDA and UOA entitlements and mixing of NHS and private services 

• GDS arrangements in Scotland: advice on GDS contracts and terms of service, guidance on capitation and continuing care arrangements, advice on dental list requirements and guidance on responsibilities for the registration and deregistration of patients 

• GDS payments and allowances for Scotland: general advice on NHS allowances and additional payments due under the terms of the Statement of Dental Remuneration, and guidance for approaching disputes over payment matters with Practitioner Services and the Scottish Dental Practice Board 

• Scottish Dental Access Initiative grants: general advice on SDAI grants and applications for SDAI funding 

• NHS Dental List matters in Scotland: advice on applying for inclusion in a dental list and leaving a dental list 

• GDS terms of service conduct matters in Scotland: general guidance on addressing Dental Reference Service and Dental Discipline Committee disciplinary matters relating to non-clinical terms of service 

• GDS and PDS arrangements in Northern Ireland: advice on GDS and PDS contracts and terms of service, guidance on capitation and continuing care arrangements, advice on dental list requirements, guidance on responsibilities for the registration and deregistration of patients and advice on the mixing of HS and private treatment 

• GDS payments and allowances for Northern Ireland: general advice on Health Service allowances and additional payments due under the terms of the Statement of Dental Remuneration and guidance for approaching disputes over payment matters with the Dental Branch of the Business Services Organisation 

• HS Dental List matters in Northern Ireland: advice on applying for inclusion in a dental list and leaving a dental list 

• GDS terms of service conduct matters in Northern Ireland: general guidance on addressing Dental Discipline Committee matters relating to non-clinical terms of service 

• NHS Patient Charges: guidance on requirements relating to the publication, application and collection of patient charges 

• Complaints against Primary Care Organisations: guidance for pursuing complaints against Primary Care Organisations 

• Death of a practitioner: advice for addressing contract issues and practical matters following the death of an NHS practitioner 

• NHS Information Governance requirements: guidance on Information Governance requirements and assistance with completion of the Connecting for Health Information Governance Toolkit 

• NHS contract pilots in England and Wales: guidance on the terms of NHS contract pilots and updates on developments in pilot scheme arrangements 

• NHS and HS reforms: advice on changes to the structure of the NHS, dental commissioning arrangements and new NHS and HS contract developments 

• NHS and HS policies: guidance on legal requirements for in-practice policies and advice on the content of NHS published policies 

• NHS and HS legislation: advice and updates 

Business matters:

• Business of dentistry: advice on Dentists Act and NHS Act requirements, including restrictions on the performance of dentistry and the carrying on of the business of dentistry, and eligibility for NHS contracts 

• Complaints handling: guidance on legislative and contractual requirements, and practical advice for addressing patients complaints in an NHS and private context 

• Setting up in practice: advice on research, NHS and private options, business planning, business structures, location and premises options, issues for managing a practice and potential sources of funding 

• Buying and selling practices: advice on research, dealing with agents and brokers, common practice sale and purchase agreement issues, the transfer of NHS contracts, NHS and private options, business planning, business structures, location and premises options, issues for managing a practice and potential sources of funding 

• Moving premises: guidance on issues to consider when moving premises 

• Renting out space: general guidance on issues to consider when renting out surgery space 

• Planning and Building Regulations: basic guidance on requirements and sources of information for planning permission and building regulations consent 

• Business rates: general information on requirements and sources of information 

• Expense Sharing and Partnership: advice on expense sharing and partnership options, guidance on the practical implications of working in partnership, advice on partnerships in the NHS, and guidance on Partnership legislation 

• Incorporation: guidance on statutory requirements and restrictions, advice on Companies House requirements, basic information on tax and expenses and advice on NHS contract implications 

• Business planning: guidance for researching and preparing business plans 

• Business names: advice on GDC requirements for protected terms, Companies House requirements and general guidance on protecting business identity 

• Marketing and advertising: advice on legal requirements and GDC guidance, and practical advice for implementing practice marketing and advertising 

• General finance and tax matters: general guidance on HMRC requirements for different business structures, advice on potential sources of funding for small businesses and general guidance on dealing with financial difficulties including insolvency, bankruptcy and voluntary arrangements 

• Fee setting and collection: advice on private fee setting, arrangements for collection of fees from patients and credit control 

