Orthodontics ST4 - Specialty Specific Application Form Questions

These are the UK Specialty Training application form questions used on Oriel for applications to Orthodontics ST4. These are the application form questions used for posts advertised in January 2025 with a start date from September 2025.

The questions are presented here to help you prepare for your future applications. Please be aware application form structures, questions, word counts, etc. can change and there is no guarantee that future application forms will remain the same. 

Application Form – Self-assessment

2025 Dental ST4 National Self-Assessment Form

Listed below are the self-assessment questions that appear on the application form along with the possible responses to each question. Your responses to these self-assessment questions will determine your own score. You will need to provide evidence to substantiate your responses via the Self-Assessment portal (which is a different system to Oriel where you make the application); this evidence will be validated by a panel and used to derive your final validated score.  You will be expected to upload evidence after you make an application, timelines will be communicated to you by the lead recruiter for the specialty you have applied to.

Any lack of evidence, or lack of clarity provided by applicants will lead to an amendment of the score. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide clear and unambiguous evidence for the process.

If it is discovered that any response is false or misleading, evidence will be collected, and you may be referred to a Probity Panel.

We reserve the right to use anti-plagiarism software.

Your evidence must be submitted to the Self-Assessment portal. Please refer to the relevant section of the applicant guidance for details of the evidence required.

Please submit a separate PDF file for each of the Self-Assessment questions.  Please note that applicants should upload all evidence for each question, this may include you uploading the same evidence used for a previous question.

Please do not password protect any of your evidence upon upload.

The panel will only be able to assess the evidence you provide via the portal; they will not contact you to request additional evidence. You are therefore requested to provide all evidence in a clear format so that this can easily be identified and assessed.

The recruitment office is not able to advise you about which response you should select for any question. You must select the response you feel you will be able to justify to the panel, using the evidence you provide.  Please note that no evidence can be submitted retrospectively. Evidence should not contain patient identifiable data.

A ‘self-assessment’ topic has been added to the FAQ section on Oriel to assist applicants when filling out certain questions on this form.

*For the purposes of this process, ‘at the proposed time of post commencement’ should be taken as the first Wednesday of September.

**All time periods stated refer to Whole/Full Time Equivalent (WTE) of employment (excluding any periods of statutory leave). Any periods of statutory leave should be evidenced and uploaded to the relevant questions.
If you have worked Less Than Full Time (LTFT) at any period, you will need to provide evidence of the LTFT employment e.g. timetable or job plan for several questions. This evidence can be the same but needs to be uploaded for each question.

Question 1

At the time of application opening (9 January 2025) how many complete quality improvement projects (QIP) / complete audit cycles (i.e. first audit/project, action plan and re-audit/assessment to quantify impact of intervention) have you undertaken in the last 36 months (WTE) of employment (excluding any periods of statutory leave). 

Evidence for no more than a total of 3 audits/QIP should be provided.

  • None : 0
  • 1 complete audit cycle(i.e. first audit/project, action plan and re-audit/assessment to quantify impact of intervention) : 2
  • 1 QIP : 2
  • 2 Separate complete audit cycles/QIPs : 4
  • 3 Separate complete audit cycles/QIPs : 6

Evidence:

  • For each QIP/audit please provide a summary (e.g PowerPoint presentation) –including:
  • First QIP/audit 
  • Action plan  
  • Evaluations/re-audit/assessment to quantify impact of intervention, led by yourself. 
  • Dates QIP/audit undertaken

Please evidence your involvement in each QIP/audit e.g. email acknowledgement of registration of QIP/audit with Clinical Governance team or response from QIP/audit lead. 

You must provided evidence of LTFT posts e.g. timeline/job plan

Question 2

At time of application opening (9 January 2025), please select the statement that best describes your experience in formal teaching events such as a small group tutorial or lecture, of a minimum length of 30 minutes (this excludes clinical supervision) since or during your orthodontic training (or equivalent).

Please note a teaching session is a minimum of 30 minutes. 

  • No teaching experience during or since my orthodontic training (or equivalent). : 0
  • I am occasionally engaged in teaching e.g. small group teaching, lectures, seminars etc. on no more than 6 distinct occasions (lectures and presentations to your fellow orthodontic speciality trainees as part of your orthodontic programme do not count). : 1
  • I am regularly engaged in teaching e.g. small group teaching, lectures, seminars etc. on at least 6 – 10 distinct occasions(lectures and presentations to your fellow orthodontic speciality trainees as part of your orthodontic programme do not count). : 2
  • I am regularly engaged in teaching e.g. small group teaching, lectures, seminars etc. on 11 or more distinct occasions (lectures and presentations to your fellow orthodontic speciality trainees as part of your orthodontic programme do not count). : 4
  • I have worked with local tutors to independently design and organise a teaching programme to enhance locally organised teaching and contributed regularly to teaching on 6 or more occasions over a 12-month period (lectures and presentations to your fellow orthodontic speciality trainees as part of your orthodontic programme do not count). : 4

Evidence:

Please provide any or a combination of the following evidence:

  • Evidence of formal evaluation from teaching sessions which should include the date, time and target audience. Evaluations should be mapped to learning outcomes.
  • If involved in designing, organising and delivery of a teaching Programme, evidence should include letters/emails confirming level of involvement
  • You must provided evidence for LTFT posts e.g. timeline/job plan

 

Question 3

At time of application opening (9 January 2025), please select the statement that best describes your training to date in regard to teaching. 

