Dental Officer for Prisons

Job summary

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Dental Services holds several NHS contracts and is commissioned to provide Dental Access and specialised referral services in Community Dental Services and prison dentistry from 20 sites, with general anaesthetic sessions at three hospitals.

It also provides local authority contracts to deliver oral health promotion and non- commissioned services including training and dental engineering

Main duties of the job

• To provide dental care for patients currently being detained by Her Majesty at HMP sites across Kent.
• Involve patients in their care and treatment. Offer information, support and motivation to patients regarding oral health, diet and smoking
• To work with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders to provide a seamless care package for KCHFT dental patients
• Monitor the application of clinical governance practice including dental nurse standards, infection control and cross infection
• Participate in audits as directed by senior management or the Dental Strategic Business Unit Quality Group (DSBUQG)
• Comply with Dental Practice Inspections as organised through the Area teams, and ensure delivery of all CQC outcomes for patient care
• Comply with all KCHFT clinical and non-clinical policies
• Act as an ambassador for the dental service, lead and positively motivate the teams, focus on patient outcomes and key performance indicators and activities
• Attend and chair meetings as directed by the senior management team

About us

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values:Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters.As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Explore KCHFTcareer pathways

Job responsibilities

As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team [email protected], quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community differencehere.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Dental degree (BDS, BChd or recognised equivalent
• Satisfactory completion of Dental Foundation Training year.
• Performer Number with NHS England

Desirable

• Experience of providing dentistry in General practice.
• Other qualification registered with the General Dental Council
• MFDS, MJDF

Experience

Essential

• Has current GDC registration with no restrictions and has a performer number
• Experience of providing care which requires the application of sound ethical and professional principles in a complex physical, social or intellectual context.
• Professional clinical approach including participation in appraisal, peer review, clinical audit and continuing professional development activities.
• Sufficient knowledge, confidence and experience to deal sensitively and professionally with issues of poor or under performance in colleagues and other members of the dental team.
• Maintains professional knowledge, competence and continuing professional development.
• Protects the confidentiality of patients' information

Desirable

• Knowledge of Dentally dental system or similar computerised dental charging system
• Knowledge of wider dental environment

Knowledge

Essential

• Willingness to participate in clinical research and audit as directed with the potential to take the lead in clinical research projects or audits which within their competence.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Can demonstrate leadership qualities with the ability to train a range of staff and provide clinical and/or organisational leadership and training in a general or recognised clinical specialist domain.

Desirable

• Supervision and Mediation skills.
• Coaching and Mentoring Skills

Working Environment

Essential

• A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently are essential for this role. Should you require workplace adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to supporting you to meet the mobility requirements of the role wherever possible