Faculty of Dental Surgery Representative on the Specialty Advisory Committee for Special Care Dentistry
Represent the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS), Royal College of Surgeons of England, on the Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) for Special Care Dentistry, contributing to its work on higher specialist training and helping to support high standards in specialty education and assessment.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- be a current Member or Fellow of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS RCS England);
- be actively involved in postgraduate training;
- be engaged in clinical practice;
- be on the Specialist List in a specialty covered by the SAC.
What’s involved and benefits of volunteering
The SAC for Special Care Dentistry is an intercollegiate body that provides advice on higher specialist training in Special Care Dentistry. As the FDS representative, you will contribute to the committee’s work, which includes:
- working collaboratively with the General Dental Council (GDC) and Statutory Education Bodies to support the development of curricula for dental specialty training;
- contributing to recommendations on assessments associated with specialty curricula;
- providing advice, when requested, on individual specialty training programmes;
- providing external input into the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) process for trainees;
- contributing advice to the GDC on prior training, learning and equivalence for the purposes of mediated entry to the specialist lists;
- attending SAC meetings twice a year at the Royal College of Surgeons of England;
- preparing for meetings and contributing to relevant committee work between meetings as required.
Indicative time commitment: In addition to attending two SAC meetings each year, applicants should allow approximately one to two hours per month on average for reading papers, preparing for meetings and contributing to related committee activity. This is an indicative estimate provided to help applicants understand the likely commitment and may vary according to the committee’s workload.
This role is a significant opportunity to contribute to the future of specialist dental education while developing your own professional experience. Benefits may include:
- Professional contribution: Help shape and maintain high standards of postgraduate training in Special Care Dentistry.
- Professional development: Gain experience of specialty training, curriculum, assessment and quality-related discussions at an intercollegiate level.
- Leadership experience: Develop committee, influencing and professional leadership skills that may support future educational or leadership roles.
- Networking: Build relationships with colleagues involved in specialty education, regulation and postgraduate dental training.
- Professional profile: Strengthen your experience as an active contributor to dental education and the wider specialty.
Terms of post
The appointment is for a five-year term.
The representative will undertake the role as a nominee of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England. The SAC reports through the Advisory Board for Specialty Training in Dentistry (ABSTD) to the Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in Dentistry.
Mandatory activities
The successful applicant will be expected to attend SAC meetings twice a year at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The meetings are usually held between 10am and 1pm and may also be attended remotely.
Please apply only if you can commit sufficient time to the role throughout the five-year term and can attend required in-person activities at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
How to apply
Applications are open. To express your interest and obtain further information about applying, please contact ejones@rcseng.ac.uk.
Application deadline: Friday 4 December 2026.
Apply for this role to help shape specialist dental training and education while developing valuable experience that can support your own professional and leadership career.
If you have any questions about the role or application process, please email ejones@rcseng.ac.uk.