Band A Community Dental Practitioner in Paediatric Dentistry

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:

The Dental Officer will discharge responsibilities and undertake duties necessary for the proper fulfilment of the service contract(s) into which the service has entered. 

• The examination and appropriate treatment, to a high standard, of children eligible for treatment within the CDS.  This will include children with special needs, dental anxiety, dental trauma and complex social issues – this list is not exhaustive.
• Treatment is to be undertaken at fixed or mobile clinics or hospital dental departments located within the BCHC Dental Service provision, together with any related domiciliary care, as determined by the Head of Service for Paediatric Dentistry .  The officer may be required to drive a self-propelled mobile dental unit after suitable training.
• The appropriate recall, transfer or discharge of patients at the end of their agreed course of treatment.
• Supervision of dental therapists and/or dental hygienists, dental nurses with extended duties and specialist dental nurses, in accordance with the Ancillary Dental Workers Regulations (1968) and subsequent amendments.
• Participation in activities relating to the promotion of quality of service, including a system of clinical governance, which involves clinical audit, a peer review process and clinical supervision.
• Contributing to the delivery of the improvement in oral health, in particular by following the principals set out in policy documents, for example Delivering Better Oral Health.
• Participation in the corporate functioning of the BCHC Dental Service, including the processes of:
  • business planning;
  • resource management;
  • compliance with agreed service specifications or contracts;
  • performance monitoring.

As one of a group to clinicians in the service, the postholder will be required to accept their full share of responsibility for the performance of the service.

• Oversight of the day-to-day organisation and management of the dental premises at which the dentist works, with particular reference to:
  • the management of the clinics to ensure that sessions and other workload are scheduled and completed on time;
  • the maintenance of proper standards appropriate to a clinical area, including control of infection procedures and radiation protection;
  • the efficient and effective use of resources;
  • the maintenance of confidentiality of personal health data, including patient records, in accordance with established procedures;
  • the maintenance of high standards of conduct in relation to patients and the general public;
  • the proper application of operational procedures issued regarding the provision of dental services;
  • the maintenance of proper care for the equipment and instruments provided.
• Participation in regular appraisals and such continuing education or training as may be considered necessary for personal development , organisational needs and GDC requirements.
• Participation in the development and training of other grades of staff, as required.
• Establishing liaison with colleagues in the dental profession, other health care professions and voluntary and local authority organisations, in order to promote:
  • the dental and general health care of individual patients;
  • the provision of dental services to particular care groups within the population as a part of the overall provision of health care to those groups.

The post may include:

• Participation in dental undergraduate teaching, within the BCHC Dental Service clinics.
• Undertaking the fieldwork for dental epidemiological studies.  This will include:
• Participation in data analysis and interpretation;
• participation in appropriate training and development activities, including calibration exercises.
• Other duties appropriate to the grade, and including special projects, as determined by the Head of Service for Community Paediatric dentistry.
• To undertake other duties commensurate with this grade of post in agreement with the relevant line manager.
• To minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel. Where the role includes the ordering and use of supplies or equipment the post holder will consider the environmental impact of purchases.