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Dear Colleague,

We would like to start by thanking you for showing interest and supporting us in this good cause which would benefit you all
and the future people to come. We all have good and bad, happy and sad stories of our VTE but for all three of us it is all done
and dusted. We acquired our performer numbers a while ago and went through the similar process. We are still climbing the
ladder of dentistry with success at different levels and are happy with what we have achieved to make our families proud. We
have tried to put as much information as we can about the whole event and our philosophy here in this document.

Firstly, there is no structured guidance or help available out there to provide a pathway for overseas dentists integration into the
healthcare system. A UK graduate after passing their final year gets a job as a Foundation Dentist (VT) and goes through a
structured programme to get integrated into the system. Although the GDC assesses overseas candidates for the same level but
unfortunately afterwards has no responsibility for the job prospectus which they have clearly stated on their website. The
demand and supply of NHS workforce gets addressed by the Department of health after carrying out needs analysis of different
areas of the Kingdom. We would like to highlight that skilled work force is already here and it needs to be placed correctly to
meet the needs.
Secondly, we have taken this initiative because of all the sad stories we have heard from different colleagues who are in similar
situation from still working as a dental nurse, working as a hygienist and not as a dentist during VTE, working at a reduced rate
or free for 12 months or less then minimum wage for a day or paying for acquiring VTE and in some instances paying for the
nurse wages as well during VTE. This unfortunately is very sad state of affairs, being treated by a fellow dentist in a
discriminatory way, utterly unfair, abusing the use of authority, violation of the Standards for the Dental Team* document from
the GDC and exploitation of educated and skilled dental professionals who are suppose to be part of the dental workforce in the
United Kingdom. We want to eliminate the marginalisation of the overseas dentists and to raise our concerns to the stakeholders
to make them aware of the situation from this platform and resolve this issue with mutual agreement with them which is going
to be fair, transparent and in best interest of the patients. There is a great need to have mutually agreed terms regarding
mentoring, supervision, payments and duration of VTE so all of you who will embark this journey will have a smooth ride. We
want all of you to have a successful future in dentistry so you can also enjoy the life after passing the extortionately expensive
exams (ORE/LDS).
(* Standards for the dental team, Page 56 which states, clause 6.1.2 You must treat colleagues fairly and with respect, in all
situations and all forms of interaction and communication. You must not bully, harass, or unfairly discriminate against them.
6.1.3 You must treat colleagues fairly in all financial transactions.)
http://www.gdc-uk.org/Newsandpublications/Publications/Publications/Standards%20for%20the%20Dental%20Team.pdf

This event will provide you with a unique opportunity for you to acquire first hand knowledge from the policy makers and
stakeholders. No such kind of event has been ever arranged in the history of the UK dentistry and your attendance would make
it a big success. Remember it is YOUR event, it is for YOUR future and You are the driving force behind it. This will provide
an opportunity to network with each other and also with Deanery and VT trainers who will be able to provide you with
necessary advice/guidance even if you are not from their deanery. We are trying to gather as much stake holders as we can
highlight our concerns and this will give you opportunity to ask questions directly from them. Your presence will make a huge
impact on the event and we hope that this event will clear any doubts in your mind plus provide you with a clear path of how to
go about VTE, how to do things correctly, what NOT to do and once you start working how to manage you professional life and
career. We will also try to give you directions on your career progression as a General Dental Practitioner (GDP), Dentists with
special interest or with extended skills and what is on offer for GDP in the UK Dental Industry.
Along with giving you idea about the NHS, this event will also cover aspects of Private dentistry if you want to purely work
privately, different private capitation schemes, private treatment plans, mixing NHS and Private treatments. How private
dentistry sector can help you achieve your career goals. From the feedback I received so far from you all is that >70% of you
have requested for private dentistry to be included in this event which we also agree with as NHS cannot cater for the needs of
the whole workforce. These are few of many benefits I have mentioned here, rest is for you to explore.

This event has been organised to provide guidance on how to proceed after getting registered with the GDC. Ideally people who
have passed ORE/LDS or got registration through the exemption route to registered with the GDC, looking for jobs or VTE and
currently do not have a performer number but we are also happy to have overseas qualified dentists who have passed ORE/LDS
Part 1and would like to know about their future.

We devised this event and the program keeping in mind your best interest at this stage & we welcome any form of constructive
criticism. This is your event and if you want us to include or exclude any specific areas please let us know so we can amend
accordingly. This is based on your feedback from the forms, our experiences and feedback from people who have recently
completed their VTE and in consultation with the Deaneries/VT Mentors.

