Person specification and entry criteria for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ST3 2025 recruitment

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Important: Accuracy

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this page. The information presented is accurate at the time of publication.

Essential entry criteria

Qualifications

Applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
  • full GDC registration or a fully UK registerable dental qualification by the advertised post start date for the vacancy.
  • successful completion of MRCS (Part A) by the date of the first interview within that specialty recruitment round.
  • successful completion of MRCS by offer datei.

When is this evaluated?ii

  • Application form 

 The 'offer date’ refers to the 'initial offers released' date set in each recruitment round; Recruitment Timelines.

ii ‘When is this evaluated’ is indicative but may be carried out at any time throughout the selection process.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be eligible for full registration with, and hold a current licence to practiseii from, the GMC by the advertised post start date for the vacancy.
  • have evidence of achievement of CT/ST1 and CT/ST2 competences in core surgery by the advertised post start date for the vacancyiii, acceptable evidence includes satisfactory ARCP outcome of completion of Core Surgical Training programme or a completed Certificate of Readiness to Enter Higher Surgical Training
  • be eligible to work in the UK

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centreiv

 

ii  The GMC introduced the licence to practise in 2009. Any doctor wishing to practise in the UK after this date must be both registered with and hold a licence to practise from the GMC at time of appointment.

iii  'Time of appointment' refers to the date at which the post commences.

iv  ‘Selection centre’ refers to a process, not a place. It involves a number of selection activities which may be delivered within the unit of application.

Fitness to practise

Applicant is up to date and fit to practise safely and is aware of own training needs.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • References
Language skills

Applicants must have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues as assessed by the General Medical Councilv.

When is this evaluted?

  • Application form
  • Pre-employment health screening

 

Applicants are advised to visit the GMC website which gives details of evidence accepted for registration.

Health

Applicants must meet professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice).

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Pre-employment health screening
Career progression

Applicants must:

  • be able to provide complete details of their employment history
  • have evidence that their career progression is consistent with their personal circumstances
  • for those who completed foundation training before August 2012, at least 24 months’ medical trainingvi (12 months' Foundation and 12 months' core training, or equivalent) by the advertised post start date for the vacancy
  • for those who completed Foundation training after August 2012, at least 36 months’ medical training (24 months at Foundation level and 12 months core training, or equivalent) by the advertised post start date for the vacancy
  • have notified the Training Programme Director of the specialty training programme they are currently training in if applying to continue training in the same specialty in another regionvii 
  • if you have previously resigned, or been removed from, a training programme in any specialty, you must obtain a Support for Reapplication to Specialty Training form signed by the Training Programme Director/Head of School and Postgraduate Dean from the region you previously undertook training in. This must be submitted with your applicationviii
  • not already hold, nor be eligible to hold, a CCT/CESR; and must not currently be eligible for the specialist register for the specialty to which they are applying
  • for those wishing to be considered for Locum Appointment for Training (LAT) posts (where available): no more than 24 months' experience in LAT posts in the specialty by the advertised post start date for the vacancy

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre

 

vi  Any time periods specified in this person specification refer to full-time equivalent.

vii  The ‘support for reapplication to another region’ form, signed by the Training Programme Director of their current specialty training programme confirming satisfactory progress must be submitted to the recruitment office at time of application.

viii  Exceptional circumstances may be defined as a demonstrated change in circumstances, which can be shown on the ability to train at that time and may include severe personal illness or family caring responsibility incompatible with continuing to train. Applicants will only be considered if they provide a ‘support for the reapplication to a specialty training programme’ form signed by both the Training Programme Director  or Head of School and the Postgraduate Dean in the local office or Deanery that the training took place. No other evidence will be accepted.

Application completion

All sections of application form completed fully according to written guidelines.

When is this evaluated?

Application form

Selection criteria

Qualifications

Essential

Applicants must have:

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
  • full GDC registration or a fully UK registerable dental qualification by the advertised post start date for the vacancy.
  • successful completion of MRCS (Part A) by the date of the first interview within that specialty recruitment round.
  • successful completion of MRCS by the start date of the post for the vacancy.

Desirable

  • BA, MSc (not including intercalated BSc or 'Honorary' MA).
  • Successful completion of MRCS by application closing date.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
Career progression

Essential

  • At least 12 months' experience in core surgical training, or equivalent by the advertised post start date for the vacancy.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Clinical skills - clinical knowledge and expertise

Essential

  • Capacity to apply sound clinical knowledge and judgement to problems.
  • Ability to prioritise clinical need.
  • Demonstrates appropriate technical and clinical competence and evidence of the development of diagnostic skills and clinical judgement.
  • Logbook documentation of surgical exposure to date.

When is this evaluated?

  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Academic skills

Essential

Research, audit and quality improvement skills
  • Demonstrates understanding of the basic principles of audit, clinical risk management and evidence-based practice.
  • Understanding of basic research principles, methodology and ethics.
  • Evidence of participation in audit.
Teaching
  • Evidence of contributing to teaching and learning of others.

Desirable

Research, audit and quality improvement skills
  • Evidence of relevant academic and research achievements such as degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, presentations, other achievements.
  • Evidence of participation in risk management and/or clinical or laboratory research.

When is this evaluated?

  • Application form
  • Interview/selection centre
Personal skills

Essential

Communication skills
  • Capacity to adjust language as appropriate to the situation
  • Able to discuss treatment options with patients in a way that they can understand.
Problem solving and decision making
  • Capacity to bring a range of approaches to problem solving.
  • Demonstrates effective judgement and decision making skills.
Managing others and team involvement
  • Capacity to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrate leadership, when appropriate.
  • Capacity to establish good working relationships with others.
Organisation and planning
  • Capacity to manage time and prioritise workload, balance urgent and important demands, follow instructions. 
Vigilance and situational awareness
  • Capacity to monitor and anticipate situations that may change rapidly.
Coping with pressure and managing uncertainty
  • Capacity to operate effectively under pressure and remain objective in highly emotive or pressurised situations.
  • Awareness of own limitations and when to ask for help.
  • Recognises stressful situations and responds appropriately.
Values
  • Understands, respects and demonstrates the values of the NHS (such as everyone counts, improving lives, commitment to quality of care, respect and dignity, working together for patients, compassion).

When is this evaluated?

  • Interview/selection centre
  • References
Probity – professional integrity

Essential

  • Demonstrates probity (as outlined by the GMC).

When is this evaluated?

  • Interview/selection centre
  • References 
Commitment to specialty – learning and personal development

Essential

  • Shows realistic insight into Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery and the personal demands of a commitment to surgery.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of training programme.
  • Shows critical and enquiring approach to knowledge acquisition, commitment to self-directed learning and a reflective and analytical approach to practice.

Desirable

  • Achievements relevant to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, including a portfolio demonstrating evidence of learning and professional development in OMFS.

When is this evaluated?

  • Interview/selection centre
  • References