Specialist in Special Care Dentistry

Clinical Duties

• To manage and lead the service in providing efficient and effective for adult special care patients who meet the service acceptance criteria.
• To provide appropriate triage of referrals and communication to referring practitioners.
• To work closely with General Dental Services in providing a seamless referral service and patient centred shared care.
• To plan and manage care where there are complex medical co-morbidities.
• Liaise with other professionals and/or carers to resolve complex patient management issues according to the criteria and protocols and in line with local commissioning.
• To use appropriate patient management approaches to control pain and anxiety during dental treatment, including competent use of sedation in the clinic setting and multi-disciplinary working in the provision of complex sedation and general anaesthesia with the hospital teams.
• To provide comprehensive care under sedation (Inhalation, Intravenous and transmucosal) and general anaesthesia.
• To provide care on a domiciliary basis.
• To provide advice support to staff on management of complex cases.
• To be responsible for organising training and resources in support of the availability of sedation and general anaesthesia in all or part of the service and especially with relevance to their specialist area.
• To provide clinical advice, support, training and/or supervision to the dental team and assist in the process of raising quality and standards.
• Use appropriate medical and patient management approaches to control pain and anxiety during dental treatment.
• Provide specialist clinical care in line with the standards for dental specialists as set out by the Royal Colleges.
• Maintain knowledge and skills in clinical dentistry and dental specialty to ensure care is provided in accordance with evidence-based practice.
• Lead the dental team in the appropriate first line management of medical emergencies, using appropriate techniques, equipment and drugs. In line with GDC and Trust expectations, remain up-to-date with developments in this area and be able to advise and support other members of the clinical team.

Professional Duties

·         Communicate with a range of patients and families and user groups on complex clinical issues and/ or in difficult situations.

·         Communicate effectively with the clinical team and other healthcare professionals in a proficient and appropriate manner, which inspires confidence, motivation and teamwork.

·         Communicate and educates other health and social care professionals on a range of issues relating to oral health and oral health care.

·         To have sufficient knowledge, confidence and experience to provide advice and support to colleagues or managers on ethical issues.

·         Involved in providing care which requires the application of sound ethical and professional principles in a more complex physical, social or intellectual context

·         Demonstrate a professional clinical approach, participates in appraisal, peer review, clinical audit, quality improvement and continuing professional development activities.

·         To participate and lead in audits and quality improvement as agreed with Dental Senior Management Team (DSMT).

·         To have sufficient knowledge, confidence and experience to appraise others or lead peer review, clinical audit or CPD activities.

·         To have sufficient knowledge, confidence and experience to deal professionally with issues of poor performance in members of the dental team.

·         Take responsibility for personal development, maintains knowledge and skills in clinical techniques and their application in accordance with the General Dental Council’s requirement for lifelong learning.

·         To provide clinical reports on patient care and treatment to referring GDPs

·         To provide patients with verbal and written advice to help them make informed decisions on their treatment options. 

·         To be able to assess capacity, lead and attend best interest meetings, liaise with appropriate parties when required and ensure all consent forms and treatment plans for patients are completed.

·         To maintain comprehensive and contemporaneous clinical records within the service electronic dental record system and paper records.

·         To complete electronic information on patient treatment as required under the service NHS contract by submitting FP17 claim forms to the Business Service Authority.

·         To complete accurate monthly service data information on treatment provision in a timely manner.

·         Attend mandatory training as required by the Trust and Dental Department.

·         Have a full registration with the General Dental Council including on the relevant specialist list.

·         Have undertaken vocational training or be able to demonstrate equivalence.

·         Have an NHS Performer number or be eligible to apply for one.

·         Hold a registrable dental postgraduate qualification related to their specialist field.

·         Have a commitment to high professional standards.

·         Be able to travel to work at various Oxford Health sites across the county.

Managerial/Leadership Duties

·         Assist the Clinical Dental Director with Clinical Leadership within the services.

·         Provide clinical leadership in a changing environment.

·         Deputise and provide professional advice in the absence of the Clinical Dental Director.

·         Support the leadership of service wide integrated clinical governance.

·         Responsible for the management of dental staff and lead appraisals including job planning and personal development

·         Have sufficient knowledge and experience of the legislative framework to provide advice or support to other members of the dental team. Understands the legislative framework of specialist registration and the provision of specialist and specialised care.

·         Understand the commissioning process and the marketing of clinical services.

·         Manage clinical performance, including the quality of care.

·         Effectively manages relationships with senior managerial and clinical colleagues.

·         Cultivate and fortify external relationships with other dental care professionals, health care professionals and neighbouring Trusts.

·         Understand and develop user involvement and engagement.

·         Participate regularly in reviewing and ensuring that the service achieves its aims in line with the operational policies and key performance indicators.

·         Be involved in the planning and delivery of high quality, clinically effective services which meet the standards for clinical governance. This would include leading on development of policies and procotols related to specialist area and the training and supervision of staff in these areas.

·         Ensure staff understand the service and referral protocols.

The above is an outline of the post holder’s duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time in order to meet the changing needs of the Trust and the Dental Department.