2 Year DCT posts
This year, HEIW is piloting three new Dental Core Training (DCT) posts that combine DCT1 and DCT2 into a single two-year programme.
These posts have been developed in direct response to feedback from current trainees, many of whom highlighted a desire for greater job security, stability in living arrangements, and certainty about where they’ll be working beyond a single year. It also helps to reduce the administrative burden of annual applications- freeing trainees to focus on what really matters: career development, portfolio building, and enjoying life outside of work.
We recognise that many trainees are at a stage in their lives where they’re thinking about settling down, buying a home, or simply want to keeping living close to family and friends, and these two-year posts are designed to support that work–life balance.
Starting in September 2026, we’re offering three 24-month posts beginning at DCT1 level and continuing seamlessly into the linked DCT2 year starting in 2027. All posts are based in South Wales, either in Cardiff or within easy commuting distance.
We have on offer:
This post is ideal for anyone interested in developing a career in Paediatric Dentistry, Community Dentistry, or pursuing a Dentist with Enhanced Skills (DES) pathway. It offers a varied and rewarding mix of hospital- and community-based experience, providing excellent opportunities to broaden your clinical exposure and professional insight.
The post allows the holder to gain a deeper understanding of how primary, secondary, and tertiary care services interact in delivering high-quality patient care. It also offers valuable experience in managing a wide range of clinical presentations, helping to strengthen both technical ability and clinical judgment.
This role is also well suited to those wishing to enhance their skills before returning to general practice or for those wishing to explore potential career options.
This position presents an outstanding opportunity for individuals seeking to advance their skills in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), Oral Medicine, and Special Care Dentistry and Community Dentistry. Exposure to these three diverse specialties offers a broad clinical experience, helping to shape a well-rounded practitioner.
Based in Cardiff, home to the only Major Trauma Centre in Wales, the post provides unique experience in the multidisciplinary management of complex polytrauma cases. Experience in OMFS can also enhance confidence, resilience, and a wide array of transferable skills.
The first year also includes a six-month placement in Community Dentistry, which will further develop communication skills and deepen understanding of care for patients with additional needs. A 12-month placement in Oral Medicine offers in-depth insight into the diagnosis and management of a wide range of oral diseases.
Remaining within the same unit for 18 months allows the postholder to build strong professional networks, benefit from continuity in learning, and develop lasting working relationships across multiple specialties.
This post is ideal for anyone wishing to develop their skills in OMFS while building confidence, resilience, and a wide range of transferable skills.
Prince Charles Hospital is a busy District General Hospital located in the heart of the Welsh Valleys. The post offers a broad and varied clinical experience encompassing the management of facial trauma (hard and soft tissue), orofacial infection, dentofacial deformity, pathology of the jaws and oral soft tissues, facial and oral neoplasia, and dentoalveolar surgery. Serving a population with significant socioeconomic challenges and limited access to routine dental care, the unit provides an abundance of valuable clinical exposure and learning opportunities.
A six-month placement in Restorative Dentistry complements this by deepening understanding of head and neck reconstruction involving dental prostheses and highlighting the close relationship between surgical and restorative approaches to patient care.
Many trainees who undertake OMFS DCT posts describe the first six months as a steep learning curve, with confidence and competence growing significantly thereafter. Those who have completed 12-month posts often comment that they wished they could have stayed longer. This 18-month placement in OMFS provides an unparalleled opportunity to consolidate surgical knowledge, refine technical skills, and strengthen clinical confidence within a supportive and high-performing team.
Remaining within the same unit for 18 months also enables the postholder to develop strong professional networks, continuity of learning, and lasting working relationships across a range of specialties.
We have been mindful to maintain a balanced mix of opportunities for DCT- including both traditional 12-month DCT posts and the new 24-month pilot posts. This provides flexibility for those who prefer a single year of training, as well as for those who may decide to continue into DCT2 after completing their first year.
Commitment to a 2-year post
If you choose to preference a 2-year DCT post, please do so with the understanding that you are committing to remain in the post for the full duration.
Applications and offers
Applications and offers will be managed through Oriel, the national recruitment system, which coordinates the process across the UK. This system allows applicants to hold or accept only one post nationally.
For details on key dates, please refer to the national recruitment timeline and submit your application via www.oriel.nhs.uk.