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2023 NIHR Clinical Lectureship (Dental) Guidance for Recruitment and Appointment

Contents

Published: 30 September 2022

Version: V1.0 (September 2022)

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Introduction

1. This guidance has been produced to support the selection of individuals for NIHR Clinical Lectureship (CL) and NIHR-recognised, locally-funded CL posts in dentistry as part of Integrated Academic Training (IAT).

2. Applicants for a NIHR CL will be those in specialist training, or General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), that have completed a higher research degree.

3. The CL award provides a maximum of 4 years’ funding. CLs combine 50% clinical specialty training (clinical service provision for GDPs) with 50% academic training. The CL provides opportunities for post-doctoral research and facilitates applications
for further research funding for dentists working towards completion of specialty training.

Background

4. The NIHR CL is one phase of the Integrated Academic Training Pathway recommended in the report “Medically- and dentally-qualified academic staff: Recommendations for training the researchers and educators of the future”. This report was produced by a joint Sub-Committee of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and the NHS Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) to
recommend initiatives that integrate the development of academic skills with each of the key stages of a clinician’s career.

5. The CL represents the second substantive phase of integrated clinical and academic training, which is intended to follow on from the Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) phase, when the trainee is in possession of a relevant PhD/MD. CLs are intended for those who can demonstrate outstanding potential through success at doctoral research that show further potential for development as a
clinical academic in research and/or educational research.

6. The principles set out in the Dental Gold Guide will still apply.

Principles and Obligations 

7. The NIHR, and other funders, have created a set of Principles and Obligations that all UK institutions and clinical trainees in receipt of nationally competitive funding for clinical academic research training are to adhere to.

8. Clinical academic training must operate within a mentored, trainee-centred framework that is overseen by the University Dental Dean - through a designated academic lead - and the Postgraduate Dental Dean. This training tripartite structure involves (1) the academic institution (2) the NHS and (3) the trainee, and is responsible for adhering to the key features that are described in full in the Principles and Obligations Document.

Part-Funded NIHR GDP CLs

9. In 2021 the NIHR introduced a “part-funded post” model for General Dental Practitioners working in general practice. NIHR does not fully fund these posts; funding is provided pro-rata for the academic component of the post only (50%). The salary costs associated with the provision of clinical dentistry (50%) are to be drawn from the host practice.

Timetable

2023 Dental CL Round 1 Timetable for recruitment to CL posts with clinical benchmarking at national recruitment.

Application windows open: between 03/10/2022 and 25/10/2022
Application windows close: between 31/10/2022 and 22/11/2022
Interview window: 02/11/2022 and 13/01/2023
Initial offers released: from 18/01/2023
Hold deadline: 25/01/2023

2023 Dental CL Re-advert Timetable for recruitment without clinical benchmarking at national recruitment.

Application window: 26/01/2023 to 31/03/2024

*Successful 2023 NIHR CL applicants must be in post by 31/03/2024.

Eligibility

10. NIHR CL posts are only available to dentally-qualified candidates. Other dental healthcare professions should reference the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) Programme.

11. Candidates for a NIHR CL must already hold a higher research degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant subject area. NIHR does not consider taught doctorates (such as a DDSc) equivalent to a PhD.

12. Specialist Registrars (SpR) or Specialty Registrars (StR) may apply to this scheme.

13. General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) that have completed their clinical training may apply to this scheme.

14. Dentists that have already completed one NIHR CL may not apply for another, but may apply for a locally-funded Clinical Lectureship.

15. Candidates with less than one year to gaining a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) may be more suited to a NIHR Advanced Fellowship, or other post-doctoral fellowship, rather than an NIHR CL.

16. Candidates that are close to gaining CCST are eligible to be appointed to a NIHR CL; however, they will automatically be considered ineligible for an Extension beyond CCST.

17. Candidates may only apply if they have already submitted their PhD or MD thesis at the time of application. If the candidate’s thesis has not been submitted by the application closing date, then the candidate will be deemed ineligible.

