Cleft Clinical Excellence Networks

About the CEN:

We provide paediatric dental care and advice for patients with cleft lip and/or palate. We also coordinate national audit data collection and provide calibration of dentists for national audit data collection.

The Cleft CEN provides opportunities for networking, support and sharing information and evidence-based resources and projects. We aim to evaluate paediatric dental service provision across all units.

Specific activities of the Paediatric Dentistry CEN

To facilitate national audits of dental health of children with cleft lip and/or palate, discuss the findings and make recommendations for future developments of dental care for these children.

Meetings:

Two meetings are arranged by the Cleft CEN each year:

• The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland which usually takes place in the Spring
• The second usually takes place late Autumn or early in the New Year which may be held as a virtual meeting through Microsoft Teams.
   

In addition, calibration for the dmft audit data collection occurs annually and will in the future be available online.

Please contact the CEN for more details regarding calibration.

Cost to join:

Free to join

Who can join?

Cleft CEN membership is open to any dental clinician or dental care professional providing dental care for children with cleft lip and/or palate.

Contact:

Joanna May (CEN Chair) - email

Lucy Burbridge (CEN Secretary) - email

About the CEN:

We facilitate professional development for Speech and Language Therapists with an interest in cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies. The client group includes adults and children with a cleft palate, a craniofacial anomaly or a speech sound disorder arising from velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Specific Aims of the Speech and Language CEN

• To respond to issues on behalf of RCSLT at their request
• To promote advances in speech and language therapy management of this client group, including discussion of new equipment and techniques from national and international sources
• To provide some financial support for members to attend conferences/study days related to cleft palate and craniofacial anomalies.

Meetings:

Two study days are arranged by the Cleft CEN each year:

• The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland and will include the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which usually takes place in the Spring
• The second usually takes place in the Autumn and members have the benefit of the cost of admission being included in their annual fee.
• Non-members are welcome to join the study days for a fee.

Cost to join

£20 per annum (includes entry to the Autumn study day).

Who can join?

Cleft CEN membership is open to members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). SLTs may work directly with this client group or be interested in this as a specialist area. There is an annual subscription.

Honorary membership is occasionally given to those who have made a significant contribution to this client group.

Contact:

Sarah Kilcoyne, Chair of the Committee - chair@cleftcen.org.uk

Any other relevant information

To find out more, please visit our website: Cleft CEN (cleftsig.co.uk)

Chair:

Jules Scott, Consultant Orthodontist, University Hospitals Plymouth

Secretary:

Rachael Willis, Consultant Orthodontist, Cambridge University Hospitals

Meetings:

Biannual meetings

Spring meeting at the CFSBGI Annual Conference in April

Autumn meeting in November/ December

Cost to join?

Free to join. There may be a cost for the meeting on the CEN day at the CFSGBI annual conference.

Who can join?

We welcome any dental professionals to our meetings who have an interest in cleft orthodontics, from DCTs through to experienced Cleft Orthodontic Consultants.

OCEN membership is open to all GDC registered professionals on the Orthodontic Specialist List with an interest in cleft orthodontics in the United Kingdom. All those who are interested should register their membership with the Secretary.

Contact:

Rachael Willis - rachaelwillis@nhs.net

About the CEN:

We provide specialist dental care and advice for adult patients with cleft lip and/or palate. We also coordinate dental care with dentists for patients with a cleft lip and palate.

The Cleft CEN provides opportunities for networking, support and sharing information and evidence-based resources and projects.

Meetings:

Two meetings are arranged by the Cleft CEN each year:

• The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland which usually takes place in the Spring
• The second usually takes place in the Autumn and held as a virtual meeting through Microsoft Teams.

Cost to join?

Free to join

Who can join?

CEN membership is open to any dental clinician or dental care professional providing dental care for adults with cleft lip and/or palate.

Contact

Sandip Popat (CEN Chair)

Khalid Malik (CEN Secretary) - Khalid.Malik2@nhs.net

Simon Critchlow (Research and Audit Chair)

About the CEN:

We provide surgical care and advice for patients with cleft lip and/or palate. The Surgical Cleft CEN provides opportunities for research, networking, support and sharing information and evidence-based resources and projects for cleft surgeons and surgical trainees.

Aims of the Surgical Cleft CEN

• To improve standards of care for patients with cleft lip and/or palate on a national basis
• To provide a forum for cleft surgeons and surgical trainees
• To encourage inter-specialty discussion, sharing and collaboration
• To promote advances in cleft surgical management, including discussion of new equipment and techniques from national and international sources
• To encourage and facilitate members to undertake and participate in multi-centre research/audit projects and share their findings.
• To provide opportunities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• To provide peer support for surgeons and trainees within the surgical CEN

Meetings:

Two meetings are arranged by the Surgical Cleft CEN each year:

• The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland which usually takes place in the Spring
• The second usually takes place late Autumn or early in the New Year which may be held as a virtual meeting.

