Dental Leadership Network – what should dental leaders do?

The General Dental Council convenes the Dental Leadership Network (DLN), a group made up of leaders from across the dental sector who come together to share information and build relationships. It helps to create a better understanding of everyone’s remit, priorities and shared challenges, and encourages collaboration on ownership to help resolve these shared challenges.

In this blog Colin MacKenzie, the GDC’s Head of Nations and Engagement, talks about the value of being involved in the DLN and how dental leaders can achieve more by working together.

I’ve been at the GDC for over six years, and I’ve attended my fair share of industry events, conferences and roundatbles. I’ve also led engagement programmes such as the GDC’s student and new registrant engagement programme, which has now been running for five years.

However, one activity that stands apart from all others to me is the Dental Leadership Network (DLN). I’m proud to be a member of the DLN and of the work I and my colleagues at the GDC do, along with the support and direction from the working group, that has made the DLN one of the main dental leadership events across the sector. It’s grown and evolved so much since our first event in November 2022, with each event now having over 100 dental leaders from across the whole dental sector.

A great opportunity for dental leaders to spend quality time together

It’s been a real privilege to organise and convene the three meetings of the DLN each year. I’ve attended all six events so far and I find them invaluable. The important topics that are discussed are so relevant, but they also give everyone a great opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities we all face, in a positive and constructive environment.

That’s what’s great about the DLN. While I and the team at the GDC spend weeks in the lead up to each event planning and confirming the agendas and speakers, and managing all the logistics, when it comes to the actual day, I’m just a delegate, like everybody else.

I’m really proud that the DLN has also given smaller organisations the platform to increase awareness and understanding of their priorities and challenges, and meet decision makers, in a way that wouldn’t have been possible before.

The importance of wellbeing and ensuring we have a healthy workforce

The DLN in June was focused on health and wellbeing leadership, which was particularly impactful to me. There was a real energy in the room, and plenty of thought-provoking presentations, with very open and honest discussions about the challenges colleagues have had to face.

Whether that be learning to live and work with a long-term health condition, building a sense of belonging or how we all need to do more to help and support our colleagues with mental health wellness – I know there is still much to do, but I was really encouraged to learn of all the great work and initiatives that are already going on to support our people and their health and wellness.

And the great thing is we’ve been able to share all these ideas and key takeaways from the day with leaders so they can take them into their own organisations to help create an even healthier dental team.

An opportunity for the whole sector

The DLN has created a great platform to increase awareness and understanding of some big industry challenges, that previously hadn’t got the visibility they deserved.

For example, at the March 2024 event, we heard about the issues facing dental technology, including the steady decline in the numbers of registered dental technicians over the last five years. This, combined with an aging population, and a reduction in the number of providers providing dental technology courses, has led to a potential crisis for the profession. Highlighting this issue with other dental leaders has really helped increase awareness of it across the profession.

The important topics that we discuss will continue, including a focus on the dental workforce at our next meeting, where the network will discuss ‘how many dental professionals are enough?’ to provide the dental care we need and want for patients. I fully expect to hear a wide range of different views from dental leaders on the answer to this, or what we need to do to help us get to an answer!

Getting more out of membership of the DLN

The conversations and topics of discussion at all the DLN events are great, but if there was one thing I would like to see more of going forward, it is ownership and positive action from leaders after the events.

I’d love dental leaders to share what they are doing as a result of the conversations they’ve had, to share best practice and address some of the challenges and opportunities we have discussed as result of the group’s activity.

Over to you!

Whilst the DLN is not a decision-making body, it is unique in that it brings dental leaders together in a way other health professions haven’t been able to do. Therefore, we all need to play our part and use this unique opportunity.

So, what can dental leaders do to make a difference to some of the challenges that the sector is facing?

What one action should dental leaders do? Take a look back at previous events and find out more about the Dental Leadership Network on our website.