09:00
09:15
09:20
09:45
10:10
11:00
11:30
12:30
13:00
14:00
15:00
15:15
17:00

Registration and Coffee


Welcome and Introduction
FTE experience - A Candidate's Perspective
Introduction to the UK dentistry
Deaneries, LAT and their role in FTE
Break
Associate Contract & Employment law
by James Goldman (BDA)
Application process for a National Performer Number
(conditional offer)
Lunch

09:00

Professional Development Plan (PDP)& CPD by


Sumair Khan (LDET)

14:00

Break
DFT Equivalence (VTE)- Application to Assessment
by Victor Gehani (LDET)
Closing - Day 1

09:00
09:15
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
13:00
14:00
15:00
15:30
16:50
17:00

09:15

Registration and Coffee


Handling Complaints & Concerns
Law, Ethics and Record keeping

10:00

By Indemnity Providers (DPL/DDU - YTC)

11:00
11:30

Break
Building a Competency Assessment Portfolio
Key Skills in Primary Dental Care Version 3.0 By
Healthcare learning Smile On (YTC)

13:00

Lunch
Managing Finances & Tax returns
NHS BSA Pay Statements /Pensions (NHS/Private)

14:30
15:00

Income protection/Medical Sickness/Life insurance

15:30

Private Dentistry

17:00

Closing - Day 2 (optional FREE CV workshop)

Break

Registration and Coffee


Integration in Dental Practice
Day to Day Dentistry during FTE
How to seek help in difficult times
By Nish Suchak (DFT1 Trainer KSS)
Break
Guidelines & Referral Pathways
Communication with Dental Labs
Career Progression as a GDP
by Karen Blake (FGDP-SE)
Lunch
NHS Regulations & Compliance
by Ali Chohan (DFT1 Trainer)
Health Education East of England
Break
NHS Regulations & Compliance
Feedback and Future Activities
Closing-Day 3

Disclaimer: We will endeavour to stick to the above program and timing but cannot provide a guarantee. The above program can change anytime before or even on the day of
event depending on the requirements of the day and availability of the speakers. Optional CV workshop will be conducted in the evening depending on the interest.

We have tried to get relevant speaker for every session and they are all well known in dentistry. We are still waiting for
confirmation from few and would update you as soon as we get confirmation. Please feel free to google their names. We will
also try to provide you with their individual profiles before the event.

This is a one off event and we do not have any plans to hold similar event this year or in the near future. The idea is to resolve
issues as much as we can with this event. However, it really depends on the success of this event and future interest. We
initially will try our best to concentrate on helping the attendees of this event with as much advice and support as we can to get
them on their feet so they can be the trend setters.

This event is a self funded, non commercial, non profitable event and it is NOT about us at all, it is about YOU and Your
Future. All collected money will pay towards the cost of the event. After spending days and weeks of calling and meeting
potential sponsors we couldnt find anyone as they do not see any benefit out of this event for their respective organizations.
From the feedback I have received through the registration which you have filled a lot of people were in favour of cost to cost
and self funding of the event and hence we have done so.

Your contribution for these 3 days of this event including lunch would be 280.00 which would literally meet our costs. It is a
very good value for money and the speakers are of high calibre representing their respective organisations.

The event is going to take place in Maidstone ME17 1PL, Kent in a beautiful historic building of Maiden Tower at Leeds Castle
which would give this event firstly a prestigious location; secondly it would also provide a relaxed environment to concentrate
on networking with the right crowd and your career progression. I have had people requesting us to arrange it in various cities
but unfortunately logistically for us it is not possible due to the distance from us, work and just like you all we also have family
commitments. Plus we have also paid a non refundable deposit from our own pockets.

Due to the increased demand and interest we are very positive that we will go ahead with the event successfully. We are very
committed on running this event successfully for you and to provide this unique opportunity to voice your concerns in front of
the UK dental stakeholders and get a mutually agreed resolution to your problems with regards to job prospectus in the UK and
VTE. Hence, we have taken time off from work as our annual leave which we are suppose to spend with our families and paid
out initial costs from our own pockets to secure the dates and venue. We sincerely feel the plight of overseas dentists and we are
doing it wholeheartedly with open arms for a good cause. It breaks our heart when we see/hear a GDC registered overseas
qualified dentist (on Dentist Register) working as a nurse or as a hygienist or as stated above working unpaid. The helplessness
is visible in the eyes of these colleagues and everyone has a sad story to share.
But if we are unable to get enough interest ridiculously low numbers like less then 15 we would unfortunately have to cancel
the event and loose our deposit but we will reimburse you in full for what you paid us. This would eventually mean that we will
never again provide similar platform and voice the above concerns. Both of us are well settled where we are and working full
time and this is an opportunity for you all to join us to make a difference for your future and make it a success, otherwise the
situation you are in is never going to change.

Please make a bank transfer of 280.00 to the following Halifax account and in reference put your last name and mobile
number. For Example, If your name was John Smith in transaction reference you should write Smith 07886654321.
Sort Code: 11-18-11
Account Number: 23655558
Once you have carried out the transaction successfully, please send an email informing us of the same on adeel@aqkhan.com
we will confirm via return email when the money is transferred in the bank account and also send you extra information with
regards to the event. For any alternative forms of payment or any queries with the payments, please contact us on the above
email.
I would also request that if you can send us your fully updated CV so we can go through it before hand and comment on it
during the workshop.
For general inquiries we are all happy to response but for a quicker response please email Saleha on salli.babe@gmail.com

31st May 2014 is the last day for payment as we also have to honour the payment for venue and catering. After this date it would
be difficult to accommodate any further requests. Please keep in mind the event is on first come bases, we have limited
availability and we would love to accommodate as many people as we can. We would be very sorry to turn anyone away hence
we request your swift co-operation.

We hope that you will find the above information useful and that you will support us in this noble cause.

We look forward to meeting you all on the 19th of June 2014 and make a life long friendship over the 3 days of the event.

Best Wishes,

Adeel Khan

Mostafa Hassan

Saleha Sharief

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