  • I have had no training in teaching methods : 0
  • I have had brief training in teaching methods lasting no more than 2 days or online modules e.g. teach the teachers course. : 1
  • I have had substantial training in teaching methods lasting more than 2 days : 2

Evidence:

Please provide the following evidence:  

  • Certificates relating to completed training

 

Question 4

At time of application opening (9 January 2025), have you achieved any academic publications as a postgraduate relevant to orthodontics within the last 60 months(WTE). This excludes published abstracts. 

Select the highest scoring option applicable. 

  • None : 0
  • I have published a letter, book review or audit report (e.g. in BOS clinical Effectiveness Bulletin) or non-peer reviewed article (including e-publications). Publications must be relevant to Orthodontics : 1
  • I have published a case report (including e-publications), relevant to Orthodontics : 3
  • I have published one article (other than audit) from a study e.g. RCT or Systematic review in a peer reviewed PubMed listed publication relevant to Orthodontics : 4
  • I have published more than one article (other than audit) from a study e.g. RCT or Systematic review in a peer reviewed PubMed listed publication relevant to Orthodontics : 5
  • I have published one article (other than audit) from a study e.g. RCT or Systematic review in a peer reviewed PubMed listed publication as a first author relevant to Orthodontics : 5


Evidence:

  • For each publication, please include a screenshot or pdf copy of the publication or the acceptance letter from the relevant journal
  • Do not include publication of a poster or an oral presentation abstract as they will not be counted as evidence.
  • Publications must be clearly relevant to Orthodontics.   
  • you must provided evidence for LTFT posts e.g timeline/job plan

 

Question 5

At the time of application opening (9 January 2025), have you given a local (within working environment), regional (deanery or NHS region), national (UK wide) or international (international/continent society meeting) oral presentation relevant to Orthodontics within the last 36 months 

Select the highest scoring option applicable. 

  • None : 0
  • Local : 1
  • Regional : 2
  • National e.g. British Orthodontic Conference : 4
  • International conference e.g. European Orthodontic Conference, IADR : 6


Evidence:

  • Please provide a copy of the relevant page of the meeting Programme/s naming you as a presenter.
  • This can include cancelled events (due to the pandemic) at which you have been invited to speak.  Please provide speaker Programme as evidence.
  • An oral narrative to a poster presentation is excluded from this category

 

Question 6

At the time of application opening (9 January 2025), have you given any local (within working environment) / regional (deanery or NHS region) / national (UK wide) / international (international/continent society meeting) poster presentations within the last 36 months 

Select the highest scoring option applicable. 

  • None : 0
  • Local : 1
  • Regional : 2
  • National e.g. British Orthodontic Conference : 3
  • International conference e.g. European Orthodontic Conference, IADR : 4


Evidence:

  • Please provide a copy or a digital screenshot of the meeting programme(s) naming you as a presenter 
  • You must provide evidence of LTFT posts e.g. timeline/job plan

 

Question 7

Please indicate below by choosing one of the options and provide evidence of commitment to the specialty regarding meeting/conference attendance over the last 36 months (WTE). 

Select the highest scoring option applicable. 

  • No evidence : 0
  • Attendance at a national or international Orthodontic specialist society meeting/conference : 2
  • Attendance at more than one national or international Orthodontic specialist society meeting/conference : 4


Evidence:

  • Proof of attendance at meeting
  • You must provide evidence of LTFT posts e.g. timeline/job plan

 

Question 8

At the time of application opening (9 January 2025) please indicate the level of management and leadership experience/training you have had since or during your Orthodontic training. 

  • I have not had the opportunity to manage others or demonstrate leadership. : 0
  • Completion of an NHS focused leadership/management course e.g. Edward Jenner : 1
  • A leadership role e.g. trust/HEI junior dentist representative, BDA/specialist society, clinical leadership fellow, primary care NHS network role : 3
  • I have completed an NHS focused management/leadership course and undertaken a leadership role e.g. trust/HEI junior dentist representative, BDA/specialist society, clinical leadership fellow, primary care NHS network role : 6


Evidence:

  • Proof of leadership role(s) validated by senior clinician or employer including duration of role and impact of your involvement
  • Evidence of course completion or certificate of completion

 

Question 9

Commitment to Orthodontic Specialty.

Please choose only ONE of the following;

  • I am not employed as an Orthodontic Specialist nor am in a current ST3 Training Post : 0
  • I can evidence sustained delivery of NHS practice in Orthodontics : 2
  • I am an active participant of a local Orthodontic study circle : 2
  • I have held research grants in Orthodontics : 2
  • I hold a mentoring role in Orthodontics e.g. for Orthodontic Therapist, Dental Nurse : 2
  • I am a member of a research network : 2
  • I hold a Postgraduate degree qualification in Orthodontics : 2
  • I am either currently working as a registered Orthodontic Specialist or I am currently in an NHS ST3 Orthodontic Training Post : 6


Evidence:

  • Written confirmation that you have participated in 2 or more Orthodontic study circle meetings within the last 12 months
  • Evidence of research grants
  • Certificate of completion of mentoring course 
  • Evidence of membership of research network 
  • Evidence of Postgraduate degree certificate 
  • GDC specialist number or National Training number 

 

Question 10

I confirm that I will provide the evidence to support the answers to this questionnaire in the manner outlined in the written instructions.

  • No : 0
  • Yes : 2


Evidence:

  • Candidate has only provided specific documentation to support the specific questions asked within the Self-Assessment questionnaire and has not provided excessive documentation or their full Portfolio