18. Successful candidates may not take up the CL post until their PhD or MD has been fully awarded. If this will not be before the 31 March 2024 deadline, then the candidate will be deemed ineligible for the 2023 round.

19. NIHR CL posts in dentistry are available at multiple entry levels starting at ST1. The recommended minimum entry level for a NIHR CL post is ST2; however, dentists may also be appointed at ST1, as befits their individual career stage. NIHR recommends that dentists yet to begin a specialty training programme consider applying for an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) to take advantage of both the ACF and CL funding during their training.

20. Dentists with specialist/ty experience that meet the entry criteria into specialty training may apply to this scheme; however, to take up an academic CL post (NIHR CL or locally-funded CL) they must demonstrate clinical competence for the award of a national training number (NTN). If a current NTN is not held, candidates will need to clinically benchmark before taking up the post. Clinical benchmarking can be achieved through application for specialty training within the national recruitment window where the minimal appointable score must be achieved. Trainees are responsible for ensuring that their clinical application is submitted within the
appropriate recruitment round to ensure that they are benchmarked before the date that the post needs to commence.

21. IAT partnerships may offer NIHR CL posts at a higher level, e.g. ST3 or ST4, if it is appropriate to do so. With the exception of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics appointments, applicants who have already gained a CCST are ineligible for appointment to a NIHR CL.

Additional Information for Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics CLs

22. Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics specialty trainees gain CCST after three years of specialty training. Subsequently trainees are required to undertake a two year Fixed Term Training Appointment (FTTA). Such trainees are referred to as post-CCST trainees.

23. NIHR views post-CCST trainees in Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics to be undertaking specialty training and are therefore eligible to apply for a NIHR CL.

24. Appointments to NIHR CL posts in Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics may be made at ST4, should partnerships wish.

25. For NIHR CLs undertaking specialty training in Paediatric Dentistry or Orthodontics, the duration of the post will be for a maximum of 4 years or until the end of the post-CCST training period, whichever is sooner.

Additional Information for GDPs

26. NIHR GDP CLs are not appointed to a specialty training programme. Their academic time (50%) will thus be combined with clinical service (50%), as a salaried or self-employed GDP or Community Dentist.

27. Early career GDPs are encouraged to align their clinical training to the DCT curriculum. Advanced career GDPs are expected to engage in appropriate continuing professional development.

28. NIHR funds “classic” GDP CL posts at 100%.

29. The maximum amount of funding available for the “classic” GDP CL post is equivalent to the top of the pre-2003 consultant contract pay scale. Should partnerships wish to offer more than this amount, then they may do so from their own funding sources.

30. Should the partnership wish to offer their CL to a candidate as a Part-Funded Post, NIHR will fund the academic component of the post pro-rata at 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE). This funding will be paid to the host HEI via the HEE Local Office where the GDP’s practice is based.

31. It should be noted that for GDPs undertaking clinical service on a self-employed basis, the academic host institution contracted to deliver the 50% academic training associated with the CL post would be required to agree to the Terms and Conditions of employment expected by the NIHR, e.g. employment and accrued benefits, statutory leave etc. The proposed employer should be identified and asked for consent to adopt this funding model in advance of advertising the post.

32. GDP CLs appointed to Part-Funded Posts should be paid on the UCEA (or equivalent) clinical academic pay scale at an appropriate point according to their postdoctoral academic experience.

Dedicated Clinical Training

33. The 4-year duration of the NIHR CL may mean that a period of dedicated clinical training is appropriate after the CL award ends to enable the candidate to reach CCST. In these cases, discussions should be held with the relevant Training Programme Director (TPD) to optimise the dentist’s remaining clinical training.

Portability of Posts

34. NIHR CL posts are awarded to dental schools. HEE Local Offices do not have permission to move any posts from one dental school to another within their locality. If a dental school is unable to recruit in a particular GDC specialty the IAT partnership may submit a specialty change request to NIHR and re-advertise the post.