• Consumer credit licences: general guidance on Financial Services Authority and Office of Fair Trading requirements for consumer credit licences 

• Credit card processing: advice on requirements for processing credit card information and general guidance on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards requirements 

• Music Licences: guidance on licence requirements for playing music within practices 

• Death of a general practitioner: guidance on regulatory and contractual provisions and practical advice for addressing practical matters following the death of a practitioner

Health and safety and associated matters:

• Employer and Employee Health and Safety obligations: guidance on legislation and advice for ensuring compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act by employers and staff 

• Infection control: advice on legal requirements and guidance for compliance with infection control standards in general practice including advice on dealing with anticipated and current health incidents and potential pandemics 

• Decontamination: advice on national decontamination requirements and recommendations, and practical guidance for compliance with standards 

• Waste management: advice on legal requirements for the management, storage, collection and disposal of healthcare waste including clinical waste, sharps, extracted teeth, amalgam waste, gypsum waste, study models, chemical and medicines and electrical items; requirements for registration with the Environment Agency; guidance on waste audits; and advice on the administration of healthcare waste paperwork 

• Radiation protection: advice on legal requirements and official guidance relating to the protection of patients and workers; guidance on the safe use and maintenance of x-ray equipment; guidance for risk assessments and audits; and advice on Health & Safety Executive notifications 

• Tooth whitening: advice on EU and UK legislation relating to tooth whitening and guidance on the application of requirements in practice 

• Prescribing, controlled drugs and general medicines management: advice on legislation and guidance on NHS, Health Service, British National Formulary and Dental Practitioner’s Formulary requirements for the prescription of listed drugs 

• Sedation: advice on legislation relating to the provision of sedation, guidance on NHS specific sedation requirements, information on Department of Health and Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme guidance and advice on safe sedation practices 

• Non-surgical cosmetic procedures: Advice on scope of practice and information on GDC guidance for the performance of non-surgical cosmetic procedures including dermal fillers and Botox 

• Medical devices: advice on legislation including requirements for manufacturing safety standards for all standard and custom made devices, requirements for CE marks and guidance on reporting faulty appliances and adverse incidents 

• Medical histories: advice on legal requirements for the recording and retention of medical history information 

• Scope of practice for dentists and DCPs: information on scope of practice guidance for dentists and dental care professionals, advice on training and competency requirements and advice on treatment planning and prescription requirements 

• Standards for Dental Professionals: information on GDC standards and guidance for compliance with standards in practice 

• Practice inspections: advice on preparing for practice inspections by Primary Care Organisations and NHS Boards in line with the Scottish Combined Practice Inspection document; advice on preparing for practice inspections by the Care Quality Commission, the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority; advice on preparing for deanery inspections for Foundation Training practices; and advice on addressing issues arising from practice inspections 

• Clinical Governance: advice on clinical governance topics and compliance with clinical governance requirements in practice 

• Occupational Health provision: advice on Department of Health guidelines and occupational health assessment requirements and health screening 

• Risk assessments: advice on legal requirements for risk assessments; and guidance for implementing risk assessments for control of substances hazardous to health, ionising radiation, manual handling, fire safety and a range of health and safety matters 

• Immunisations for staff: guidance on immunisation requirements for staff and self-employed personnel 

• Work experience requirements: guidance on legal requirements and practical advice for implementing work experience arrangements 

• Fire Safety: advice on fire safety legislation; guidance for implementing practical measures to ensure compliance with legislation; and guidance for implementation of risk assessments 

• Environmental issues: guidance on legal requirements for the storage and disposal of healthcare waste; advice on the use, management and disposal of dental amalgam; and advice on Energy Performance Certificates 

• Equality Act: guidance on statutory responsibilities and advice on addressing matters arising from practice inspections 

• Accidents, first aid and medical emergencies: advice on legal requirements, guidance on maintenance of records and the reporting of serious incidents and advice on drugs and emergency equipment 

• Health and Safety legislation: advice and updates

Pensions and insurance matters:

• NHS Pension Schemes: advice on eligibility criteria and the terms of NHS Pension Schemes throughout the UK; guidance on developments following the Hutton review of public sector pensions; assistance with securing estimates of benefits; and advice on addressing discrepancies in estimates and calculations 

