The FGDP(UK) is also pleased to have appointed John Stanfield to the post of Vice Chair of the DCP Advisory Board. John has represented dental hygienists on the Board since 2006and is also an assessor for the DCP Key Skills Assessment. Both John and Tony are also members of the Editorial Board for the FGDP(UK)'s DCP journal, Team in Practice.

Commenting on his appointment, Tony Griffin said, "Along with John as Vice Chair and the DCP Advisory Board as a whole, I am looking forward to building upon the FGDP(UK)'s initiatives to support the career development and training of DCPs. I am keen to explore opportunities for demand-led educational programmes, enabling individual DCPs to choose specific training areas for their own personal development and also to meet the requirements for eventual GDC revalidation."

The GDC has recently consulted on revalidation for dentists and it is anticipated that it will be introduced for DCPs in the future. The FGDP(UK) plans to provide a professionaldevelopment framework allowing DCPs to transfer educational credits from their learning. It is intended that such a framework will not only support DCPs in meeting their revalidation requirements, but will also lead to an award by the Faculty.

The FGDP(UK) Dean, Russ Ladwa, said, "I very much look forward to working with Tony, John and members of the Board to expand the FGDP(UK)'s educational and training opportunities for DCPs. I also hope to see the Board develop beyond its 'advisory' status to become a more integral part of the Faculty."

Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) The Royal College of Surgeons of England35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE Promoting Excellence in Dentistry T: 020 7869 6754 F: 020 7869 6765Registered Charity No. 212808 E: fgdp@rcseng.ac.uk W: www.fgdp.org.uk