Scope, Tasks, Locations and Changing Roles

Your indemnity or practice cover must match the work you actually perform. The GDC Scope of Practice links role, competence and indemnity: before undertaking a task, you should be trained, competent and covered for that task.

Dental nurses may acquire additional skills, work in sedation services, assist with radiography, provide oral health education, take impressions, work in domiciliary settings, cover reception, assist in orthodontic clinics, or support trainees. Each change can affect what needs checking. A task that is routine in one practice may not be covered in another if the policy, training, supervision or role description differs.

Check cover when there is a change in

• Tasks or additional skills.
• Workplace, branch, agency or locum arrangement.
• Hours, sessions or out-of-hours work.
• Patient group or setting, such as domiciliary care.
• Employment status, registration title or supervision arrangements.
• Training role, trainee support or delegated duties.

Power imbalances can make it hard to raise these questions. Asking whether cover applies is a professional duty. It protects patients, the practice and the registrant.

Additional skills and indemnity

When your role changes, your cover may need checking. A confident professional asks before the work begins, not after something has gone wrong.