National Unit Specification General information Unit code: J1DX 45 Superclass: PF Publication date: August 2018 Source: Scottish Qualifications Authority Version: 01 Unit purpose This unit is designed to enable learners with no previous experience in oral health care, to develop the knowledge and skills required to effectively deliver oral health improvement information. To do this effectively, learners will also require knowledge and understanding of the key factors that commonly affect oral health. Learners will explore the key oral health messages and methods of appropriate communication and self-reflection required to motivate behaviour change. This unit is mandatory in the National Certificate (NC) in Oral Health Care: Preparing for Practice at SCQF level 6. Successful completion of the NC will allow the learner to apply to undertake the SVQ and PDA in Dental Nursing at SCQF level 7. (The SVQ and PDA in Dental Nursing at SCQF level 7 are required to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a Dental Care Professional) Outcomes On successful completion of the unit the learner will be able to: 1 Describe the main types and causes of oral diseases and their progression. 2 Outline methods for the prevention and improvement of oral health. 3 Communicate information to others to help reduce the risks of oral disease. Credit points and level 1 National Unit credit at SCQF level 5: (6 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5) J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 1
National Unit Specification: General information Recommended entry to the unit Entry is at the discretion of the centre. This introductory unit is suitable for learners who have not previously studied aspects of oral health care or had practical experience in this area. Learners may benefit from previous achievement of units at SCQF level 4 eg, Core Skills in Communication at SCQF level 4 or equivalent. Core Skills Opportunities to develop aspects of Core Skills are highlighted in the support notes for this unit specification. There is no automatic certification of Core Skills or Core Skill components in this unit. Context for delivery If this unit is delivered as part of a group award, it is recommended that it should be taught and assessed within the subject area of the group award to which it contributes. This unit is mandatory in the National Progression Award (NPA) in Oral Health Care: An Introduction at SCQF level 5 and the National Certificate (NC) in Oral Health Care: Preparing for Practice at SCQF level 6. Equality and inclusion This unit specification has been designed to ensure that there are no unnecessary barriers to learning or assessment. The individual needs of learners should be taken into account when planning learning experiences, selecting assessment methods or considering alternative evidence. Further advice can be found on our website www.sqa.org.uk/assessmentarrangements. J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 2
National Unit Specification: Statement of standards Acceptable performance in this unit will be the satisfactory achievement of the standards set out in this part of the unit specification. All sections of the statement of standards are mandatory and cannot be altered without reference to SQA. Outcome 1 Describe the main types and causes of oral diseases and their progression. Performance criteria (a) Outline the development of plaque and its composition (b) State the cause and progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease (c) Describe the cause and progression of caries (d) Describe how oral health and general health can share common risk factors Outcome 2 Outline methods for the prevention and improvement of oral health. Performance criteria (a) List current key oral health messages (b) Describe the different oral hygiene techniques that can be used to prevent oral diseases and their progression (c) Identify local oral health support services and initiatives and how to access them (d) Identify barriers to accessing services and how to overcome them Outcome 3 Communicate information to others to help reduce the risks of oral disease. Performance criteria (a) Identify the communication methods and importance of effective communication skills to meeting individual and/or group needs (b) Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques and deliver appropriate oral health messages to individuals and/or groups (c) Reflect on the experience of providing oral hygiene advice and identify areas for own future improvement J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 3
National Unit Specification: Statement of standards (cont) Evidence requirements for this unit Evidence is required to demonstrate that learners have achieved all outcomes and performance criteria. Outcomes 1 and 2 can be assessed together by the use of structured questions designed to cover the performance criteria. Outcomes 1 and 2 Written and/or recorded evidence: Describe the composition of plaque Describe the role of saliva within the process of oral disease Outline the cause and effect of three types of oral disease Identify two risk factors shared by oral and general health List the five key oral health messages Identify two oral health support structures/initiatives Describe two barriers to accessing these Identify how these barriers may be overcome State three techniques for prevention and improvement of oral disease Outcome 3 Performance evidence demonstrating: On one occasion: use of appropriate communication skills to support and motivate individuals and/or a group effective delivery of key oral health messages effective demonstration of appropriate oral hygiene techniques Reflection: Identify areas of personal strength and skills and areas requiring development for the future in relation to delivery of oral health improvement information J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 4
National Unit Support Notes Unit support notes are offered as guidance and are not mandatory. While the exact time allocated to this unit is at the discretion of the centre, the notional design length is 40 hours. Guidance on the content and context for this unit This unit can be delivered as a free-standing unit. This unit is designed to develop learners knowledge of how to support individuals and/or groups to improve their oral health. Information (including oral disease and key oral health messages and how to access relevant local support services) will be delivered by the learner to individuals and/or a group. This unit also introduces learners to the value of self-reflection and how to use it to identify areas of personal strength and skills and areas requiring development for the future. Outcomes 1 and 2 It is recommended that the outcomes be delivered in the order presented. Learners should be introduced to: What is oral disease and how does it progress? Three key steps to good oral hygiene tooth brushing diet regular dental visits Oral health and common risk factors including: diet smoking alcohol how social and cultural influences can affect oral health Local experiences of accessing oral health care including available support structures Barriers to accessing local support services and ways to overcome the barriers J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 5