Recruitment and Selection 

35. Recruitment to CL posts should be jointly managed by the relevant HEI and HEE Local Office in the IAT Partnerships.

36. The following should be formulated prior to advertisement:

Person Specifications

Clinical and academic person specifications are required for the training programme
as a whole.
Please refer to NIHR CL Supplementary Person Specification (Appendix 2).

ST Level

ST1 is the minimum entry level required for a NIHR CL post

Description of the training and service requirements for rotational placements
Training programme descriptions should provide suitable detail of the academic training component with an indication of how this is protected from clinical service.

Application Form(s)
Please refer to NIHR CL Supplementary Questions (Appendix 1).

Advertising 

37. The launch of the 2023 CL recruitment round will be advertised nationally by the NIHR. Details of the allocated posts will be available on the NIHR website
(www.nihr.ac.uk/IAT). Potential applicants will be asked to make contact locally via an identified IAT Partnership contact. The NIHR will direct CL applicants to the
relevant HEE Local Office websites, university websites, and Oriel (https://www.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/).

38. Partnerships may advertise NIHR CL posts in up to three GDC specialties (or General Dental Practice).

39. Posts should be advertised specifying: the GDC specialty/specialties if including specialist training; or that the CL is a GDP post, regardless of the level of entry.

40. Posts can be advertised at a specific entry level or at multiple levels. IAT partnerships will need to make it clear at what level or levels each CL is being
offered.

41. The national launch of Round 1 dental academic recruitment is 3 October 2022. The 2023 CL posts may not be advertised and closed before this date. IAT
partnerships may advertise their CL posts at any time, without candidate access to clinical benchmarking, according to the CL Re-advert timetable.

42. All CL posts must be advertised and open for applications for at least four weeks. All posts must be advertised nationally; local advertisements are also permitted.

43. In cases where the IAT partnership is undertaking CL recruitment to GDC specialties outside of the standard national recruitment timetable, advertisements
should clearly state all applicants will need to have already attended clinical benchmarking (or have a NTN) to be eligible to apply for the CL. For any clarification
regarding clinical benchmarking requirements for appointment to CL posts, queries should be directed to the Academic Postgraduate Dental Dean.

44. Organisational partnerships must inform the NIHR when they are planning to advertise their posts and provide details of where their adverts will be placed. This should be done via e-mail to iat@nihr.ac.uk.

45. Successful applicants must take up the post before 31 March 2024, therefore please allow enough time to advertise, shortlist, interview, and where required, allow notice periods to be given. Please note there will not be any extensions given beyond the deadline. Posts that remain unfilled ahead of 31 March 2024 will be withdrawn. It is anticipated that CLs entering a GDC-recognised specialty training programme should commence in post on the common start date of September/October.

46. A CL application is additional to an application for a clinical post. For recruitment to GDC specialty training programmes, CL applicants that do not already hold a relevant NTN will be required to apply to the appropriate national speciality recruitment process to be appointed to the post.

47. HEE Local Offices should use the 2023 person specifications for the relevant specialty and level of entry and Appendix 2 - NIHR CL Supplementary Person
Specification.

48. An academic reference must be provided for applicants applying for CL posts in addition to clinical references.

Selection Process

49. The NIHR CL selection committee should be a joint committee representing the partner organisations delivering the training, i.e. the Dental School, NHS
Organisation, and the HEE Local Office. The committee must be constituted to assess academic quality and potential.

50. Interviews for recruitment to NIHR CL posts (and locally-funded posts) should last at least thirty minutes.

51. Interviews will need to be conducted safely, both for candidates and recruitment staff (including all panel members), ensuring that any current government guidelines at the time are followed.

52. Partnerships may hold either face-to-face or “digital” interviews for CL posts using online platforms such as Microsoft Teams/Zoom/Skype.

53. Membership of the NIHR CL selection committee should have appropriate representation that reflects the IAT partnership offering the CL programme and
specialty. Selection committee members may assume more than one role.

