08/09/2026 – ES Induction Day 2

Course Information

Completion Time: 6 Hours

Venue: Craigavon Civic & Conference Centre, 66 Lakeview Road, Craigavon, BT64 1AL

Speakers: Dr Mary Murnaghan, Jaime Byrne, Ross Scales, Adrian Farquharson

Course Description

Professional Support & Wellbeing Masterclass with Mary Murnaghan

GDC: Professionalism In Dentistry with Jaime Byrne and Ross Scales

Course Aims

• PSW: To equip dental professionals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to maintain personal wellbeing, support colleagues, and foster a psychologically safe and resilient working environment within dental practice.
• GDC: Update attendees on recent GDC developments and updates regarding professionalism, including education updates.

Course Objectives

PSW

By the end of the course, participants will:

Understand the concept of wellbeing in dentistry

• Explore occupational stressors specific to dental practice (e.g., workload, litigation risk, patient expectations).
  • Recognise links between wellbeing, patient safety, and professional performance.

 Recognise signs of stress, burnout, and mental ill health

• Identify early warning signs in themselves and colleagues.
  • Understand risk factors and protective factors.

Develop personal strategies for resilience and self-care

• Apply evidence-based techniques (e.g., stress management, reflective practice).
  • Promote work–life balance and sustainable practice habits.

Enhance communication and peer support skills

• Build supportive professional relationships.
  • Practise active listening, empathy, and constructive feedback.

Understand professional responsibilities and boundaries

• Recognise ethical obligations related to colleague wellbeing and patient safety.
  • Navigate confidentiality and appropriate escalation.

Access and utilise support systems

• Identify formal and informal support pathways (e.g., occupational health, mentoring, regulatory guidance).
  • Understand referral and signposting processes.

Promote a positive workplace culture

• Encourage psychologically safe environments.
  • Address stigma around mental health in dentistry.

GDC

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Provide an update on the consultation for the Framework for Professionalism, including key feedback and emerging themes from stakeholders.
• Highlight current and future opportunities for student involvement in the Framework for Professionalism.
• Outline what the Framework means for education and training.
• Discuss next steps in the development of supporting materials, including brief workshop.
• Share developments relating to mentoring.
• Provide an update on broader education priorities, activities, and developments.

GDC Development Outcomes

• A & D

Resources