NHS England Workforce, Training & Education Northeast and North Cumbria

Dental Therapist Foundation Training

Details for recruitment for 2026/27 please register your  interest here 

NHSE Workforce, Training and Education Northeast (NHSE W,T&E NE), are recruiting up to a maximum of 12 trainees into Dental Therapist Foundation Training (DTFT). 

The Dental Therapists Foundation Training programme (DTFT) has been developed to support newly qualified Dental Therapists during their transition into the Primary Dental Care workforce.

The Scheme places particular emphasis on providing continued support and education in a clinical environment, as well as assisting the development of personal skills and knowledge through the educational study day programme and supported by Educational Supervisors and the Training Programme Director.

Covering the Northeast and North Cumbria, the programme will commence 1 September 2026 until 31 August 2027.

Foundation Dental Therapists benefit from:

• employed placement in primary care NHS Practice/Secondary Care Community Dental Services for 3 days per week 
• Minimum of 20 organised study days
• Over 130 hours of CPD
• Support of a dedicated Educational Supervisor in practice
• Set aside time in practice for one-to-one learning
• Support and networking from your peers
• Access to the National e-Portfolio for Dental Foundation Training

DTFT posts consist of placements in General Dental Practice/Community Dental Services. Trainees are employed by the training practice/Trust under a standard contract for 21 hours per week. One day per week during term time is designated a study day, usually at our local postgraduate centre in Belmont, Durham. There is a minimum of twenty study days per year that must be attended in order to complete the programme.

Successful completion of this placement will lead to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Dental Therapist Foundation Training. 

All posts commence 1 September 2026 and terminate 31 August 2027.

Salary: £21,599.76 per annum

Application Timeline

Before you complete your application form it is imperative that you download and read the following documents in their entirety:

• Dental Therapist Foundation Training Person Specification - to follow
• Dental Therapist Foundation Training Job Description - to follow
• Applicant Guidance Document - to follow

These documents contain specific and detailed information with regards to the posts available so please read them thoroughly.

Your completed Application Form and Equality and Diversity Information is to be submitted no later than 4pm Monday 6 April to england.dft.ne@nhs.net

• Application Form
• Equality & Diversity Information 

You will not be able to change your application once it has been submitted. Applications submitted after the closing date will not be progressed.

Contacts and Enquiries

Application and programme enquiries should be submitted to: england.dft.ne@nhs.net  

You can watch a video (here) to learn more about Dental Therapist Foundation Training in the Northeast.

All vacancies advertised are subject to change based on service, education and training configuration.

For information regarding Educational Supervisor Recruitment please click here

For further information regarding the programme please refer to the NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Northeast website: https://madeinheene.hee.nhs.uk/dental_training/Dental-Therapists.

2025-26 Dental Therapy training practice map