54. Attendees should include:

  •  A lay representative (if available)
  • The lead of the NIHR CL training programme, or their representative
  • The Training Programme Director, or their representative
  • Representation from the relevant academic community
  • Representation from a Teaching Hospital Trust (or appropriate organisation)
  • Representation from the HEE Local Office.

55. For GPs the committee should include:

  • A lay representative (if available)
  • The lead of the NIHR CL training programme, or their representative
  • Representation from the relevant academic community
  • The HEE Local Office Director of Postgraduate GP Education
  • A Senior Member/Partner from the relevant practice or relevant NHS organisation.

56. To ensure the smooth-running of CL interviews, we recommend a Recruitment Officer assists with the process. Recruitment Officers are usually senior administrators in the HEE Local Office/Deanery or HEI IAT administrators hosting the interviews, and act as the point of contact for messages handled via helplines, escalating them appropriately.

57. We would like to remind everyone involved in shortlisting of NIHR’s statement on promoting equality, diversity and inclusion: The NIHR are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do. Diverse people and communities shape our research, and we strive to make opportunities to participate in research an integral part of everyone’s experience of health and social care services. We develop researchers from multiple disciplines, specialisms, geographies and backgrounds, and work to address barriers to career progression arising from characteristics such as sex, race or disability.

58. Colleagues involved in shortlisting should also be aware of unconscious bias, which can help us to eliminate discriminatory actions. Colleagues are encouraged to be open to seeing what is new and unfamiliar and to challenge behaviours that they consider could contribute to discrimination as a result of unconscious bias.

Selection Criteria

59. The criteria at short-listing and interview for assessing applicants should be derived directly from the person specification, including academic aptitude and commitment to an academic career, and the training and service requirements. Please refer to the NIHR CL Supplementary Person Specification for assessment of academic competencies.

60. The following should be remembered when formulating the assessment criteria:

  • The duration of a NIHR CL will be for a maximum of 4 years at 1.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) or until CCST is reached
  • Applicants with less than one year to CCST may be more suited to a NIHR Advanced Fellowship or other postdoctoral fellowship, rather than a NIHR CL
  • NIHR CLs are intended to offer training to those who have already demonstrated outstanding potential through success at doctoral level research
  • NIHR CLs are intended for those who show further potential for development as a clinical academic in research and/or educational research, with demonstration of potential to act as independent researchers and leaders in their chosen field
  • Successful applicants will demonstrate clear medium- and long-term career goals
  • The training will require the trainees spending 50% of their time undergoing academic training combined with clinical training and/or service in the remaining 50%
  • The NIHR CL will provide the trainee the opportunity to complete their clinical training in conjunction with postdoctoral research career development. It is expected that a substantial number of the trainees will, where appropriate, apply for a further, peer-reviewed externally-funded postdoctoral training award (such as a NIHR Advanced Fellowship) or an award to support further training as an education researcher.

61. The committee should also refer to the eligibility criteria as set out earlier in this document.

Clinical Benchmaking

62. Appendix 3 shows a schematic overview of the clinical benchmarking process.

63. Dentists with specialist/ty experience that meet the entry criteria into specialty training may apply for a CL; however, to take up an academic CL post (NIHR CL or locally-funded CL) they must demonstrate clinical competence for the award of a national training number (NTN). If a current NTN is not held, candidates will need to clinically benchmark before taking up the post. Clinical benchmarking can be achieved through application for specialty training within the national recruitment window where the minimal appointable score must be achieved. Trainees are responsible for ensuring that their clinical application is submitted within the appropriate recruitment round to ensure that they are benchmarked before the date that the post needs to commence.

For further information please visit: https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/Recruitment.

64. If applicants require clinical benchmarking, then the HEE Local Office hosting the CL post will need to ensure that the HEE national recruitment team are made aware of this in a timely manner.

65. Applicants who fail to reach the appointability threshold at clinical benchmarking will be ineligible for appointment to the CL post in that recruitment round.

