Sponsored by the Chief Dental Officer England and managed by FMLM, this scheme is designed to accelerate and support those dentists and dental care professionals who present with the clearest potential to develop as leaders of the future.
Established in 2017, the scheme provides a unique opportunity to spend 12 months in a national healthcare affiliated organisation outside of oral health practice, to develop skills in leadership, management, strategy, project management and healthcare policy.
The Chief Dental Officer England (CDOE) and FMLM are delighted to announce that the scheme is open to dentists and dental care professionals from all sectors and is aimed at developing future leaders who have had limited leadership opportunities and have not held a senior leadership role in oral health or oral healthcare. This scheme is for dentists and dental care professionals (dental nurses, dental technicians, dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists, clinical dental technicians) who meet the eligibility criteria specified in the scheme information pack linked below.
What are the benefits of becoming a Clinical Fellow?
Successful candidates gain:
- A range of skills including leadership and management, policy development, project management, research and analysis.
- Supported leadership and personal development.
- The opportunity to lead key national projects which contribute to national healthcare priorities.
- Access to professional networks across oral health and healthcare at all levels.
- A highly developed understanding of healthcare policy and application.
- The skills to lead positive change.
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Enhanced capabilities at developing and working with teams and supporting others in developing their own personal insight and effectiveness.
What are the learning aims of the role?
Practice-oriented, evidence-based, theory-informed
To develop clinical fellows’ leadership and management knowledge and skills through experiential learning, supported by relevant evidence, concepts and theories, so that they can ‘make a difference’ to healthcare delivery and advance their individual capability.
- To achieve a deeper insight into personal behaviours, leadership style and impact on others.
- To enhance emotional and social intelligence.
- To nurture and encourage personal agency.
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To enhance effectiveness as reflective practitioners.
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Interprofessional and UK-wide
- To achieve a greater understanding of the wider context in which leaders operate across the healthcare system.
- To bring clinical fellows from different schemes and professions together to work and learn from one another.
- To support clinical fellows to work more effectively with colleagues in delivering and improving services for patients.
Co-creative and collaborative
- To provide opportunities for co-creation and collaboration on system, service, quality improvement and professional development.
- To support clinical fellows’ wellbeing and resilience.
- To gain insights into the challenges of and ways to lead through complexity.
- To develop a greater understanding of team-working and system leadership.
How do you apply to become a fellow?
Candidates may submit an application for a place on the scheme during the recruitment process each year. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and successful applicants take up a fellowship role for 12 months, starting in September. Fixed term appointments and secondments are available.
(Secondments are at the discretion of applicants’ substantive organisations and approval from substantive HR, finance and clinical directors should be sought alongside applications. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they have the relevant permissions by application or interview stage).
CDOE Clinical Fellows have the opportunity to access discounted membership or fellowship from FMLM during the scheme and upon graduation.
Please download the below Information Pack to assist you with your application. Once read, please complete the application form using the linked button below. We strongly advise you to complete the application form in one go as we cannot guarantee you will be able to return to the form once started.
Application deadline: Applications close 9pm GMT on Sunday 6 April 2025.
Apply now
To help you prepare, in the Resources section at the bottom of this page we’ve provided a preview of the questions you’ll be asked in the application form. Please note, this is not the actual application form, but simply a guide to assist you in your preparation. All applications must be completed via the link directly below.
APPLICATION FORM - click here to complete
Interested in hosting a Clinical Fellow?
What are the benefits of becoming a host?
Having a Clinical Fellow on secondment for 12 months provides the host employer with the opportunity to benefit from specialist skills and knowledge. The fellow often brings fresh insights from their previous training. This temporary expertise can also help to develop staff by encouraging knowledge sharing, enhancing clinical practices, and potentially introducing new techniques or methods that benefit the entire team.
Additionally, the secondment offers the host employer a chance to assess the fellow’s suitability for future collaborative opportunities. It allows for the building of professional relationships, providing insight into the fellow's integration with the organisation or departmental culture and how their skills align with the host's strategic needs. This can result in long-term benefits, either through a future appointment or through strengthened partnerships that enhance the organisation and/or department’s reputation and expertise.
What are the expectations of becoming a host?
Hosts must be able to offer part or full-time 12 month secondment.
The financial commitment includes a management fee of £5950 + VAT and reimbursement of the full salary and on-costs of the fellow’s salary back to their substantive employer.
Click here to download your Host Prospectus for the CDO CFS