All Dentists in Specialty Training will transfer to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) employment. The transfer will take place in December 2021.

The lead employer arrangements were implemented across Scotland to improve the Doctor and Dentist in Training employment journey as follows: 

• less employment related administration and duplication of information provided; 
• a single contract of employment for the duration of a programme; 
• reduced tax issues;  
• continuous service with one employer making it easier to access employee benefits; and  
• clearer employment arrangements for money lenders (e.g., mortgages/ cars/ credit rating). 

Since 2018 doctors in training have benefited from a move to the Lead Employer model, whereby they have one employer for the duration of their training programme and as of September 2021, this model was extended to new dentists in training. 
The model is now being extended to current dental specialty trainees through the transfer of employment to NHS Education for Scotland.  This move, as with that for new dental trainees, seeks to align the contract of employment to a National Board, provide consistency in business processes, and as a result improve the trainee employment journey

This transfer has been agreed in partnership and following consultation by the current employing Boards with the British Dental Association.

The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (commonly referred to as TUPE) will apply to the transfer of the contracts of employment and the continuity of employment of all Dentists in Specialty Training currently employed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside.

The TUPE Regulations 2006 provide for the protection of employees in the event of a change in the employer, to ensure that their rights are safeguarded. This means that when the transfer takes place, your contract of employment will be taken up by NES and you will transfer and remain on your current terms and conditions of employment, including your continuity of employment.

Under the TUPE transfer it is expected that there will be no other legal, economic or social implications of the transfer for the affected employees. There will be no impact on pension scheme arrangements as all NHS Scotland Boards are part of the NHS Superannuation Scheme (Scotland), which is administered by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA).

Under TUPE Regulations, affected employees do have the right to object to the transfer. Please be aware that the legal effect of objecting would be that:

• Your employment with your current employing board would automatically terminate by operation of law with effect from the date of transfer, and there would be no automatic transfer to NHS Education for Scotland
• There would be no entitlement to either statutory or contractual compensation

If you have any queries or would like a to have a meeting to discuss this, please email the below contact within your current employing board:

NHS Lothian – Jackie Houston jackie.houston@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

NHS Tayside – Carol Miller carol.miller3@nhs.scot

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde – FAO Kenny Tracey, Recruitment-st@ggc.scot.nhs.uk