66. Applicants who fail clinical benchmarking are still eligible to apply in future rounds.

Appointments

Post holders may be employed either by a HEI or NHS organisation, or both through joint contracts. Details of how the employing partnership will manage the
appointment should be agreed with the trainee and each appointment should be managed according to the established practices and needs of individual HEIs and
local NHS organisations. It is anticipated that appointments will reflect the principles outlined in the Follett Review of September 2001.

Options for Less than Full Time Working

68. NIHR CLs comprise 50% academic and 50% clinical training for up to four years.

69. Less than Full Time (LTFT) CLs can be extended up to a maximum of 6 years, with a stipulation that the academic component must not fall below 33% FTE. The trainee should provide input regarding how they would arrange the balance between academic and clinical training. Local selection committees should be able to advise on this matter should suitable applicants be identified.

70. Monitoring forms (post-recruitment and those reporting on annual progress) will need to make the LTFT arrangements and planned duration of the CL clear.

71. Guidance has been issued by the GMC with respect to LTFT academic trainees.

72. The maximum duration of both full and LTFT CL posts stated above does not include any periods of statutory leave taken during the post.

Out of Programme (OOP)

73. No Out of Programme (OOP) activity, other than for statutory reasons, is allowed for NIHR CLs. Trainees can still apply to the HEE Local Office to go out of programme for other reasons; however the NIHR CL post will end and they will go into normal clinical training on their return from OOP. Any OOP must also be agreed with the employing organisation.

74. For further information, please contact iat@nihr.ac.uk.

Obtaining relevant research experience at another institution

75. NIHR CLs may wish to obtain relevant research experience at another institution. This is not the same as OOP.

76. Obtaining relevant research experience elsewhere is acceptable if it can be accommodated within the 50% academic time of the post and has the agreement of
the Academic Programme Lead and Postgraduate Dental Dean. Time spent at another institution to gain clinical experience is also possible; however, permission
must be sought from the relevant authorities in order for this to count towards CCST.

77. Funding from NIHR will continue to be paid as per normal during any time taken at another institution. Should the trainee obtain external funding to cover the period of time away, then this would be regarded as being the same as gaining another fellowship and the CL post would end.

Academic Appraisals and CCST Date

78. Structured postgraduate dental training is dependent on having curricula which clearly set out the standards and competences of practice, an assessment strategy to know whether those standards have been achieved, and an infrastructure that supports a training environment within the context of service delivery.

79. The annual Review of Competence Progression (RCP) should comprise joint academic and clinical appraisal according to Follett principles with assessment according to College and HEE Local Office recommendations for CLs.

80. The Academy of Medical Sciences has formulated supplementary guidelines to aid trainees, supervisors, and assessors in reviewing academic training and progress.

81. Although progress on both clinical and academic fronts should be documented, and future training needs for both identified, a single RCP outcome should be
determined, with patient safety a dominant consideration.

82. Postgraduate Dental Deans have agreed to consider a NIHR CL’s overall progress and take account of the time spent in research (if necessary) before issuing an Outcome 3.

Setting the Target CCST Date

83. NIHR expects assessment of clinical progress by academic trainees to be competence-based rather than simply time-based. NIHR also recognises that in, for
example, craft specialties, trainees do need to undertake procedures on a number of occasions to become competent to perform the procedure independently, which requires a variable period of time to complete.

84. Following discussions with the GMC, Postgraduate Deans and others, the NIHR stance is that setting a target CCST date is best determined flexibly, and tailored to the needs of the individual trainee.

85. The target CCST date is best determined at the first annual RCP for CLs when the trainee and supervisors can take stock of initial progress in post.

86. The target CCST date may be exactly the same as it would be for a non-academic trainee, or it may be later than it would be for a non-academic trainee.

87. Once set, the CCST date can be extended further through the use of an RCP Outcome 3. If there is a need to extend clinical training this should not necessarily
be regarded as a failure.

