Reading List

Selected UK guidance and further reading for dental nurses on teamwork, communication, speaking up, professional standards, governance, and running safe meetings.

GDC Professional Standards

• GDC - Standards for the Dental Team
  Core standards for all registered dental professionals, covering communication, teamwork, acting in patients' interests, complaints, and raising concerns.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/standards-for-the-dental-team

• GDC Standards - Principle 6: Work with colleagues in a way that serves the interests of patients
  Guidance on teamwork, working relationships, delegation, and patient-centred collaboration.
  https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle6/principle6

• GDC Standards - Principle 8: Raise concerns if patients are at risk
  Guidance on raising concerns, including when local routes are unsuitable or concerns are not acted on.
  https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle8/principle8

• GDC - Scope of Practice
  Guidance on role boundaries, competence, indemnity or insurance, and the dental nurse role within the team.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/scope-of-practice

• GDC - Learning Outcomes and Behaviours
  Links to the Safe Practitioner framework, including dental nurse outcomes and behaviours for communication, professionalism, teamwork, and patient care.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/dental-education/quality-assurance/learning-outcomes-and-behaviours

• GDC - Safe Practitioner: Dental Nurse
  The dental nurse framework for safe practice, professional behaviours, patient care, communication, and teamworking.
  https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/about-us/safe-practitioner/safe-practitioner--dental-nurse.pdf?sfvrsn=bae145a5_4

Team Communication and Governance

• SDCEP Practice Support Manual - Communication
  Guidance on communicating with patients, colleagues, and other professionals, including team communication within dental practice.
  https://www.psm.sdcep.org.uk/topics/communication/

• CQC Dental mythbuster 27: Well-led?
  England-specific guidance on leadership, culture, governance, and quality improvement in dental services.
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/dentists/dental-mythbuster-27-well-led

• CQC - Regulation 17: Good governance
  Regulatory guidance on systems and processes for assessing, monitoring, and improving quality and safety in services in England.
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/regulations/regulation-17-good-governance

• National Guardian's Office - Speaking Up
  Guidance and signposting on speaking up and on developing cultures where staff can raise concerns safely.
  https://nationalguardian.org.uk/speaking-up/

These sources support practical skills and systems for teamwork, clear communication, raising concerns, governance, and meeting processes that protect patients and staff.