DEPARTMENT OF

DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

APPOINTMENTS

CENTRAL DENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

CENTRAL DENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CDAC)

BACKGROUND

The Central Dental Advisory Committee is a statutory Advisory Body established in 1974 under Article 24 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. Its function is to provide dental advice to the Department and the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) on matters concerning dentistry in Northern Ireland. The Department and CDO from time to time ask CDAC to undertake specific tasks, whether commenting on major consultative documents or deliberating on wider professional topics. CDAC also advises on subjects of its own choice. The remit of the Committee includes.

The provision of advice in relation to the provision of dental care, dental health and dental public health in Northern Ireland;

The provision of advice on manpower issues in relation to both dentists and the professions complementary to dentistry.

The identification of areas for particular study and research;

The provision of advice in relation to strategic plans;

The promotion of understanding and co-operation between the dental professions and the Department.

MEMBERSHIP

The present membership of the Central Dental Advisory Committee consists of 16 members, inclusive of the Chairman.

The Chairman is appointed by the Department for a 3-year term. He/she may be reappointed for one further term.

The Committee is representative of dentists and the professions complementary to dentistry, working in General Dental Practice, the Community Dental Service, the Hospital Dental Services and Dental Education. Membership is designed to reflect a spread of expertise.

The Chairmen of the 4 Area Dental Advisory Committees, the Head of the School of Dentistry and the Postgraduate Dental Dean are also ex-officio members of CDAC.

Members are selected after consultation with Queens University of Belfast, Dental Directors of the four NI Health and Social Services Boards, the Secretaries of the Local Dental Committees, the British Association of Dental Nurses, the British Dental Hygienists Association, the Northern Ireland Committee for Community and Public Health Dentistry and the Dental Technicians Association.

CENTRAL DENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Role of Member

It is the member's role to:-

Share in corporate responsibility for the provision of informed advice to the Department and the Chief Dental Officer;

Provide the views of those within the members area of dentistry (although appointed on a personal, not a `representative' basis);

Assist with the development of mechanisms and priorities to secure this advice;

Read and comment on such reports as are presented to committee members from time to time.

MEETINGS

The Committee will meet three times a year, but is empowered to call additional meetings if required. The meetings are of a half-day duration. The Committee may appoint specialist committees to respond quickly and authoritatively to the need for advice.

REMUNERATION

The Chairman and members are unpaid, however they are eligible to claim allowances at rates set centrally for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on Committee business.

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT

Members are usually appointed for a three-year term of office and will be eligible to serve for a maximum of two terms.

Reappointments will be subject to a review of the performance of the individual and the needs of the Committee at the time of reappointment.

CENTRAL DENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CDAC)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Members will be consistent with and committed to the principles and objectives of the Department and HPSS. They will subscribe to the goals and functions of the CDAC and abide by its Standing Orders and Procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Members must either be dentists or members of one of the following professions complementary to dentistry: Dental Technician, Dental Nurse, Dental Therapist, Dental Hygienist. They should be capable of devoting the time necessary to study committee papers and attending the three main meetings of the Committee each year.

COMPETENCIES

Members should possess:

An in-depth knowledge of their specific area of dentistry;

A good knowledge of the wider context of dentistry in Northern Ireland;

An ability to think strategically and analyse complex problems;

An ability to work as part of a team;

Effective communication skills in both written and oral form;

Good interpersonal skills, developing networks within and without the Committee.

The confidence to question and challenge other members in an objective manner;

The ability to apply personal experience and expertise to the development of an independent view.