Course Overview
This CPD course equips dental professionals with the knowledge and confidence to identify, respond to, and report concerns about patient safety, staff wellbeing, and professional standards, while understanding reporting pathways and legal protections for speaking up.
Course Aims
- To promote a clear understanding of the professional duty to raise concerns in dental practice.
- To differentiate between raising a concern and whistleblowing.
- To explain the procedures and protections available for dental professionals who report concerns.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Define what constitutes a concern or whistleblowing in dental practice.
- Identify when and why a concern should be raised.
- Understand the difference between internal reporting and external escalation.
- Recognise the types of issues that require professional reporting (e.g., clinical risk, misconduct, safeguarding).
- Follow appropriate procedures to report concerns internally and externally.
- Describe the legal protections available to whistleblowers under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
- Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation during the process.
- Understand their ethical duty under the GDC’s Principle 8.
- Overcome barriers to speaking up through awareness and workplace support.
- Foster or contribute to a culture of safety, trust, and openness within the dental team.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this course, learners will be able to:
- Raise concerns in accordance with GDC expectations and UK law.
- Distinguish between concerns that can be managed internally and those requiring external reporting.
- Take appropriate steps to escalate unresolved or serious issues.
- Support a speak-up culture in their dental practice.
- Act as advocates for patient safety, ethical practice, and professional accountability.
GDC Development Outcomes:
B, D
Review Date:
January 2027
