26.—(1) The contractor shall not employ or engage a dental care professional to perform dental services unless it has taken reasonable steps to satisfy itself that he has the clinical experience and training necessary to enable him to properly perform dental services and—
(a)prior to the coming into force of the first regulations under section 36A(2) of the Dentists Act, the contractor has checked that his name is on the roll of the appropriate register established in accordance with the Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986; and
(b)from the coming into force of the first regulations under section 36A(2) of the Dentists Act, the contractor has checked that—
(i)his name is included in the register of dental care professionals; and
(ii)his registration in the dental care professional register is not subject to a suspension.
(2) Where the employment or engagement of a person specified in sub-paragraph (1) is urgently needed and it is not possible to check the references referred to in sub-paragraph (1) (where it applies) before employing or engaging him, he may be employed or engaged on a temporary basis for a single period of up to seven days whilst such checks are undertaken.
(3) When considering a person's experience and training for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), the contractor shall have regard in particular to—
(a)any post-graduate or post-registration qualification held by that person; and
(b)any relevant training undertaken by him and any relevant clinical experience gained by him.