Now in its second year, the scheme offers recent graduates a new type of dentistry role, with free continued professional development training (CPD) and realistic UDA targets across a variety of locations to help ease graduates into dentistry. After the success of the scheme last year, IDH have created a further 30 roles and are now recruiting 80 regional dentists.
The regional dentist scheme at IDH will put graduates into roaming positions across the country, gaining experience with the largest dental employer in the UK. This allows them to work in a variety of practices, with different clinicians during a year-long contract before they have the opportunity to move into self-employed Associate positions within the business.
Matt Reeves, head of resourcing at IDH says, “We’re aware of how tough the first year of work can be for a new dentist and this gives them an opportunity to secure a role that is tailored to their level of experience and desire for variety. We ran this scheme on a smaller scale last year with 50 graduates and were encouraged by their feedback so we have created a further 30 roles for this year’s graduates’.”
Matt adds, “The role will take the pressure of our current clinicians to take on more UDA’s and also reduce our reliance on locums in the long-term. This is better for our permanent staff and customers because there will be a consistency of service that benefits everyone.”
Carla Irvine a current IDH regional dentist in South Yorkshire says, “Becoming a regional dentist is a fantastic career step for new graduates. Working across a number of surgeries has given me access to a range of experts with different skills, which has accelerated my learning process. The security, variety and financial rewards far outweigh being an associate. I would definitely recommend the scheme and have even encouraged some of my friends to apply for the role.”
Successful applicants will be given a driving allowance to cover their travel costs as well as mentoring from clinicians and resourcing experts at IDH to help them with the practicalities of the role. IDH offers a competitive total earnings package for regional dentists which includes basic salary, car allowance, lab fees, medical indemnity and GDC paid, free online CPD and access to offsite networking / development days.
This year, IDH has increased the benefits on offer and regional dentists will also receive free rotary-endo training and equipment, quarterly training days and an increase in car allowance. The role has an uncapped bonus scheme, allowing dentists to earn £10 per UDA on top of their salary once they pass their UDA target. Yet, there is no pressure on dentists to overachieve, with and many simply fulfilling their UDA target.