88. In the event that an individual is unsuccessful in progressing academically, they will re-join a standard clinical training programme or in the case of GDPs or for those who have completed clinical training, return to clinical service. Further information regarding the assessment of academic progress is available from the AMS.

Completion of a NIHR CL

89. It is expected that a significant number of the trainees will, where appropriate, apply for a further peer reviewed, post-doctoral training award at the end of their CL.

90. For trainees that are not anticipated to reach CCST within the NIHR CL post, arrangements will need to be put in place locally to enable the trainee to return to
standard clinical training after completion of the CL.

Obtaining another Fellowship

91. Where the trainee is successful in obtaining a further fellowship award (e.g. NIHR Advanced Fellowship), the NIHR CL will end. If the trainee has further clinical training to undertake, they will return to standard clinical training upon completion of the fellowship.

Extensions beyond CCST

92. On reaching CCST the NIHR CL will have completed clinical training. It is anticipated that the request to prolong the post beyond CCST is to acquire
additional academic competencies to enable the individual to make the transition to research independence.

93. NIHR expects the extension process described below to be followed for NIHR CL posts and NIHR-recognised, locally-funded (badged) CL posts.

94. Extensions are not automatically given; they are considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed to be granted.

Eligibility

95. The option to apply for an extension post-CCST is open to CLs in specialty training - provided they are within the 4 year’s funding for the award.

96. If the trainee does not reach CCST by the end of the 4 year CL post period, then no extensions will be considered by the NIHR.

97. Applications for extension must be made at least 6 months prior to CCST.

98. A trainee that wishes to apply for an extension must have more than 12 months remaining of their training at the time of appointment to the NIHR CL post. Trainees with less than 12 months to CCST will be considered ineligible.

99. GP CLs are ineligible for a post-CCST extension, as they are fully qualified.

Extension Duration

100. A CL extension is for a maximum of 12 months beyond CCST, or until the 4 year funding maximum is reached. For example, a CL who uses 3.5 years of the funding to reach CCST will be offered a 6 month extension.

101. Post-CCST CLs must reduce their clinical commitments to 2 clinical sessions per week, which should be sufficient to maintain clinical skills and remain appointable as a NHS consultant.

Employer and Responsible Officer

102. The CL will remain employed by the Higher Education Institution (HEI), or substantive employer post-CCST with an honorary contract with a NHS Trust. The
Medical Director of the associated Trust will become the responsible officer, post-CCST. The CL post-CCST will need to be appraised jointly, both clinically and
academically, consistent with the Follett Report principles with adherence to the joint working checklist, with academic progression managed by the substantive employer’s HR processes.

103. The CL will remain employed by the Higher Education Institution (HEI), or substantive employer post-CCST with an honorary contract with a NHS Trust. The
Director of the associated Trust will become the responsible officer, post-CCST. The CL post-CCST will need to be appraised jointly, both clinically and academically,
consistent with the Follett Report principles with adherence to the joint working checklist, with academic progression managed by the substantive employer’s HR
processes.

Extension Process

104. Eligible NIHR CLs that wish to invoke the extension must gain prospective approval for the extension from their Postgraduate Dental Dean.

105. Following approval from the Postgraduate Dental Dean to extend the CL post beyond CCST, the trainee will need to coordinate the submission of the following
documentation to their HEE local office.

106. The completed extension request is to be sent to NIHR by the HEE local office and not the trainee.

107. Cover Letter addressing the following points:

  • NIHR CL Start Date
  • Target CCST date
  • The extension request has the approval of the Postgraduate Dental Dean
  • The intended academic/clinical time split

108. Trainee Statement of Intent (1-2 pages) addressing, for example, the following points as befits the personal circumstances of the individual:

  • What are your career ambitions?
  • What research and academic training will be undertaken during the extension?
  • What will your clinical duties consist of?
  • Are there any publications in preparation / under review?
  • What stage are you at with applications for further funding (grants/fellowships etc.)?
  • If a fellowship application has been submitted but was unsuccessful, what steps are being taken to address the feedback?
  • What is the intended submission date for a future fellowship / grant
    application?
  • What support is the host institutional partnership offering to facilitate
    applications for further funding?
  • In the event that the fellowship or grant application is unsuccessful, will the host institution provide bridging funding?
  • Has the host institution offered a substantive post at the end of the NIHR CL award?

