UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire, Preston Campus
3. University Department/Centre
School of Medicine and Dentistry
4. External Accreditation
Approved by the General Dental Council
5. Title of Final Award
Certificate of Higher Education Orthodontic Therapy
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Part-time
7. UCAS Code
N/A
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
9. Other external influences
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
QAA Hons Degree Benchmark Statements: Dentistry
General Dental Council (2012) Preparing For Practice
General Dental Council – “Developing the Dental Team”
Royal College of Surgeons
June 2013
11. Aims of the Programme

To develop the student as a reflective, knowledgeable, safe, competent, skilful , and caring
Dental Care Professional able to recognise and comply with their professional responsibility, as
a Orthodontic therapist. To be able to contribute to the effective evidenced based, safe care of
patients within the framework of their knowledge, competence and scope of practice.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. Describe and explain the relevance of basic sciences to Orthodontic Therapy
A2. Describe and explain the principles of occlusion, malocclusion, tooth movement and force
application
A3. Describe and explain the implications of the patient’s medical history and how medical disorders
may affect the provision of treatment.
A4. Describe and explain the Orthodontic Therapist role within National healthcare and Public health
policy.
Teaching and Learning Methods
A range of theoretical, practical and clinical sessions will be provided to enable the student to meet
the learning outcomes of the course. Dental Sciences and Underpinning Knowledge will be delivered
via formal lectures and seminars, which will be reinforced during clinical sessions taking place both
within the laboratory and within the placement environment. Clinical skills sessions will take the form
of practical typodont sessions in the dedicated Phantom Head Facility. During the Practice
Placement element of the course, students will put into practice skills learnt during laboratory based
sessions to deliver treatment to patients under the supervision of a mentor. The student will be given
the opportunity to self-reflect by reviewing their clinical activity as presented in the portfolio and log
book.
Assessment methods
Knowledge and understanding will be assessed through examinations and essays. Clinical skills will
be assessed through clinical mentors whilst on placement and during study days at UCLan through
Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) and Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) as
detailed within the RCS Dental Foundation Training Portfolio
B. Subject-specific skills
B1. Maintain full, necessary and accurate clinical records
B2. Identify, select and use appropriate instrumentation safely
B3. Manage and control pain, take limited action to make a damaged/distorted appliance safe in the
absence of a dentist.
B4. Insert / place / fit and remove Removable / Fixed / Headgear Appliances
B5. Manage emergency scenarios correctly
B6. Implement and perform satisfactory cross infection control
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, Seminars, Demonstration and Practical Sessions. One-to-one tuition from Mentor.
Assessment methods
A progressive Log Book of Clinical Activity will be kept on placement. Clinical Evaluation Exercise
(mini-CEX) and Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) will be carried out during study days
at UCLan.
C. Thinking Skills
C1. Analyse, interpret and communicate knowledge and understanding to produce individual and
group work.
C2. Evaluate and review relevant literature.
C3. Appreciate evidence base and apply to clinical decision making
Teaching and Learning Methods
Communication with Clinical Mentor and Tutorial sessions with Course Team
Assessment methods
Examinations, Essays, Project write-up and PowerPoint Presentation
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1. Effectively communicate with patients and/or carers and with other members of the dental team
bearing in mind relevant social/psychological issues.
D2. Recognise the limits of own knowledge, skills and expertise
D3 Reflect on learning and take positive actions based on reflection
D4 Plan workload and manage time to meet deadlines
D5 Contribute to the development of self and others
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, Seminars, Demonstration and Practical Sessions. One-to-one tuition from Mentor.
Assessment methods
Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) and Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) will be
carried out during study days at UCLan. A progressive Log Book of Clinical Activity will be kept on
placement to incorporate reflective statements. Project will incorporate assessment of time
management and workload planning.
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Level 4
Module Module Title
Code
DX1021 Foundation Clinical Knowledge
of Orthodontic Therapy
DX1022 Clinical Practice of Orthodontic
Therapy
DX1023 Communication,
Professionalism, Leadership
and Management in Orthodontic
Therapy
14. Awards and Credits*
Credit
rating
40
60
Certificate of Higher Education
Orthodontic Therapy
Requires 120 credits at Level 4.
20
15. Personal Development Planning
Personal Development Planning aims to encourage independent life-long learners who can reflect on,
understand and plan for their learning. Independent learning is developed throughout the programme,
which starts with an intensive series of lecture and practical sessions accepting that the students will
at this stage be highly dependent, and progressing through to an individual piece of research within
the project module.
In that this course is specifically designed for students already employed as DCPs to develop their
career as an Orthodontic Therapist and gain registrable status, and given that this is being supported
by their current employer the career development aspect of PDP is an essential foundation of the
programme.
The PDP programme therefore focuses on encouraging the student to reflect on their learning (and
other life) experiences, towards taking directed actions to ameliorate weaknesses and build on
strengths. Students will be introduced to the concepts of reflective practice during their induction
period, and will be expected to reflect on their performance after assessments and feedback
sessions. These reflective statements will be an integral part of the clinical log, to be assessed by the
mentor.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have
been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for
the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
All applicants will be interviewed prior to acceptance on the course.
Specific entry requirements for this course are:
• GCSE English, Mathematics and Science at Grade C or above, or equivalent,
• NVQ Level 3 in Oral Healthcare, or equivalent,
• current employment as a dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental therapist or dental technician, and
being on the statutory register,
• at least one year full-time post-qualification experience, or equivalent.
The candidate would also be expected to be supported by an employer (or other sponsor) that must:
• Agree to support and mentor the student in their studies
• confirm the suitability of the workplace/placement environment
• be prepared, and suitably qualified, to act as a Clinical Mentor for the programme, and attend
necessary Mentor training and Assessment sessions at the University
• verify that the candidate has had CRB clearance to enable him/her to work on vulnerable patients
without supervision.
• Agree to notify the University of any events, as they might occur through the duration of the
programme, that would affect such CRB reports
• verify that the student has a current certificate of immunisation against communicable diseases
(Hepatitis B)
• carry out an Occupational Health Assessment and make any necessary adjustments to enable the
candidate to undertake their studies, notifying the University of such actions.
17. Key sources of information about the programme


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Fact sheet
Student handbook
Institute website
Subject lead
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Compulsory
Knowledge and
Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
Module
(COMP) or
understanding
Level Code
Module Title
Option (O)
LEVEL 4
DX1021
C
A2
A3
A4
B1
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Clinical Practice of
Orthodontic Therapy
DX1022
DX1023
Note:
Foundation Clinical
Knowledge of Orthodontic
Therapy
A1
C
Communication,
Professionalism,
Leadership and
Management in
Orthodontic Therapy
C
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B2
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B3
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B4
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B5
B6
C1
C2
C3
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Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
Other skills relevant to
employability and
personal development
D1
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D2
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D4
D5
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D3