Cost to join?

Free to join

Who can join?

Surgical Cleft CEN membership is open to cleft surgeons and surgical trainees with an interest in the cleft specialty

Contact:

Guy Thorburn (CEN Chair) - tgthorburn@googlemail.com

About the CEN

The Cleft Clinical Psychology Clinical Excellence Network (previously known as the Cleft Psychology Special Interest Group) comprises of Clinical Psychologists currently working in Cleft Teams in the UK and Ireland.

What you do - Role of CEN

The CEN aims to be a supportive and collaborative group for its members as well as a consultative group for non-psychologists including commissioners, service leads and researchers.  The CEN liaises and links with the following national cleft bodies:

• Vanessa Hammond sits on the Cleft Development Group (CDG) on behalf of the CEN. The CDG is the body that oversees Cleft Services, keeps abreast of cleft related research and promotes service developments. The CDG also oversees the CRANE (Cleft Registry and Audit Network) database.
• The Clinical Studies Group (CSG) provides research advice and considers proposals for research projects. Matt Hotton is currently our rep on this group.
• CLAPA (Cleft Lip & Palate Association). Catharine Shipley (South Thames) is currently the CEN link to CLAPA.
• CFSGBI council – The psychology CEN belongs to the ‘other’ group that includes psychology, paediatric dentistry, ENT/audiology and other small groups. We have recently joined the council as a non-voting member initially.
• Early Careers Research Group. Anyone is able to join the ECRG and we are keen to have a psychology presence on this.

How often you meet?

The CEN meets all day 4 times a year, usually as follows:

• March/April at the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland (CFSGBI) annual conference
• July
• October
• January
   

This was previously face to face, but is via MS Teams at present.The CEN will aim to use a blended model of face to face and remote meetings in future to facilitate easy attendance.

Costs

There is no cost to join the CEN.

Who can join

Clinical Psychologists currently working in a Cleft Teams in the UK and Ireland.

Contact person

Current Chair: Katherine Berlouis

Any other information

We are happy to provide lots of additional information about Cleft Clinical Psychology if required!

About

The Nursing CEN provides opportunities for networking, support and development of expertise through evidence-based resources and experience. We aim to deliver standardised patient-centred care through Regional Cleft Centres.

Objectives

The group is established to promote evidence based practice to maintain good standards of holistic care for those born with cleft lip and palate and their families, through research, audit and education.

In furtherance of the above purpose but not further or otherwise the group may:-

1. Collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the above purpose , and exchange such information with members and other bodies having similar purposes.
2. Arrange and provide for, or join in arranging and providing for, the holding of meetings, professional development, lectures, exhibitions and conferences, locally, nationally or internationally.
3. Procure to be written, and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise such papers, books periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or films as shall further the above purpose.
4. In all activities adhere to the N.M.C.code or An Bord Altrainais of professional conduct.
5. Maintain links with other relevant national or international, professional or voluntary organisations.

Membership

Full membership shall be open to any nurse whose name appears on the N. M. C. or the N.M.B.I professional register

• working with or an interest in developing cleft lip and palate care
• and who is interested in furthering the work of the group
• and who has paid the annual subscription laid down at the Annual General Meeting

Meetings

Each member shall receive not less than 14 days’ notice of any meeting; two meetings with invitation for all to attend are arranged each year.

• The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland which takes place in the spring.
• The second is held in the autumn, this may be as a virtual meeting through MS Teams

Contacts

Heather Sahunta (CEN Chair)
Heather.Sahunta@nuh.nhs.uk

Vicky Tarren (CEN Secretary)
victoria.tarren@nhs.net

About the CEN:

The Clinical Genetics cleft CEN provides opportunities for networking, support and development of expertise. As well as the opportunity to take part in national audit, develop new guidelines and collaborate with basic science researchers.  We aim to deliver standardised patient-centred Clinical Genetics cleft care nationally.

Objectives:

• To create a forum of professionals with expertise in cleft genetics, to enable discussion of clinical cases, development of consensus guidelines and standardisation of care nationally.
• To provide teaching and education in relation to cleft genetics for cleft professionals and Clinical Genetics teams.
• To work collaboratively with academics and researchers, to facilitate high-quality research projects in cleft genetics.

Meetings:

Two meetings are arranged by the Clinical Genetics Cleft CEN each year:

The first is linked to the annual conference of The Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland which usually takes place in the Spring

The second is held in the Autumn and is a vitual meeting.

Cost to join?

Free to join

Who can join?

Clinical Genetics Cleft CEN membership is open to Clinical Genetics consultants and Specialist Registrars with an interest in cleft genetics. In order to drive research into cleft genetics, we also welcome basic scientists in the field of cleft genetics to join us for the non-clinical parts of our meetings.

Contact:

CEN Chair: Wendy Jones

CEN Secretary: Emily Anderson - Emily.Anderson@lwh.nhs.uk

CEN Research Lead: Usha Kini