109. Letters of Support indicating how the CL will benefit from the extension both academically and clinically from the following:

  • The NIHR Academic IAT Lead
  • The academic supervisor
  • The clinical supervisor/Training Programme Director
  • The host HEI, justifying the need for extension. Commitment from the academic institution should also include a post-CCST job plan.

To discuss extensions further on a case-by-case basis, please contact iat@nihr.ac.uk.

Monitoring

110. HEE Local Offices are required to provide up-to-date information on NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship, NIHR Clinical Lectureship, and locally-funded NIHR-recognised Clinical Lectureship posts, as per the Service Level Agreement between the Department of Health and Social Care and HEE.

111. Funding for the 2023 allocation of posts will come from the Department of Health and Social Care Science, Research, and Evidence Directorate funding stream and not through the workforce funding streams.

NIHR CL Supplementary Question Guidance

112. Please ensure that you meet the criteria in the Person Specification for a NIHR CL and eligibility criteria outlined in Appendix 2. GDC Specialty applicants must also demonstrate the appropriate clinical competences to enter specialty training at the advertised level for the post.

113. Dental & Clinical Experience

University(ies) Attended

Please provide the name of the university or universities that you have attended with dates when you gained your professional or academic qualifications. For each, please name the Department or School where you were based for your study.

Degree/Diplomas in Relevant Subject Area

Please provide all the qualifications that you have achieved which you feel are relevant to your application for a NIHR CL. Where a class or grade was associated
with your qualification, please provide this information. The date and awarding body of your qualification(s) should also be provided. Please note that original certificates will be requested at interview.

Prizes

114 Please list any prizes or academic distinctions (maximum of six) which you have gained and provide the date of award and the awarding body for each.

115. Key Relevant Academic Achievements

Prizes or other academic distinctions – details

Please provide further detail about the prizes or distinctions you have achieved. Please select those that are relevant to your application for a NIHR CL and briefly
describe what you did in order to be recognised with a prize or distinction.

116. Describe your PhD research (750 word limit)

Please include a brief description of your main findings, the research methods that you used, and the impact your research findings have had. Examples of impact
could include:

  • Contribution of research to practice, diagnosis, treatment or management of
    patients;
  • Contribution of research to the understanding of a disease process;
  • Changes to a service (e.g. a referral pathway); and translation of a research finding or development into clinical practice (e.g. a diagnostic tool).

117. Research Training
This section provides you with the opportunity to give details about any other research training you have received to date. You only have 250 words, but please
give brief details of any training courses or projects that you have undertaken.

118. Scientific Publications and Scientific Presentations

Please list published abstracts, original research articles, and reviews. Please provide details of relevant scientific presentations and whether these were at a
departmental, national, or international level. Please note, shortlisted applicants will be required to supply copies of any peer-reviewed publications at interview.
CL applicants must demonstrate the appropriate language skills as per the standard clinical person specification for the advertised post. Further evidence of language and communication skills will be drawn from the information provided in the Scientific Publications and Presentations section of the application.

119. Other Relevant Experience
Teaching Experience
Please list any formal teaching role(s) you have had to-date, where this is relevant to research, and whether you have any teaching qualifications e.g. FHEA
(https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/individuals/fellowship/fellow). You may also include examples outside of dentistry.

Management and/or Leadership Experience
Please give examples and brief details of the experience you have had of developing your management or leadership skills.

120. Aims, Career Objectives, and Commitment to a Career in Academic Dentistry

Please indicate your medium- and long-term goals in relation to academic dentistry. You might wish to say what you are aiming to be doing in 5 and 10 years’ time.

