Principles -- Work with colleagues in patients’ best interests

1. You must be appropriately supported when treating patients.
2. You must not provide treatment if you feel that the circumstances make it unsafe for patients.
3. You should work with another appropriately trained member of the dental team at all times when treating patients in a dental setting. The only circumstances in which this does not apply are when:
   • treating patients in an out of hours emergency;
   • providing treatment as part of a public health programme; or
   • there are exceptional circumstances. ‘Exceptional circumstances’ are unavoidable circumstances which are not routine and could not have been foreseen. Absences due to leave or training are not exceptional circumstances
4. If there are exceptional circumstances which mean you cannot work with an appropriately trained member of the dental team when treating a patient in a dental setting, you must assess the possible risk to the patient of continuing treatment.
5. Medical emergencies can happen at any time. You must make sure that there is at least one other person available within the working environment to deal with medical emergencies when you are treating patients. In exceptional circumstances the second person could be a receptionist or a person accompanying the patient.

1. You can delegate the responsibility for a task but not the accountability. This means that, although you can ask someone to carry out a task for you, you could still be held accountable if something goes wrong. You should only delegate or refer to another member of the team if you are confident that they have been trained and are both competent and indemnified to do what you are asking.
2. If you delegate a task to another member of the team who does not feel that they are trained or competent to carry it out, you must not take advantage of your position by pressurizing them into accepting the task.
3. You should refer patients on if the treatment required is outside your scope of practice or competence. You should be clear about the procedure for doing this.
4. If you ask a colleague to provide treatment, a dental appliance, or clinical advice for a patient, you should make your request clear and give your colleague all the information they need.
5. If you need to refer a patient to someone else for treatment, you must explain the referral process to the patient and make sure that it is recorded in their notes.

1. You must only accept a referral or delegation if you are trained and competent to carry out the treatment and you believe that what you are being asked to do is appropriate for the patient.
2. If a colleague asks you to provide treatment, a dental appliance, or clinical advice for a patient, you must ensure that you are clear about what you are being asked to do and that you have the knowledge and skills to do it.
3. If you do not think that what you have been asked to do is appropriate, you should discuss this with the colleague who asked you to do it.
4. You should only go ahead if you are satisfied that what you have been asked to do is appropriate. If you are not sure, you should seek advice from your professional association.

You should document any discussions you have with colleagues about a patient’s treatment, including any decisions you have reached or changed, in that patient’s notes.

1. You should make sure that all team members, including those not registered with the Indian Dental Association, have:
   • a proper induction when they first join the team;
   • performance management, including regular appraisals;
   • opportunities to learn and develop;
   • a hygienic and safe working environment;
   • a work environment that is not discriminatory;
   • opportunities to provide feedback; and
   • a way to raise concerns.
2. You should make sure that relevant team members are appropriately registered with IDA, appropriately in-training to be registered with IDA and that those who are registered with IDA are also indemnified.
3. You should encourage all team members, including those not registered with IDA, to follow the guidance in this document, as well as following it yourself.
4. You should make sure that you communicate regularly with all members of the team and that all members of the team are involved and included as appropriate.
5. You must encourage, support and facilitate the continuing professional development (CPD) of your dental team.
6. Medical emergencies can happen at any time in a dental practice. You must make sure that:
   • there are arrangements for at least two people to be available within the working environment to deal with medical emergencies when treatment is planned to take place;
   • all members of staff, including those not registered with IDA, know their role if there is a medical emergency; and
   • all members of staff who might be involved in dealing with a medical emergency are trained and prepared to do so at any time, and practice together regularly in a simulated emergency so they know exactly what to do.
7. You should ensure your team has:
   • good leadership;
   • clear, shared aims; and
   • an understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
8. You should ensure that all the members of your team understand their roles and responsibilities, including what decisions and actions have, and have not, been delegated to them.
9. You should discuss all new policies and procedures with your colleagues so that everybody understands them and make sure that all team members are aware of their responsibility to comply with them.
10. You should display information about the members of your team (including their registration number where appropriate), in an area where it can be easily seen by patients.
11. You should display the following information in an area where it can be easily seen by patients:
    • the fact that you are member of IDA; and
    • the nine principles contained in this document.