Dental Therapist

Job summary

To work as part of the Special Care Dentistry team providing specialised dental therapy treatment and advice to patients who have been referred to adult and paediatric special care services.

This will involve liaison with other clinicians and colleagues within Charles Clifford Dental Services (CCDS) and other hospitals to help ensure delivery of an efficient service to all patients.

Main duties of the job

To deliver skilled performance on a broad range of clinical activities in a clinical setting and on a domiciliary basis. Work will in most cases be complex in nature and include the following patient groups:

• medically, severely medically compromised patients
• terminally ill patients
• patients with severe physical disability
• patients with profound learning disability/behavioural problems
• frail elderly with polypharmacy complications
• patients with dental anxiety requiring treatment with inhalation sedation.

To be able to work independently within the remit of 'direct access'; working within the scope of practice, as per the General Dental Council Scope of Practice guidance, conducting all forms of periodontal and restorative treatment.

Assess and counsel patients on detailed oral care, specific prevention techniques (smoking cessation, diet, xerostomia) and provide periodontal and restorative treatment relevant to the patient's level of understanding and compliance.

About us

The community-based service aims to be the leading provider of care and education in special care dentistry for vulnerable groups of both adults and children, in Sheffield.

Community & Special Care Dentistry is a clinical department within Charles Clifford Dental Services which is a part of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The service comprises of Special Care Dentistry for children and adults; these are two discrete services, both recognised as separate dental specialties by the General Dental Council.

Services are provided from 4 clinics located throughout the city, including special care dentistry, paediatric dentistry and outreach teaching. Clinical facilities also include surgeries in special schools and the Cathedral Homeless Project.

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate diploma in Dental Therapy or equivalent
• Current GDC Registration
• Post Certificate Qualification in Inhalation Sedation (or commitment to undertake on commencement of post)

Experience

Essential

• Relevant technical and specialised experience within the area of special care dentistry
• Relevant knowledge of clinical complications for this care group
• Relevant experience of dental health education
• Participation in audit and clinical governance programmes

Desirable

• Experience of working within remit of Direct Access
• Provision of care in a domiciliary setting
• Management of a range of patients with specialised requirements
• Experience of delivering care under inhalation sedation
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Relevant knowledge of clinical complications for this care group
• Relevant technical and specialised experience within the area of special care dentistry
• Relevant experience of dental health education
• Awareness of different needs of people from differing social and cultural backgrounds, including those with disabilities.
• Knowledge of ethical and legal responsibilities regarding consent, including where the patient does not have capacity to provide this

Desirable

• Provision of care in a domiciliary setting
• Management of a range of patients with specialised requirements
• Immediate Life Support
• Advanced communication techniques e.g Makaton
• Training in Inhalation Sedation
• Clinical Holding Training
• Understanding the role of the Community and Special Care Dental Services

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to demonstrate time management skills including the ability to work unsupervised.
• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to deal with sensitive information and respect confidentiality - in dental and multidisciplinary situations
• Must hold a full valid UK driving license and have access to own transport (or suitable alternative means of transport)
• Must be able to demonstrate experience or capability of: Team working;
• Self-motivation;
• Flexible and adaptable;
• Adaptable in difficult and challenging circumstances.
• Able to cope with challenging, emotional and confrontational situations

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate leadership qualities or experience
• Understanding the role of the Community and Special Care Dental Services