National Unit Support Notes (cont) Outcome 3 Learners should be introduced to a range of communication styles to include: Open questions Affirmations Reflective listening Summarising Differences in styles (relevant to supporting individuals and/or groups for delivery of key oral health messages) Practical demonstration This unit also seeks to develop skills in reflective learning so the following should also be explored: Benefits of self-reflection to identify personal strengths and areas requiring future improvement Guidance on approaches to delivery of this unit Learners should have access to an educational realistic dental environment under the supervision of a GDC registrant with appropriate knowledge and experience of dental nursing, as this will allow them to relate the theory contained in the unit to their practise. Delivery of the unit should include practical exercises, including demonstration via role-play of all aspects of communication and interpersonal skills that are required when providing oral health improvement advice. Progression and development throughout this unit will require the learner to undertake a certain level of self-directed study to develop awareness of the role and responsibilities of a dental nurse in relation to providing oral health advice. Support and mentoring in the educational dental environment will enable the learner to discuss and question aspects of their learning to date, to enable further understanding and implementing theory into practice. Learning and teaching approaches within the centre may include lectures, large and small group teaching and discussions and where appropriate practical teaching sessions through role play to consolidate learning and begin to prepare for assessment. Guidance on approaches to assessment of this unit Evidence can be generated using different types of assessment. The following are suggestions only. There may be other methods that would be more suitable to learners. Centres are reminded that prior verification of centre-devised assessments would help to ensure that the national standard is being met. Where learners experience a range of assessment methods, this helps them to develop different skills that should be transferable to work or further and higher education. J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 6
National Unit Support Notes (cont) This unit specification allows the use of sampling of knowledge and/or skills. This reduces the assessment loading for both learners and centres. The unit specification details the evidence requirements and assessment procedures for each assessment. Two assessments are recommended: one integrated assessment for Outcomes 1 and 2 with a practical session for Outcome 3 supported by either a reflective account or a professional discussion. Outcomes 1 and 2 This could consist of Outcomes 1 and 2 being assessed holistically using either restricted response questions in open-book conditions or by the learner being presented with a closed-book assessment with a range of pre-developed questions both short answer and multiple choice (under controlled conditions) which cover the evidence requirements. Outcome 3 Could be assessed by a practical session observed by an assessor via a standardised observation checklist covering all of the evidence requirements. The session may be delivered to individuals or a group or to a combination of these. Learners should also produce a reflective account or engage in a professional discussion where they judge the overall effectiveness of their practical session covering: their own strengths and areas requiring further development how effective were the communication skills utilised by the learner how they encouraged participation and reduced barriers the relevance and accuracy of the information given to the group or individuals Opportunities for e-assessment E-assessment may be appropriate for some assessments in this unit. By e-assessment we mean assessment which is supported by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), such as e-testing or the use of e-portfolios or social software. Centres which wish to use e-assessment must ensure that the national standard is applied to all learner evidence and that conditions of assessment as specified in the evidence requirements are met, regardless of the mode of gathering evidence. The most up-to-date guidance on the use of e-assessment to support SQA s qualifications is available at www.sqa.org.uk/e-assessment. Opportunities for developing Core and other essential skills Throughout this unit there will be opportunities to develop aspects of the Core Skills of Communication, Working with Others, Problem Solving, Information and Communication Technology all at SCQF level 5. J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 7
History of changes to unit Version Description of change Date Scottish Qualifications Authority 2018 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that no profit is derived from reproduction and that, if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged. Additional copies of this unit specification can be purchased from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Please contact the Business Development and Customer Support team, telephone 0303 333 0330. J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 8
General information for learners This section will help you decide whether this is the unit for you by explaining what the unit is about, what you should know or be able to do before you start, what you will need to do during the unit and opportunities for further learning and employment. The unit is mandatory in the National Certificate (NC) in Oral Health Care: Preparing for Practice so is suitable for those wishing to pursue a career in dental nursing but who may not yet be at a level to successfully undertake the registerable qualifications at SCQF level 7. (The SVQ and PDA in Dental Nursing at SCQF level 7 are required to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a Dental Care Professional) Successful completion of this unit will contribute to the GDC requirements for a safe beginner at trainee dental nurse level. Successful completion of the NC will allow the learner to seek employment in dental practice and undertake the qualifications required for registration. Previous experience of oral health care is not required to undertake this unit. The unit will introduce you to the knowledge and skills required to provide support through effectively communicating with individuals or groups in regard to key oral health messages. You will learn about the types and causes of oral diseases and how they progress. In addition you will learn about methods for the prevention and improvement of oral diseases and local oral health support structures available and how to access them. You will develop valuable transferrable skills in communicating with individuals or groups and self-reflection. There are three outcomes to complete, by the end of the unit you will be able to: 1 Describe the main types and causes of oral diseases and their progression. 2 Outline methods for the prevention and improvement of oral health. 3 Communicate information to others to help reduce the risks of oral disease. Assessment will be carried out on pre-agreed dates, you will experience various methods of assessment eg, closed-book questioning and observation of your practice and communication skills. Underpinning Core Skills in Oral and Written Communication, Problem Solving, Working with Others and Information and Communication Technology will all also be developed throughout this unit. J1DX 45, Oral Health Improvement: An Introduction (SCQF level 5) 9