Training

Training & Development at Olive Tree Dental

The culture at Olive Tree Dental is inviting and encourages collaborative engagement amongst the team, which is what sets us apart from other practices. We don’t just put our patients first; our team is also at the heart of our decisions as well.

We are aiming to pave the way for a new, improved culture of leadership within the workplace that empowers our team to implement service innovations and provides them with training and tools to support them in doing so.

Olive Tree Dental is committed to lifelong learning and the development of all our Dentists, Clinicians, Advanced Practitioners, Nursing, Administrative and Marketing Staff members. We aim to foster a team that demonstrates high standards of clinical knowledge, proactively seeks professional development and thrives in a learning environment.

During the last two years, as the practice has experienced growth and team expansion, management has seen that as an opportunity not only to invest in innovative dental technologies but also to invest in the workforce. As a result of this, the Olive Tree Dental team have been able to make strong strides in personal development, which have, in turn, enhanced patient experience by improving workflow, communication & internal processes.

Team loyalty and low turnover are great ways we measure how strong we are as a team, and we hope to continue to maintain this for many years to come. Patient satisfaction has been an excellent reference point that really guides us in understanding the value of training. As a result, we have maintained our 5* Google Review rating and hope to continue to do so.

Valuable training experiences we have had as a team from 2024 to 2025:

• MHFA Training – We are committed to supporting mental health and overall well-being, including work-life balance. We are proud to share that members of our team are now trained as Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA), reinforcing our dedication to creating a supportive and caring environment for both our employees and our patients.  By completing this training, we’re proud to join a community of 500,000 people in England—and 4 million worldwide—who are equipped to recognise signs of poor mental health and guide others to the support they need. Our aim is to build a society where mental health is openly discussed, and everyone has the tools to care for their own well-being and that of others.

• The Resuscitation Council UK Immediate Life Support (ILS) Course is the UK’s leading ILS training, undertaken by over 100,000 healthcare professionals annually. Designed to equip our team with essential life-saving skills, this course provided in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in managing medical emergencies at an immediate life support level.During the training, the team learned to effectively recognise and respond to cardiac arrest, using the ABCDE approach to assess and stabilise patients. Key areas covered included cardiac arrest prevention, resuscitation techniques, defibrillation, airway management, and Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) procedures. Additionally, the course emphasised team leadership and communication, ensuring that each team member can confidently take charge in emergency situations. By completing this training, our team has strengthened their ability to deliver high-quality resuscitation care, ensuring a safer environment for both patients and staff at Olive Tree Dental.

• GBT EMS Airflow® Training – resulting in Olive Tree Dental becoming the first GBT Certified practice in Reading, Berkshire. Which is a game changer in hygiene and our approach to implementing a preventative dental approach that benefits our patients in the long term.

• The Wand Training – The clinical team underwent training on The Wand STA features and techniques to provide clear guidance and confidence in order to be able to implement the usage of The Wand in practice. The Wand removes any anxiety associated with dental injections. It is unbelievably precise, and its precision control makes the whole numbing procedure less painful overall. It only numbs the tooth being treated. We hope this differentiates the practice & supports an innovative, high-tech image that also promotes a more comfortable patient experience for all our patients, including our younger & nervous patients.

• Ethical Sales & Communication Course – by the infamous Ashley Latter, which has enabled us as a team to become powerful communicators. Our team really takes the time to listen to our patients and understand their needs before creating a bespoke treatment plan.

• Enlighten Training – We are so proud that we have been recognised as an Enlighten Regional Centre of Excellence in the area, having been trained in practice by the renowned Dr. Payman Langroudi. We were so pleased as a team to acquire the VITA B1 shade guarantee with Enlighten certification and to have received in-depth training about one of the leading Whitening products in the market to deliver a safe and reliable way of whitening your teeth. Our team has had extra training to handle even the most complicated cases, and as such, we are confident that the results we can provide our patients are guaranteed and natural looking. We have tried lots of different whitening products but have really been impressed with the reliability and simplicity of Enlighten, and many patients have already been delighted with their flawless new smiles, which don’t require a diet change.

• Social Media Mastery Training provided the team with valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance Olive Tree Dental’s online presence. The session was delivered by Victoria Vickery and focused on identifying gaps and opportunities in our social media strategy, enabling a more targeted and impactful approach tailored to dental practices.Key takeaways included understanding effective marketing messaging, using a proven content formula to ensure a steady stream of engaging posts, and optimising social media for lead generation and patient conversion. The training also introduced efficient workflows, allowing the team to manage social media systematically while maximising results.By the end of the session, the team gained the tools and confidence to create compelling content, refine our online profiles, and strategically attract and engage our ideal patients—ultimately strengthening our digital presence and driving business growth.

• Leading a Winning Team with a Compliance Backdrop training – delivered by Pat Langley, provided invaluable insights into how the CQC regulates dental practices and the key steps to ensuring compliance excellence.The session covered the most common compliance pitfalls and practical strategies to avoid them, helping the team understand how to provide safe, effective, and patient-centred care while fostering a well-led and responsive practice. Pat also shared updates on the CQC’s evolving regulatory approach, upcoming changes, and what to expect in future inspections. By the end of the training, the team gained a clear roadmap for thriving in CQC inspections, confidently demonstrating high standards of clinical care and patient satisfaction and ensuring the practice remains compliant, proactive, and well-prepared for regulatory assessments.

• Nourish & Flourish – by the charismatic Michael Bentley, which enabled us as a team to work better together and gain a better understanding of how our roles as a team can impact one another. Empathising with our colleagues and our patients has been eye-opening and enhanced both our internal & external communication.

• Uncover Your Hidden Figures & Transform Your Business – by the knowledgeable Richard Collard. This training was valuable to hone in on how to build a patient base that’s right for both the patient and the practice. This helped us focus on monitoring and measuring performance, deciding which tools to use and how to analyse the results to further improve processes for both the patient and the team.

Each valued member of our team has their own Personal Development Plan. This coincides with the needs of our patients and the practice, but we try to ensure it is also tailored to the individual team member and their role within the team. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Training isn’t something that we see as a certificate to frame or CPD hours to complete. It’s a vital part of the practice’s long-term investment and growth strategy because only as a team can we truly grow.