Overview
Once you have taken the time to find the right associate to work at your practice, you need to ensure that your commercial relationship with the associate starts on the right footing.
Before an associate starts work at your practice, it is important to complete appropriate recruitment and verification checks. Although associates are typically self-employed and remain responsible for their own professional registration, indemnity arrangements and continuing professional development, this does not remove the need for practices to undertake appropriate checks. As the provider of care, you should be satisfied that those treating patients within your practice are suitably qualified, appropriately trained and able to carry out dental treatment safely and effectively.
A robust pre-engagement process helps to demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to verify an associate's identity, qualifications, registration status and competence. It also provides an opportunity to confirm that any additional skills, qualifications or enhanced services offered by the associate are supported by appropriate training.
Taking the time to complete these checks at the start can help reduce risk for both the practice and the associate. It may also prove valuable should questions arise during an inspection, investigation, complaint or claim.
The level of information required may vary depending on the nature of the role and the services the associate intends to provide. However, having a standardised approach can help to ensure that checks are undertaken consistently and that relevant records are maintained in a clear and organised manner. Our template associate starter checklist, available for Expert members, provides a resource that practices can use to ensure that no steps are missed.
This advice page outlines the documents, evidence and information that you should consider obtaining when engaging an associate and explains why these checks form an important part of your recruitment and onboarding processes.