If you are interested in personal development and would like to go on a course to help you in your job or to improve your career prospects, there are lots of places you can go to. Below is a list of courses aimed at practice managers and receptionists. It is not exhaustive and only includes courses that are in the UK. Some are workshops or longer college courses; others can be studied via correspondence and/or e-learning.

As either a practice manager or a receptionist, skills such as people management, customer services and IT literacy are valuable, and courses at your local further education college will cover them. Check out the yellow pages under ‘Further Education’. For practice managers in particular, the British Dental Practice Managers' Association (BDPMA) recommend studying a general management qualification as the skills required in dentistry are the same as those required to manage in many other industries. Many of the BDPMA's members have achieved nationally recognised qualifications in evening classes or by distance learning, such as those linked to the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the Chartered Management Institute or the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Practice Management The Management School Diploma in Professional Practice Management (ILM Level 5) (Courses designed specifically for dental practice managers. May be run in various UK locations.) Fourways, Holywell Lake, Wellington, Somerset TA21 0EH Tel 01823 672622 www.themanagementschool.co.uk

UMD Professional Ltd Diploma in Management (ILM Level 4) Executive Diploma in Management (ILM Level 5) (Courses designed specifically for dental practice managers. May be run in various UK locations.) SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH Tel 020 8255 2070 www.umdprofessional.co.uk

Well received locally based courses (general management) include: My Work Solutions (Ltd) A new course specifically for practice managers. Dental Recruitment, PO Box 121 63, Birmingham B17 8YW Tel 0845 430 9489 www.mywork-solutions.co.uk

People's College of Further Education Edexcel Certificate of Practice Management Maid Marian Way, Nottingham NG1 6AB Tel 0115 912 4671 www.peoples.ac.uk

Truro College ILM Certificate and Diploma in Management, plus separate qualifications in various aspects of management - Levels 3-4 Business Centre, College Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3XX Tel 01872 242702 www.trurocollege.ac.uk/businesscentre

Yeovil College Edexcel Certificates & Diploma in Management - Levels 3, 4 and 5 Mudford Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 4DR Tel 01935 423921 www.yeovil.ac.uk

Also look out for: Diploma in Professional Practice Management (accredited by the ILM - equivalent to Level 5). Various UK locations.

Receptionists The British Dental Receptionist Association (BDRA) recommends:

DenMed Training & Consultancy Health and Safety Risk Assessment NVQ Assessor & Internal Verifier 115 Welford Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 3HT Tel 0121 682 1222 www.denmed-uk.com

Dental Resource Company BTEC Advanced Award in Dental Reception Advanced Skills for Dental Receptionists (Customer Care, Sales Skills, Communication Skills, Dealing with Difficult Patients) BDRA Foundation Certificate in Dental Reception BTEC Advanced Award in Dental Patient Education (Care Co-ordinator Training) 24 Farnworth Grove, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham B36 9JA Tel 08700 664 398 www.dental-resource.co.uk

For more information see www.bdpma.org.uk and www.bdra.org.uk