Clinical Lead - Dental & Oral Health

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Could this exciting opportunity within dentistry in Dorset be for you?

This is a chance to join the senior clinical leadership of NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB) and to bring your expertise and experience to help continue our journey of collaboration across health sectors.

If you have the passion, drive and vision to be our expert dental leader we would love to hear from you. You will contribute to, and shape, our plans to improve oral health and dental access, reduce inequalities and collaborate with oral health and dental colleagues across the system, working with the four primary care contractor groups, whilst being part of a team that believes it can make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of our population.

Main duties of the job

The primary purpose of this role is to develop NHS Dorset's strategy for the future commissioning of oral health and NHS dental services to ensure consistent, high-quality, patient-centred services. The postholder will work with NHS Dorset's Medical Directorate, the regional collaborative commissioning hub, clinical and professional leaders to develop and deliver this strategy.

The postholder will provide solution-focused dental leadership for ICB strategic plans, working with dental practices, the wider ICB team, community and acute providers to improve the quality and effectiveness of the services.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

From 1st April 2023, Dorset ICB assumed delegated responsibility for dental, general ophthalmic services and pharmaceutical services. The primary purpose of this role is to develop NHS Dorset's strategy for the future commissioning of NHS dental services to ensure consistent, high-quality, patient-centred services for patients. The postholder will work with the NHS Dorset Strategic Commissioning Team, the regional Collaborative Commissioning Hub and clinical and professional leaders to develop this strategy.

The postholder will have experience of working in, or running, an NHS dental contract. They will need to be an experienced, practicing clinician of good standing on the National Performers List and with a clear record on the General Dental Council register.

The postholder will provide solution-focused dental leadership for ICB strategic plans, working with dental practices and the wider ICB team and community and acute providers to improve the quality and effectiveness of services.

They will play a critical role in shaping and supporting the ICB by helping to ensure full engagement of dental Primary Care by inputting on the development and implementation of local system plans to progress the ICB's Dental Strategy Plan. They must demonstrate confidence and professionalism and show a sincere interest in leading the clinical and management team.

Post Specific, Tasks And Objectives

• Provide dental expertise to, and oversight of, the dental strategy priority areas, high street access, community dental services, Oral Health promotion and workforce.
• Provide clinical advice from a general dental perspective on planning and monitoring dental services, clinical dentistry and dental workforce development including Dental Care Professionals (DCP).
• Provide dental advice to ensure accuracy of dental communications from ICB staff.
• Provide clinical support to the Dental Fellows.
• Provide support to a rolling cycle of quality and contract performance visits plus other visits as required, to maintain and improve the quality-of-service delivery.
• Provide support to the commissioners and colleagues in the Collaborative Commissioning Hub with contract review meetings, year end and midyear reviews of performance and participate in any review of appeals against contractual sanctions.
• Advise on dental and oral health matters, working with other clinical professional colleagues in the Dorset system including the Public Health Oral Health Lead.
• Review complaints, General Dental Council (GDC) referrals and provide clinical opinions in writing (NB only for Primary Care personnel).
• Collate information as requested by the Performance Advisory Group (PAG).
• Participate in case investigations including visiting practices and face to face interviews as prescribed by PAG.
• Undertake any other work deemed appropriate by the Chief Medical Officer.

Person Specification

Values and behaviours

• Demonstrable commitment to, and focus on, quality; promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
• Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Enquiring, critical approach to work.
• Commitment to continuing education.
• Ability to put personal or provider specific views aside to represent the views of broader stakeholders.
• Demonstrably involves patients and the public in their work.
• Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
• Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation.
• Actively develops themselves and others.
• Demonstrable commitment to partnership working with a range of external organisations.
• Able to prioritise work and be adaptable.
• Able to work well against a background of change and uncertainty.
• Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others.
• Self-motivated, pro-active and innovative.
• High standards of professional probity.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to build trusted relationships with dental clinical teams in Dorset.
• Ability to communicate with a wide group of stakeholders.
• Ability to travel throughout Dorset as required.
• Able to assimilate complex and lengthy information.
• Strong intellectual, strategic and systematic thinking skills, with the ability to think creatively and laterally to achieve outcomes.
• The ability to plan and structure work and manage time effectively.
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills with the ability to develop strong working relationships with clinicians and managers at all levels.
• Effective interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills.
• Able to operate effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Computer literate, with evidence of knowledge and use of a variety of software packages e.g., MS Office.

Qualifications

• Registered dental practitioner with current GDC registration.
• Currently on the NHS performers list as a registered GDP in Dorset.
• Currently working in dental practice.

Knowledge

• A good understanding of how to use data to improve quality & productivity.
• Understanding of the broader framework of the NHS alongside current policies in relation to health and social care.
• Understanding of the current social and political environment.

Experience

• Experienced clinician with credibility and the ability to command the respect of clinical dental teams and non-clinical professionals.
• Experience of developing, applying and reviewing an evidence-based approach to decision making.
• Experience of active involvement in local, regional or national strategy groups.
• Experience of leading a project, team and/or service.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.