Janine Brooks - Practical Applications of Coaching and Mentoring in Dentistry

Dr. Barkat AhmedBDS, CerMedEd, PGCert Dent Imp, Diploma (Coaching and Mentoring) Oxford, UK

Mrs. Shilpa ChitnisBDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring GDP Practice Principal Coach Mentor Andover, UK

Ms. Jane Davies‐Slowik MBEBDS‐ BDS MCDH DDPHRCS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Birmingham, UK

Dr. Stephen DennyBDS, LDSRCS, PG Cert Dental Education, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Educational Supervisor; Honorary Tutor, Southend Outreac; Clinical Educator University of Essex Southend, UK

Dr. Ahmad El‐ToudmeriDental Surgeon, BDS Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, UK

Dr. Frederick FernandoDental Surgeon BDS PG Cert CMI Saffron Walden, Essex, UK

Dr. Keith GeorgeB.D.S D.P.DS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Burford, UK

Mrs. Sarah JacksonBDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Dental Surgeon Poole, Dorset, UK

Mr. Sumair KhanBDS (Lon) MFDS RCPS (Glas) MSc (Implant Dent) Diploma (Rest Dent) PGCert (Medical & Dent Ed) PGCert (Leadership Coaching & Mentoring) Training Programme Director ‐ Oxford Dental Foundation Training Scheme Health Education England Thames Valley & Wessex Course Director ‐ Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry Smile Dental Academy Oxfordshire, UK

Dr. Claudia PeaceBDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Dental Surgeon Winchester, UK

Dr. Ewa RozwadowskaBDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Dental Surgeon Cheltenham UK

Dr. Catherine RutlandBDS MA, BChD, IRMCert, CMI, BDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Clinical Director, Simplyhealth and Denplan Winchester, UK

Dr. Jin J. VaghelaBDS (Lond) MFDS RCSEd (Edin) (London) MJDF RCS (Eng) PG Cert (Dental Education) FHEA PG Cert Leadership, Mentoring & Coaching MSc Restorative Dental Practice (Eastman) DFT Educational Supervisor Health Education East of England; Visiting Lecturer Eastman Dental Institute; Visiting Lecturer Royal College of Surgeons; Clinical Director Smile Clinic Group; Clinical Director Smile Dental Academy, London, UK

When asked by the authors whether I would write a foreword to this book I felt hugely privileged. Having been trained in mentoring and coaching by them several years ago, their knowledge and passion for mentoring and coaching in dentistry should be written down to aid those of us who are always still learning.

The power of mentoring and coaching is still not fully used in dentistry. As I progress further though my career I see more and more the impact of what it can achieve. Whether in a formal setting, or supportive conversations within teams, it can really alter how individuals and teams progress and perform, ultimately leading to improved patient care.

This book and the methods it suggests are grounded in solid theory, and techniques and methods well tested and proven. The case studies within it show how mentoring and coaching can work in the real and often challenging world of dentistry.

It can be so easy to focus on clinical improvement within our development, yet there are so many other areas of our professional lives in which we can improve and work on. This can often get missed, yet a good mentor or coach will draw this out, ultimately leading to a more rounded and balanced career and, with that, a better work life balance and sense of wellbeing.

It is also important to recognise the joy and pleasure of being a mentor or coach, and watching people develop. Personally, that is one of the main reasons I worked for my qualification. I have been rewarded time and time again for the work required to achieve it, by seeing how you can support those who wish to engage.

Our careers can often take unexpected twists and turns, due to so many different factors, mine certainly has. Yet if you have someone to turn to who will mentor or coach you, depending on your need at the time, you find opportunities in the directions you can take and skills you may not have even known you had.

Enjoy this book and what it teaches you, and remember it is just the start of a bigger, and hugely rewarding journey.

Dr. Catherine Rutland

MA, BChD, IRMCert, CMI, BDS, PGCert Leadership Coaching and Mentoring

August 2020

We would like to acknowledge the kind participation and contributions of colleagues who generously shared the projects they have developed. Their projects have been included to help the profession to benefit from their experiences of introducing and using mentoring within dentistry.

Thank you to all our Case Study contributors: Dr. Barkat Ahmed, Dr. Jane Davies‐Slowik MBE, Dr. Stephen Denny, Dr. Frederick Fernando, Dr. Keith George, Dr. Sarah Jackson, Dr. Sumair Khan, Dr. Claudia Peace, Dr. Ewa Rozwadowska, Dr. Catherine Rutland, Dr. Ahmad El‐Toudmeri, Dr. Jin Vaghela, Dr. Shilpa Chitnis.

We would also like to thank our husbands, John Brooks and Bob Hughes for their unfailing support and encouragement, not to mention proof reading expertise.

This book principally concerns itself with practical applications of mentoring within the profession of dentistry in the United Kingdom (UK). Whilst the book is written to showcase case studies within dentistry in the UK it is important to acknowledge that the skills of both dental professionals and mentors are not dissimilar throughout the world. If you are working outside the UK whether in dentistry or different field you will find much that you can take away from the book and the case studies. It is also important to acknowledge that whilst the case studies relate to dentists, their application is equally valid for all dental professionals.

The inspiration for the book came from students who have completed our post graduate certificate and award qualifications in mentoring and coaching. They are hard‐working dental professionals with a passion for both dentistry and mentoring and we are indebted to their contributions. Future students will be directed to this publication as a course book, however it is not limited to being a course text.

We provide a number of case studies for projects which showcase how mentoring is being utilised in positive ways to enhance individuals and the services those individuals provide. The aim is to demonstrate how mentoring programmes can be implemented and the benefits they can bring. We invite you to submit your own case study examples to our website at www.dentalcoachingacademy.co.uk.

Whilst mentoring is a practical intervention it is underpinned by sound theory and the acquisition of mentoring skills. We have included chapters that describe mentoring and coaching as the two interventions share a number of skill areas, yet are quite different in purpose and application. We have also included a chapter on mentoring and coaching tools and models with particular attention to a model that we have successfully used in our training programmes. The discussion chapter will review topics that the case studies have introduced and other aspects that we hope will provoke further thought.

Please note: for readers outside the UK or those who are not dental professionals, organisations within the UK that relate to dentistry may read like alphabet soup. We refer you to the glossary for a brief explanation of the organisations and terminology used. Please also note that, unless we make specific distinctions, we use terms like ‘coach’ and ‘mentor’ interchangeably, as we hold no attachment to the terms in their general usage. If you want to ‘coach’ someone, that's great; if you prefer to ‘mentor’ them, that's fine too. Both are possible as dental professionals supporting others' growth and development in general terms; or when we are acting as managers and leaders and drawing on coaching and mentoring skills generally. Where we make distinctions is when these skills are applied in professional settings and a precise tool, or approach is required by the context.