Job summary
Are you ready to make a real difference in the lives of patients with additional needs? Join our passionate Dorset Primary Care Dentistry team and be part of something truly special!
Get in touch to arrange an informal visit to our Special Care Dentistry clinic, based at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, at a date/time to suit your working hours, meet some of the team, talk us through your experience to date and discuss what the next step in your dental therapist career could look like with us.
In this clinical role, you'll provide dental care within the professional scope of practice for Dental Therapists to a diverse patient base. Our service supports adults and children with varied Special Care/Paediatric Additional Needs or disabilities, including those who are medically compromised and anxious children. You'll also have the opportunity to deliver outreach care to patients in their own homes, nursing, and care settings.
Working from our Special Care Dentistry Department at Dorset County Hospital, you may also have the opportunity to travel to other clinic in Poole to meet patient needs, ensuring they receive the best care possible.
Main duties of the job
You'll perform a range of oral health procedures within a Therapist's professional scope of practice. delivering high-quality oral healthcare under local anaesthesia, sometimes to those with complex and challenging behaviour, and if you're competent, with inhalational sedation as required. You'll demonstrate expertise in pain and anxiety management, particularly for patients with additional needs.
Staying current with the latest clinical techniques and their application to patient dental care will be essential. You'll also provide clinical advice to staff on dental matters as needed. Additionally, you'll undertake other appropriate dental work as assigned, which may involve duties away from the base and surrounding area.
If you're committed to providing exceptional and compassionate dental care, we want to hear from you to explore what your career could look like with us. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact, grow professionally, and be part of a team that values your dedication and compassion.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information on this role. The job description contains greater detail relating to the organisation and the role of a Dental Therapist in the Primary Care Dental Service.
To give you an overview of what our team feel it's like to work within our community dental service, please click on the following video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q62-Vf0osQ
To access our further information, including our recruitment brochure detailing this role, available from our website:
http://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/dental-services/current-vacancies/
We always welcome informal discussions or visits prior to formal applications and are happy to arrange this at a date/time to suit you - contact Erica Boulton 07771 396042 or mailto:erica.boulton@somersetft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information on this role. The job description contains greater detail relating to the organisation and the role of a Dental Therapist in the Primary Care Dental Service.
To give you an overview of what our team feel it's like to work within our community dental service, please click on the following video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q62-Vf0osQ
To access our further information, including our recruitment brochure detailing this role, available from our website:
http://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/dental-services/current-vacancies/
We always welcome informal discussions or visits prior to formal applications and are happy to arrange this at a date/time to suit you - contact Erica Boulton 07771 396042 or mailto:erica.boulton@somersetft.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a Dental Therapist
- Diploma or Degree in Dental Therapy
- Demonstrated experience in providing clinical dental treatment within the scope of a Dental Therapist
- Familiarity with GDC guidelines and professional standards
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain GDC registration
Desirable
- Experience working with anxious patients, individuals with additional needs, or those with challenging behaviour
- Involvement in community-based oral health promotion projects
- Understanding of the aims and operations of the Primary Care Dental Service
- Experience with R4 Dental Software
- Participation in clinical audit or peer review activities
- Training or competence in inhalation sedation
- Experience supporting or delivering dental epidemiology or school outreach programmes
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience in delivering clinical dental treatment within the defined scope of practice for a Dental Therapist.
- Experience working with patients who are medically compromised, or who have disabilities and additional needs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage pain and anxiety, including the use of behaviour management techniques.
- Confidence in recognising and assisting in the management of medical emergencies within a dental or domiciliary setting.
- Experience working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team in a healthcare environment.
Desirable
- Experience treating anxious patients, those with challenging behaviour, or individuals with learning disabilities or complex needs.
- Involvement in community-based oral health promotion initiatives or public health projects.
- Familiarity with R4 Dental Software or similar dental record systems.
- Participation in clinical audits, peer review, or other quality improvement activities.
- Experience in delivering dental care in domiciliary settings, care homes, or non-traditional environments.
- Previous involvement with dental epidemiology programmes in schools or the wider community.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full registration with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a Dental Therapist
- Diploma or Degree in Dental Therapy
- Demonstrated experience in providing clinical dental treatment within the scope of a Dental Therapist
- Familiarity with GDC guidelines and professional standards
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain GDC registration
Desirable
- Experience working with anxious patients, individuals with additional needs, or those with challenging behaviour
- Involvement in community-based oral health promotion projects
- Understanding of the aims and operations of the Primary Care Dental Service
- Experience with R4 Dental Software
- Participation in clinical audit or peer review activities
- Training or competence in inhalation sedation
- Experience supporting or delivering dental epidemiology or school outreach programmes
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience in delivering clinical dental treatment within the defined scope of practice for a Dental Therapist.
- Experience working with patients who are medically compromised, or who have disabilities and additional needs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage pain and anxiety, including the use of behaviour management techniques.
- Confidence in recognising and assisting in the management of medical emergencies within a dental or domiciliary setting.
- Experience working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team in a healthcare environment.
Desirable
- Experience treating anxious patients, those with challenging behaviour, or individuals with learning disabilities or complex needs.
- Involvement in community-based oral health promotion initiatives or public health projects.
- Familiarity with R4 Dental Software or similar dental record systems.
- Participation in clinical audits, peer review, or other quality improvement activities.
- Experience in delivering dental care in domiciliary settings, care homes, or non-traditional environments.
- Previous involvement with dental epidemiology programmes in schools or the wider community.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
