Dental Officers

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Morecambe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS Trust providing community health services is seeking a qualified dental officer to deliver high-quality urgent and routine dental care. You'll work in a supportive environment, collaborating with experienced staff to address the oral health needs of patients. This role requires effective communication and collaboration with healthcare professionals and a commitment to ongoing professional development. Experience in urgent care and a dental qualification are essential. A commitment to patient welfare is a priority, offering a fulfilling career in the healthcare sector.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Support for professional development

Qualifications

• Qualified dental professional with proficiency in urgent and routine care.
• Experience in delivering preventative oral health advice.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality urgent and routine oral health care.
• Participate in patient care planning and management.
• Collaborate with other professionals to ensure comprehensive care.

Skills

Oral health care provision

Patient communication

Collaboration with healthcare professionals

Education

Dental qualification

Tools

Dental equipment

Computerised record-keeping system

Job description

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides acute services across three hospitals to approximately 330,000 local residents and also offers specialist tertiary care, community health services, and urgent & emergency care to about 18 million visitors. The Trust employs over 7,000 people from 68 countries.

Equality and Diversity

We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, and support reservists and veterans seeking a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working to support a healthy work‑life balance. Working patterns explored include part‑time, self‑rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term‑time, reverse term‑time and flexitime.

Working for our organisation

Come and join our caring, supportive team in North Lancashire and help deliver care to the patients that need it most. You will be supported by experienced dental nurses, senior dental officers, a clinical lead and specialists along with an efficient admin team.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide high‑quality urgent and routine oral health care to patients attending BTH Dental Services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and the full range of mandatory services in line with PDS Regulations and the current Service Specification, working with and under the clinical leadership of specialists in paediatric and special care dentistry.
• Provide urgent care to patients referred to BTH Dental Services from the Lancashire Call Handling Service.
• Deliver preventative advice and interventions in line with Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH) guidelines.
• Support the provision of exodontia and comprehensive dental care under general anaesthetic where appropriate.
• Participate in national campaigns to improve oral health and reduce health inequalities.
• Collaborate with other professionals to ensure patients receive appropriate care and support.
• Use skill‑mix to maximise efficiency.
• Provide domiciliary care to house‑bound patients meeting domiciliary care criteria who cannot access mainstream general dental services.
• Plan and manage care for patients with complex medical co‑morbidities or situations requiring involvement of other professionals or carers.
• Work efficiently towards contract and waiting‑time targets required within the Service Specification.
• Follow clinical pathways for service users.
• Identify common medical emergencies and lead the dental team in appropriate first‑line management using suitable techniques, equipment and drugs.
• Keep up to date with developments in your area of work and advise other team members when appropriate.
• Use appropriate local anaesthetic and pain‑and‑anxiety management techniques, including conscious sedation as required and where referral criteria are met.
• Determine the need for specialist advice through appropriate assessment and ensure timely referral.
• Maintain comprehensive, contemporary dental records.
• Ensure completion of Case Mix statistics and other performance‑management statistics as required.
• Obtain appropriate consent and follow guidance relating to the Mental Capacity Act and best‑interest decision‑making.
• Follow national and local infection prevention and control guidance.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably expected of a Band B Dental Officer within the SPDCS terms and conditions.

Communication & Collaboration

• Communicate effectively with patients, families, the dental team and other health and social care professionals.
• Assess individual needs of service users and offer evidence‑based advice and instructions in line with DBOH.
• Collaborate with members of the dental profession and other professionals within and outside the Trust to promote dental and general health care.
• Participate in service and team meetings, study groups, patient experience and engagement programmes.
• Refer patients to specialist care when necessary.
• Participate in the concerns and complaints response process.

Training and Development

• Undertake trust‑wide induction and mandatory training.
• Attend continuing professional development (CPD) in line with GDC and Trust requirements.
• Participate in annual appraisal, clinical supervision, job planning and PDP processes.
• Engage with training, meetings and study groups within BTH Dental Services.
• Develop postgraduate qualifications and Tier 2 accreditation in special care or paediatric dentistry under guidance of specialists.
• Participate in clinical training programmes.
• Support the concerns and complaints response process as required.

Professional Responsibilities

• Comply with GDC Standards and Scope of Practice at all times.
• Adhere to Trust and Service policies, procedures, standing operating procedures and protocols.
• Use equipment and facilities safely and properly.
• Report hazards, incidents and untoward occurrences promptly and complete incident forms.
• Maintain professional registration and indemnity insurance.
• Provide ethical support, including peer review, clinical audit, clinical governance and CPD activities.
• Appraise and support colleagues, manage performance and address poor performance professionally.
• Adhere to health & safety legislation and the Whistle‑blowing policy.
• Safeguard children, adults and vulnerable families following local safeguarding policies.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Work efficiently within the dental team and with a computerised dental record‑keeping system.
• Participate in clinical governance, quality assurance, audit and compliance programmes.
• Provide service activity information as required.
• Promote dental and general health of patients.
• Comply with all legislation, Trust and Service policies, codes of conduct and accountability in the NHS.

Management and Leadership

• Undertake appraisals/PDRs and personal development plans for clinical and non‑clinical staff.
• Lead the dental team on site and provide line management for Dental Officers and DCPs.
• Support the team in governance matters and manage clinical performance including quality of care.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks

Where required, we will administer a DBS check as part of your pre‑employment checks. You will be required to repay the cost on appointment, which can be collected via a salary deduction or paid as a one‑off payment. Costs are:
- Basic DBS check £25.50
- Standard DBS check £25.50
- Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged to register for the DBS update service (annual fee £16) to avoid repeat costs.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. Please read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against it.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though for administrative reasons the post may close earlier.

In line with national NHS guidelines, the Trust operates a strict non‑smoking policy. Staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time, nor take breaks during working hours for this purpose.

The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.