Orthodontic Therapist

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Clinical Responsibilities

 In collaboration with the Consultant, patient and their family (as appropriate), identify their individual care needs when formulating a management plan, ensuring a holistic approach to care.  Clean and prepare tooth surfaces ready for orthodontic treatment.  Identify, select, use and maintain appropriate instruments. Insert passive removable orthodontic appliances. Insert removable appliances activated or adjusted by a dentist. Remove fixed appliances, orthodontic adhesives and cement. Identify, select, prepare and place auxiliaries. Take clinical records, which include photographs and impressions.

 Make a patient’s orthodontic appliance safe in the absence of a dentist, fit orthodontic headgear, fit orthodontic face bows which have been adjusted by a dentist, take occlusal records including orthognathic facebow readings, take intra and extra-oral photographs, fit tooth separators place brackets and bands.

Prepare, insert, adjust and remove arch wires previously prescribed or, where necessary, activated by a dentist, give advice on appliance care and oral health instruction to both and patient carers. Fit bonded retainers. Carry out Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) screening, under the direction of a dentist or direct to patients.

Make appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals. Keep full, accurate and contemporaneous patient records. Give appropriate patient advice. Monitor and ensure cleanliness and infection prevention/control measures are adhered to. 

 Communication and Representation Use advanced communication and interpersonal skills. Provide and receive information of a highly complex, sensitive or contentious nature. Deliver written and verbal information in an understandable way to patients and/or relatives/carers, consultants and other healthcare colleagues.

Deal with verbal complaints following correct protocols.

The post holder will need to be able to communicate potential complex information to ensure that any barriers that the patient may have to understanding the treatment is explained clearly. Work as part of the multidisciplinary team fostering good interdepartmental relationships and helping to achieve high morale for patients and staff and continuous quality improvement.

Lead and promote programmes of health education and health promotion and involve patients and carers appropriately in decision-making. Share responsibility with the other clinicians for covering for colleagues during periods of annual leave and short-term sickness.  Contribute to departmental research interests in accordance with the Trust’s R&D framework.

 Administrative Responsibilities

 Manage own clinics and appointments, liaising with patients and clerical staff to ensure the care pathway is well organised. 

Maintain up to date records and ensure that confidentiality is respected at all times.  Maintain a commitment to improving the quality of service provided.

 Leadership

Establish clear, positive and credible leadership within the clinical team.

Promote and support the maintenance of a cohesive multi-disciplinary and multi-organisational team.  Participate in clinical governance.

 General 

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

 To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations. We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.

 At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

 Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

 Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

 Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

 To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues. To undertake annual appraisal and CPD relevant to maintaining GDC registration.

 This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

 All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication. Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed.

 Teaching and Training

 The Orthodontic department has several registrars, postgraduates and Early Years Trainees who receive orthodontic training. Nurses undertake orthodontic specific training including completion of the NEBDN in Orthodontic Dental Nursing. In addition, undergraduate dental hygiene and therapy students receive training within the hospital. The orthodontic therapy course is run in close conjunction with KCL with teaching days run by the orthodontic team at KCH. The post holder should be willing and may be asked to assist with clinical training, appropriate to their experience.

Governance / Quality Control

 The postholder will be expected to contribute and participate in the Department’s ongoing clinical audit programme and will carry out all necessary administrative duties associated with the care of their patients. The postholder also has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with the post.

 The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties

by attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately 

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly always complied with.