Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our Dental Officers provide a wide range of primary dental care for patients including children, people with disabilities, older people and those referred to the Service. This may be from healthcare professionals, education, self-referral or from families and patient support networks.

You need to formulate and provide person centred and comprehensive dental care in primary care and under NHS rules and regulations. Skilled communication with a range of patients and their families or carers will be required, as this role is primarily working with patients who have additional needs, some of whom will have communication barriers.
You will be able to explain risks, benefits and alternatives of clinical care and treatment modalities to patients and their families or carers.
Communication of sometimes complex clinical information to patients of the service, in difficult circumstances and delivering difficult news may be required.
Excellent communication with clinical peers and leaders in a professional manner is essential to inspire confidence, motivation, and teamwork, and in the best interests of patients.
Communicating with other health and social care professionals on a range of issues relating to oral health is required.

Ability to provide conscious sedation would be of benefit. To be second dentist for treatment in hospital under general anaesthesia for patients who cannot have their treatment provided in the clinic would be ideal. 

To provide dental care in the domiciliary setting for patients who are housebound, supported by qualified nursing support and dedicated domiciliary equipment. Ability to move between clinics and domiciliary settings according to Service and patient needs would therefore be a great benefit.

The postholder will be responsible for maintaining the clinical and or corporate records that fall within the remit of this role to the standards in the Trust records management policies, and data quality processes and standards. Postholders with elevated access to IT systems are held accountable to the highest standards of use. 

To adhere to department and professional standards/protocols without direct supervision. Comment on department policies and propose changes to departmental working practices or procedures as necessary. Access communication from the Trust and from the department.  Help maintain health and safety and security within departments, reporting risks and taking appropriate action as required.

To supervise and support dental care professionals, engage in clinical supervision and respond to day-to-day queries and concerns. To assist with and participate in training and education and support dental care professionals working towards postgraduate qualifications. Participate in peer review sessions and demonstrate a commitment to continuing dental education.

To be an active member of the dental team in the monitoring, evaluation, and development of the Dental Service. Participate in audit and peer review as required. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties and responsibilities within the framework of the post. 

Training  - Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and PDP process. The post-holder must attend any training that is identified as mandatory to their role. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the GDC, and on a relevant performers list, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.
The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give an overview of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the post-holder.

Employees of the Trust must comply with the provisions of the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). The postholder must not; either during the course of their employment, or following termination of their employment, disclose any personal information relating to service users or employees, or of the lawful business practices, of the organisation.

The postholder must comply with Trust policies that protect the personal data of service users and employees from unauthorised disclosure, modification, destruction, inappropriate access or use and must pay due regard to the requirements of the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice.

Health & Safety Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 - the post-holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 applies to all Trust staff. It is the responsibility of every person to ensure that they keep up to date with the Act and that the delivery of patient care/services is conducted in line with local and national policy and the MCA Code of Practice.

The Trust has a responsibility to ensure that all children / young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected. Consequently, all Trust employees are required to adhere to national and local safeguarding policies / procedures and to act upon any concerns in accordance with them.

Infection Control - It is Trust policy to reduce the risk of Healthcare Associated Infection by having in place Infection Prevention and Control Policies. These policies must be adhered to by all staff to ensure patients are cared for in a clean environment and receive the highest standards of clinical care.

Equality and Diversity - It is the responsibility of every person to act in ways that support equality and diversity and work within the spirit and detail of legislation including the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer and aims to challenge discrimination, promote equality and respect human rights.

Smoke Free NHS - The NHS is Smoke - Free. Smoking is not permitted on any of our premises or the surrounding land including car parking facilities.

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the ‘About You’ Section of the document.