• NHS superannuation: guidance on the calculation of net pensionable earnings; advice on the administration of employer and employee superannuation contributions by Primary Care Organisations and the Business Services Authority; advice on superannuation in relation to corporate providers; and advice for addressing incorrect contributions and deductions 

• Universities Superannuation Scheme: guidance on eligibility and entitlements under the Universities Superannuation Scheme 

• Armed forces pensions: guidance on eligibility and entitlements under the Armed Forces pension scheme 

• Stakeholder pensions: general information on stakeholder pension schemes and employer and employee responsibilities and entitlements 

• Private pensions: information on private pension provisions and policies 

• Automatic Enrolment and Workplace Pension Schemes: advice on legal responsibilities for employers and rights of employees under the Automatic Enrolment scheme 

• Ill-health retirement: advice on ill-health retirement scheme eligibility and terms; assistance with ill-health retirement applications; guidance for estimating potential ill-health retirement benefits; and advice on appealing against the refusal of an application for ill-health retirement 

• Income protection insurance: general guidance on the terms of income protection insurance policies 

• Retirement: advice on entitlements and criteria for retirement and voluntary early retirement; and assistance with applications for retirement from the NHS Pension Scheme 

• Annual Reconciliation Reports: advice on annual reconciliation requirements within the NHS and assistance with completion of annual reconciliation reports 

Compliance and Healthcare Regulation (including CQC, HIW, RQIA and HIS):

• Compliance legislation: advice on legislation relating to national independent healthcare regulators including the Care Quality Commission, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Healthcare Improvement Scotland 

• Healthcare regulation registration: guidance on requirements for registration with national independent healthcare regulators; and assistance with applications for registration and changes to registration 

• Healthcare regulation inspections: advice on preparing for inspections by healthcare regulators and advice on addressing matters arising from inspections 

• Clinical audit and Peer Review: information on standard clinical audits and guidance for implementing and audits and peer review arrangements

International matters:

• Working in the UK: advice on GDC and other requirements for working in the United Kingdom and general information on immigration 

• Employing an overseas dentist: advice on GDC and other requirements for working in the United Kingdom, general information on immigration and advice on employment requirements 

• English Language competencies: advice on language requirements for practising in the UK 

• Overseas Registration Exam (ORE): advice for dentists with qualifications from institutes outside of the European Economic Area wishing to work in the UK 

• Refugee dentists: advice and support for refugee dentists looking to work in the UK 

• Working abroad: practical advice for dentists wishing to practise abroad including general advice on immigration and work permit considerations; information on dental association and job agency contacts where available; guidance on addressing registration requirements and eligibility of qualifications; and advice on keeping in touch with the UK 

• Voluntary work abroad: general guidance on undertaking voluntary work abroad

Educational matters:

• Registration with the GDC: advice on GDC general registration requirements for dentists and DCPs and general information on specialisation 

• Dental Foundation Training and Vocational Training: advice on Dental Foundation Training requirements for trainers and new graduates; and guidance on equivalence/competency requirements and exemptions 

• Postgraduate education: information on postgraduate dental education 

• Keeping in touch: information on accessing support for keeping in touch during periods of absence from clinical practice 

• Formal retraining: information on accessing support for retraining following periods of significant absence from clinical practice 

• CPD and professional standards: advice and guidance on GDC requirements for continuing professional development for Dentists and their DCPs 

• Scope of practice: guidance on GDC scope of practice and training and competency requirements for dentists and DCPs 

• Revalidation: advice on developments in revalidation requirements 

• Careers advice: information on spheres of dentistry, careers within the dental profession, career development and career management including non-clinical dentistry 

• Presentations to schools: information for members wishing to deliver dental presentations within schools

Consultancy services

The following additional paid services are accessible to members within Extra membership, subject to the Association’s Policy on the provision of consultancy services to non-salaried members and to compliance with the Association’s ‘terms of consultancy’, which will be provided to members at the time of purchase of consultancy services, and is otherwise available on request from the Advisory Services team.
 

Employment Consultancy Services:

• On site attendance by BDA Practice Management Consultants at staff disciplinary hearings 

• On site attendance by BDA Practice Management Consultants at staff grievance hearings 

• Other bespoke employment consultancy services, as agreed. 

BDA Dental Conference and Dentistry Show

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show is dentistry’s flagship conference and exhibition. Held in Birmingham each spring, members enjoy priority access to the BDA’s theatre.