Statutory Panellists Assurance Committee Chair

Job Reference AZNG
Closing Date Monday 24 Aug 2020

£20,000 per annum

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the UK-wide statutory regulator of around 114,000 registrants, including over 42,000 dentists and 72,000 dental care professionals.  The environment the GDC operates within is complex. The level of NHS funding for dentistry, and the different health systems across the UK are becoming increasingly divergent, and the decision for the UK to exit the EU will have implications for NHS workforce, and for regulation of the dental team. We also know that more people interact with dentistry than any other part of the healthcare system. In 2017/18 NHS dental services in England were accessed by 22 million people and 6.9 million children.
The GDC’s primary purpose is to protect patient safety and maintain public confidence in dental services. To achieve this, it registers qualified professionals, sets and enforces standards of dental practise, investigates fitness to practise complaints, and ensures the quality of dental education. The SPC is an independent, non-executive statutory Committee of the GDC whose role is to oversee the recruitment of members of the Fitness to Practise Committees. It is an integral part of ensuring the committees’ independence from the GDC and helps to ensure that committees’ decisions have the confidence of the public and the profession. These appointments are being made at a time of change, with the GDC seeking to reinforce the independence of statutory decision-making by giving the adjudication function a separate identity, and with a commitment to seeking legislative change.
The GDC is looking to appoint a Chair to the Statutory Panellists Assurance Committee (SPC) to lead the Committee through these changes. The Chair will have experience having served in a judicial office, ideally having served in a judicial leadership position involving the leadership of other judges or non-judicial panel members. With excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the Chair will have the ability to provide credible leadership to the Committee and will undertake their duties with independence and integrity. In fulfilling the SPC’s role of recruiting panellists, the Chair will understand the importance of diversity and inclusion to the GDC.
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the General Dental Council on this appointment. For further information about the role, including more information on criteria for candidates and details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference AZNG. Alternatively, telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Monday 24 August 2020.
The GDC is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and values diversity of culture.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals.  We will seek to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, with respect and without bias.
Alongside submitting your CV and Cover Letter, please complete and upload the attached application form.