Specialist Dental Technician

The Orthodontic and Oral & Maxillofacial Laboratory Service at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic Specialist Dental Technician. The post holder will be expected to develop and maintain effective working relationships within a wide range of clinical and support staff in the Trust and with independent contractors who receive a service from the laboratory.

In 2012, Winchester and Basingstoke's Dental Laboratories combined on the Basingstoke site. Several wider service changes have occurred in the intervening years, including the recent agreement to work in a closer partnership with Guildford clinical dental team and the successful recruitment of an Orthodontic Consultant.

The implementation of digital technologies in practice has enabled process change, more streamlined communications with external customers and therefore a sustained level of income generation (circa £85k) from other neighbouring hospitals and external Orthodontic Specialist practices that contributes positively to the departmental budget.

Main duties of the job

• Use judgement and analytical skills to design and construct a wide range of complex functional, fixed and removable bespoke, orthodontic appliances, for patients with severe malocclusion to individual specification with a high degree of precision.
• Construct prosthodontic appliances.
• Construct post treatment retention and finishing appliances to individual specification and a high degree of precision.
• Construct Orthognathic models and splints to individual specification and a high degree of precision.
• Undertake computer-assisted bespoke treatment planning using a specialised programme to a high degree of precision.
• Undertake computer-assisted digital study model recording and developmental work to a high degree of precision.
• Update and maintain department databases.
• Advise and assist clinical treatment planning as required.
• Give direct patient advice as required.
• Contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures and protocols.
• Regularly participate in research and development to assist the Dental Laboratory Manager in providing technical support for the development of innovations for the Consultants, Junior Staff, Clinical Assistants and Orthodontic registrar / MSc Student.

Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Clinical Duties

1. To contribute to the provision of a specialist service to the Oral, and Maxillo-Facial and Orthodontic Consultants and their staff at HHFT.
2. Under supervision of the General Manager:
   1. Use judgement and analytical skills to design and construct a wide range of complex functional, fixed and removable bespoke, orthodontic appliances, for patients with severe malocclusion to individual specification with a high degree of precision.
   2. Construct prosthodontic appliances.
   3. Construct post treatment retention and finishing appliances to individual specification and a high degree of precision.
   4. Construct Orthognathic models and splints to individual specification and a high degree of precision.
   5. Undertake computer-assisted bespoke treatment planning using a specialised programme to a high degree of precision.
   6. Undertake computer-assisted digital study model recording and developmental work to a high degree of precision.
   7. Update and maintain department databases.
   8. Advise and assist clinical treatment planning as required.
   9. Give direct patient advice as required.
   10. Contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures and protocols.
3. Regularly participate in research and development to assist in providing technical support for the development of innovations for the Consultants, Junior Staff, Clinical Assistants and Orthodontic registrar / MSc Student.
4. Assist in clinical governance and audit of effectiveness, including par scoring.
5. Assist with the cataloguing and storing of Study Models and maintaining and updating the departmental database with digital clinical photographs.
6. Maintain stock ordering system to ensure that adequate supplies are available.
7. Review and implement departmental policies, procedures and protocols.
8. In the absence of the Dental Laboratory Supervisor, plan, prioritise and allocate incoming work, ensuring quality assurance procedures are upheld before release to patients.

2. Education

1. Assist in the training and supervision of junior staff from technical colleges and local schools who require technical input to their course or work experience.
2. Provide support to the Dental Laboratory Supervisor in the training and technical assistance needed for the registrar / MSc student research projects.
3. Support the Dental Laboratory Supervisor in the preparation of demonstration models, models for photography, lectures, and papers for publication.
4. Attend postgraduate courses to assist where necessary.
5. Keep up to date with advances in dental technology and new materials, pursuing research into the use of new methods and materials and participating in short courses where necessary and appropriate.

3. Communication and Working Relationships

The post holder will be directly accountable to the Dental Laboratory Supervisor. The post holder will need to establish effective working relationships with departmental staff at all levels and across disciplines both internal and external to the department to ensure effective clinical service delivery at all times.

4. Confidentiality

In the course of duties, the post holder may have access to confidential material about patients, members of staff or other health service business. On NO account must information relating to identifiable patients be divulged to anyone other than authorised persons, for example medical, nursing, or other professional staff, as appropriate, who are concerned directly with the care, diagnosis and/or treatment of the patient. If the post holder is in any doubt whatsoever as to the authority of the person or body asking for information of this nature, they must seek advice. Similarly, no information of a personal or confidential nature concerning individual members of staff should be divulged to anyone without the proper authority having first been given. Confidentiality must always be maintained, in accordance with Trust policy and the Data Protection Act 1984. Any breach of confidentiality is subject to disciplinary action.

5. Health and Safety / Security

The post holder may be exposed to fumes from materials, abrasives, equipment vibration and body fluids. It is the duty of every employee to work in such a way that accidents to themselves and to others are avoided and to co-operate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy, clean and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. The Employee will, therefore, refer any matters of concern through their respective line manager. Similarly, it is each person's responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring breaches to the attention of managers.

NB. This post is subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service procedure.
6. Review

This job specification is an outline of the responsibilities associated with the role. As with any job, the range of activities and areas of responsibility will change as the service develops. The content of this job description will be reviewed with the post holder to accommodate service developments and the need to advance practice when necessary.

Person Specification
Essential

• Years experience
• Knowledge of NHS
• Demonstration of technical competence

Desirable

• MSC
• Experience with the public
• Research awareness

Employer details
Employer name
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital
Aldermaston Road
Basingstoke
RG24 9NA