When the CQC inspection day arrived, the inspectors attended as expected, accompanied by a clinical advisor. This is typically a registered dental professional, often a dentist, hygienist, or dental nurse, whose role is to assess clinical standards and day-to-day practice. On arrival, the inspectors were welcomed into the practice, signed into the visitors’ book, and taken on a short, structured walkthrough. A comfortable space had been prepared for them so that we could begi

What the GDC does The GDC sets standards for the dental team and expects registrants to meet those standards in clinical practice, record keeping, communication, consent, safeguarding, and professionalism.  The GDC also investigates fitness to practise concerns when information suggests that a dental professional’s conduct, performance, health, or integrity might compromise patient safety or public confidence.  The GDC’s purpose is to decide whether regulatory action is requi

The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 comes into effect on 1 December 2025, increasing the period for Early Conciliation (EC) from 6 weeks to 12 weeks. What is Early Conciliation? Early conciliation is the pre-claim step for Employment Tribunal claims. An ACAS conciliator engages with the prospective claimant and the respondent to explore settlement. If settlement is not reached, ACAS issues an EC Certifi