Managing completion of clinical training: Please use this section to describe how you will manage the completion of your clinical training alongside your academic development.

Please provide a timetable of your plans.Support from Host Department: Please explain how the host department offering the NIHR CL you have chosen will support your research aims and career objectives.

121. Any Further Information Relevant to an Application for a NIHR CL

Please provide any further information that you feel is relevant to this application, in particular, areas that have not been covered elsewhere. Please state what skills and attributes you will bring to this position and how you meet the selection criteria.

Appendix 1: Dental CL Supplementary Questions

  • Dental & Clinical Experience
    • Univeristy(ies) attended. Please also indicate the Department or School
    • Dates 
    • Shortlisted applicants will be required to bring original certificates to the interviews
  • Degree/Diploma (includeBSc,BDS,BChD,MBBS,MSc, MB/PhD, PhD, MD or equivalent) – state class of degree awarded, where appropriate.
    • Awarding Body
    • Dates
  • Prizes
    • Prizes and other academic distinctions.
    • Awarding Body
    • Dates
  • Key & Relevant Academic Achievements
    • Prizes or other academic distinctions - details. Please provide any relevant additional information to that provided above.
  • Describe your PhD research
  • Research Training
  • Scientific Publications
  • Scientific Presentations
  • Other Relevant Experience
    • Please provide a brief description of any teaching experience you have had. You may include experience gained outside of dentistry.
    • Please give examples and brief details of experience you have had of management or leadership.
  • Aims, Career Objectives, and Commitment to a Career in Academic Dentistry
    • Please indicate your medium and long-term career goals in relation to an academic career.
    • If you are successful in gaining a NIHR CL, please describe how you will manage the completion of your clinical training.
    • Please explain how the hosting research department will support your research aims and career objectives.
  • AnyFurtherInformationRelevanttoanApplicationforaNIHR CL
    • Please provide any further information that you feel is relevant to this application, in particular, areas that have not been covered elsewhere. Please state what skills and attributes you will bring to this position and how you meet the selection criteria.
  • Academic Referees

Appendix 2: Dental CL Supplementary Person Specification

 CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

WHEN

EVALUATED

ELIGIBILITY

  • Higher degree (PhD or equivalent)
  • Evidence of achievement of general professional competencies
  • Completion of Foundation Training (or equivalent) by time of appointment, as appropriate

 

  • Evidence of commitment to GDC specialty
  • Intercalated honours for BSc and/or additional qualifications e.g. MSc etc.
  • Distinction or honours during BDS programme
  • Completion of academic programme or equivalent
  • GDPs may hold further qualifications in primary care (eg. FFGDP) or be on a specialty list relevant to a primary care specialism

Application Form

KNOWLEDGE &

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Demonstration of acquisition of the level of knowledge and skills necessary for the completion of general professional training with an emphasis on academic competencies
  • Demonstration of understanding of, and commitment to, an academic career
  • Demonstration of the potential for scientific independence and the ability to lead a research team
  • Potential to become a leader in chosen field
  • Knowledge of the centre hosting the research and how this is best placed to support the research, education and training needs
  • Prizes or distinctions
  • Presentation of work at a national or international meeting
  • Significant publications in peer reviewed journals

Application Form

and

Selection Centre

EDUCATIONAL &

PERSONAL

ASPECTS

 

  • Demonstration of understanding and commitment to academic career
  • Indication of medium and long-term career goals
  • Demonstration of educational reasons for applying to a NIHR CL

 

 

 

Application Form

and

Selection Centre

PROFESSIONAL

SKILLS

  • Evidence of team working skills
  • Evidence of leadership potential
 

Application Form

and

Selection Centre

This person specification should be used in conjunction with a person specification for assessment of clinical competences. “When evaluated is indicative, but may be carried out at any time during the assessments.

Appendix 3: Clinical Benchmarking Overview 

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