Dental Therapist Qualification

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

About

We are one of the largest acute and community providers in the West Midlands having more than 850 beds on the New Cross site.

We also have 56 rehabilitation beds at West Park Hospital and 54 beds at Cannock Chase Hospital.

We are the largest employer in Wolverhampton, the Trust employs more than 10,000 staff, covering more than 350 different roles.

• New Cross Hospital
• West Park Hospital rehabilitation inpatient and day care services, therapy services and outpatients
• Cannock Chase Hospital general surgery, orthopaedics, breast surgery, urology, dermatology/plastic surgery and medical day case investigations and treatment (including endoscopy, rheumatology and dermatology)
• More than 20 community sites - community services for children and adults, walk-in centres and therapy and rehabilitation services
• Primary care - Ten GP practices have now joined us and offer extended opening hours to patients.

Key details

Location

Site: Pennfields Health Centre

Address: Upper Zoar Street

Town: Wolverhampton

Postcode: WV3 0JH

Major / Minor Region: Birmingham & The Black Country

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: 12 months (Fixed term)

Hours: Part time - 22.5 hours per week

Salary

Grade: Band 6

Specialty

Main area: Special Care Dentistry

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced dental therapist with excellent people and organisational skills and a keen interest in treating special needs children. A positive attitude and a commitment to best practice in clinical care are vital. The ability to work in a busy environment whilst remaining calm and to lead projects to completion in challenging circumstances is essential. The capacity to work independently, proactively and under pressure is also important.

The post holder will have full registration with the General Dental Council, be able to demonstrate proven clinical care skills to a high standard, have excellent patient management skills and should have experience of treating a wide spectrum of patients.

Applicants must be flexible as deployment across multiple sites will be required with travel around Wolverhampton to reach the communities we serve.

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Job Summary

To work flexibly within a dental team providing high quality dental care, as prescribed by a registered dentist, for a wide spectrum of patients including adults, children, patients with special needs, medically compromised patients and hard-to-reach groups.

To undertake clinical duties within their scope of practice to support the ongoing development of the service, to meet the needs of the local population and provide a true Special Care Dentistry.

Communicate with a range of patients and their families on individual clinical issues and communicate with all members of the clinical team and peers in an appropriate way and also with other health and social care professionals involved in the care of patients.

The post holder will ensure his or her own Continuing Professional Development is maintained.

The post holder will be required to work in the specialist clinical disciplines of Special Care Dental.

To supervise trainee and unqualified staff, as required, in the department.

To work within codes of practice and professional guidelines.

To be accountable for own professional actions under General Dental Council guidelines.

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisational and departmental objectives.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We’re passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as “Good” by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties and Responsibilities:

With regards to clinical duties the post holder will work to the prescription of a dentist.

To provide highly specialist quality dental care for adult and child patients who are eligible for treatment in the Special Care Dental Service with a wide range of treatment needs including those who:

• Have high levels of untreated decay
• Are dentally anxious
• Are medically compromised
• Are physically disabled
• Have learning disabilities
• Have mental health problems
• Are socially excluded and unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service (e.g. sex workers, substance misuse, homeless etc)

Clinical sessions may be undertaken at fixed or mobile clinics, or on a domiciliary basis in patients’ homes, hospitals or other institutions as determined by the needs of the service.

The provision of clinical care and dental hygiene for a range of patients for whom the service has responsibility. This would include the medically compromised, those with special needs and individuals with head and neck cancer. Specifically;

• To provide dental hygiene care to a wide range of patients
• To plan, develop, implement and evaluate appropriate interventions to prevent disease and promote health for individual patients.
• To obtain a detailed dental history from patients and evaluate their medical history.
• To screen, record and monitor the incidence of periodontal disease.
• To provide preventive oral care to patients and liaise with dentists over the treatment of caries, periodontal disease and tooth wear.
• To undertake supragingival and subgingival scaling and root debridement using manual and powered instruments.
• To use appropriate anti-microbial therapy to manage plaque related diseases.
• To adjust restored surfaces in relation to periodontal treatment.
• To apply materials to teeth such as fluoride and fissure sealants.
• To give smoking cessation advice.
• The prescription, taking, development and interpretation of dental radiographs.
• The administration of infiltration and inferior dental block anaesthesia.
• The emergency placement of temporary dressings and crowns (with temporary cement).
• The taking of impressions.
• To identify anatomical features, recognise abnormalities, interpret common pathology and carry out oral cancer screening.
• When necessary, refer patients to other healthcare professionals.
• The placement of rubber dam.
• The placement of direct restorations on permanent and deciduous teeth.
• Pulp therapy (pulpotomies) on deciduous teeth.
• The extraction of primary teeth.
• The placement of pre-formed crowns on deciduous teeth.
• To plan the delivery of a patient’s care.
• The administration of inhalational sedation.
• Selection of the correct instruments, medicaments and materials to complete treatment for patients.
• With suitable training in sedation and additional Life Support training (in line with national guidelines), to administer inhalation sedation.
• To refer patients if necessary to other healthcare professionals, both within the service and outside of the service.

