Welcome

This course is for dental nurses preparing CPD mapped to the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework Professionalism outcome P 1.9: Explain the personal responsibility and the mechanisms for raising concerns about your own or others' health, behaviour or professional performance as described in GDC guidance.

SPF fit: This course supports the GDC Safe Practitioner Framework domain of Professionalism, sub domain Ethics and Integrity. It focuses on learning outcome P 1.9 and links closely to behaviours P(B)6, P(B)5, P(B)14 and P(B)15.

Raising concerns also includes recognising when your own health, behaviour or performance may affect safety, trust or standards. Dental nurses need to seek support early, raise factual concerns through proper channels, and escalate when patient or public confidence is at risk.

Why This Course Matters

• Personal responsibility is real: dental nurses are registered professionals with duties to patients and the team.
• Support should come early: many health or performance issues can be managed safely if identified promptly.
• Concerns are not gossip: raise them with factual, proportionate information via the appropriate mechanisms.
• Hierarchy can make it difficult: you may need to raise concerns about a dentist, owner or senior colleague; the course covers routes and safeguards.
• GDC guidance gives a route: act locally first, but report externally when risk is serious or not resolved.

A Simple Learner Spine

• Notice: identify health, behaviour or performance risks.
• Support: seek help early for your own difficulties.
• Speak: raise concerns fairly and promptly.
• Record: keep factual notes where appropriate.
• Escalate: use local or external mechanisms when risk remains.
• Protect: keep patient safety and public confidence central.