Oral Health Advice

Provide evidence based oral health education on a one to one basis or in a group situation as outlined in current guidelines (Delivering Better oral Health an evidence based toolkit for prevention).

Give specific preventive advice including:

• Diet advice
• Oral Hygiene instruction
• Advice and use of fluoride agents
• The benefits of smoking cessation
• Advice on alcohol consumption

To ensure that patient records are completed accurately in line with Special Care Dental Service records policy.

To check with patients or their parents/carers that the medical history and consent forms have been completed correctly.

Other duties

Take responsibility for the management of the immediate clinical environment and immediate dental team.

To maintain accurate clinical and statistical records through the use of the Soel Health dental management programme and other systems.

Identify commonly occurring medical emergencies and lead the dental team in the appropriate first line management of such an emergency, using appropriate techniques, equipment and drugs.

Understand the responsibility for health and safety issues.

Demonstrate the application of the principles of ethical behaviour relevant to dentistry including honesty, confidentiality, integrity and compliance with the standards for dental professionals laid down by the GDC.

When required, to play a role in the annual BASCD Epidemiological Surveys run by Public Health England.

Taking appropriate responsibility, where necessary, to ensure the trust’s corporate strategies and objectives are achieved and contribute to the smooth running of the dental services.

Completion of data for contract, quality and ethnic monitoring.

To direct the work of any dental nurse providing chairside assistance.

To give practical instruction to trainee dental nurses while undertaking clinical work.

To undertake other duties to meet the changing needs and priorities of the Special Care Dental Service, as determined by your manager and in accordance with the grade of the post.

To monitor and maintain stock and adequate supplies necessary for the service.

Clinical Governance

Have an active role in the dental department’s clinical governance activity and clinical audit.

Understand the legislative framework governing the delivery of oral health care in England.

Demonstrate a professional clinical approach including participation in appraisal, peer review, clinical audit and continuing professional development activities.

To undertake relevant postgraduate activity as agreed with the Clinical Lead.

To minimise the risks by following and developing systems of safe working within the dental service following Health and Safety instructions in accordance with Trust procedures within the place of work and to be responsible for your own Health and Safety within the workplace.

Individual Responsibilities

The post holder is expected to adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of any professional bodies.

Attend mandatory training as identified by the Trust.

Adhere to Trust infection prevention policies, procedures, audits in line with the Health Act 2006, to actively reduce Health Care Associated Infections.

Flexible Working

As a major employer in the Black Country and West Birmingham region we are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. We want the Black Country and West Birmingham region to be the best place to work and as such will consider all requests to work flexibly taking into account personal and individual circumstances alongside the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Qualifications

Please be advised that if the post that you are applying for requires any level of qualification (e.g. A-Levels, Degree etc) or Professional Registration (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council etc) you will be required to provide proof as part of the pre-employment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant’s qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider. Furthermore, a sample of all applicants’ qualifications will be checked back to the educational institution or provider to interview letters to further deter fraud.

Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. As of 1 January 2021, free movement ended and the UK introduced a points-based immigration system. Further information is available regarding two types of visa; Health Care Visa and Skilled worker visa.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

• Registration with GDC
• Dental Therapist Qualification

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience with Community Dental or Hospital Dental Services
• Three years post Qualification experience as a Dental Therapist
• Previous experience of providing care for children with additional needs
• Experience of delivering Oral Health Promotion or training sessions to other health professionals
• Experience of working as a lone clinician

Documents

• JD & PS (952.5) PDF KB
• RWT Professional Standards (95.4) PDF KB
• Wolverhampton Map (600.9) PDF KB
• Trust Brochure (6.3) PDF MB
• Employee Rewards Booklet v.13 (1.6) PDF MB
• Flexible Working Commitment (1.1) PDF MB
• NHS Staff Offer - National Express (963.3) PDF KB
• Our Strategy (1.8) PDF MB
• Joint Behavioural Framework v1. 2024 (2.5) PDF MB

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Elaine Forbes

Job title: Clinical Lead - Dental

Email address: [email protected]

Telephone number: 01902444186