Job responsibilities
1. JOB DETAILS
Job Title: Senior Specialist Dental Technician
Reports to: Chief Technician
Band: 6
Department: Dental Production Laboratories
Location Leeds Dental Institute
AfC Job No: 914c
2. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
To provide technical support to a
major specialised service, performing a range of work which is often highly
complex, specialised work as required.
To provide occasional teaching /
mentoring support to student Dental Technicians and also advice and support
to clinical staff and students at the LDI, commensurate to the expertise and
experience of the post holder
Support the work of the relevant
technical department in the effective and timely production of custom made
medical devices and other technical work with a combination of conventional
and digital work flows including:
(Prosthodontic Posts) A broad range
of Full and Partial removable dentures, Chrome based dentures, implant and
precision attachment retained dentures, bite raisers, splints and stents,
relines, additions and repairs. It also includes sets of study models,
articulations with various articulators, special trays, check records etc.
Customer
base is approximately 470 undergraduate dental students and approximately 100
postgraduate students and clinical staff, within several clinical
specialities including Conservation, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics,
Periodontology, Childrens, Acute Care, and Sedation. Workload and type may
vary throughout the year depending upon academic and clinical requirements
and trends, and a flexible approach will be required.
3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
To provide technical support in the
laboratory and on clinic to major specialist services, performing highly
complex, highly specialised work as required and providing advice and
information to clinical staff and students and occasionally patients in respect
of the design, function, fit and colour match of dental or surgical
appliances. This may also include clinical visits to record patients tooth
shades in order to accurately match restorations to their requirements.
Produce a broad range of highly
specialised bespoke dental -medical devices of the highest standard for the
patients of Leeds Dental Institute, with a view to restoring and enhancing
facial contours and smile, masticatory function, speech and often psychological
well-being.
To provide occasional teaching /
mentoring support to student Dental Technicians and also advice and support
to clinical staff and students at the LDI, commensurate to the expertise and
experience of the post holder.
Organise own work schedule to
ensure all allocated work is completed in advance of agreed deadlines /
appointments.
Attend appropriate departmental
meetings as required
Ensure the equipment used by the
department is in safe working order, by reporting defects to the Technical
Services Manager and / or LDI Workshop and by undertaking routine cleaning
and maintenance of laboratory equipment according to manufacturers guidelines
and local policies.
To ensure compliance with the
Medical Devices Directive within the relevant laboratory, ensuring
appropriate quality records are kept and procedures adhered to.
To follow health & safety
standards in all areas of the dental laboratory, where all technical staff
use a range of potentially hazardous materials and equipment and may
encounter highly unpleasant fumes and body fluids.
To interpret highly complex
clinical prescription forms, and where required to authorise amendments where
clinical input is unavailable or unnecessary.
To participate in clinical audit /
clinical governance where appropriate.
Where appropriate, to support and
work with the departmental Chief Technician in achieving their objectives.
Contribute to or participate in
research activity as appropriate, including the development or refinement of
appliance designs or production procedures.
Occasional testing and evaluation
of new materials, equipment and techniques for use in the laboratory.
To undertake appropriate training
and participate in regular appraisals to:
Maintain and develop skills and
knowledge necessary for the job
Ensure that all statutory
requirements in respect of Continuing Professional Development are
satisfied.
Any other duties commensurate with
the grade.
5.
THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.
Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this
post:
The
post holder will be expected to actively participate in appraisals providing
regular opportunities to determine any personal objectives appropriate for
the development of themselves and of the service.
6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE
TRUSTS (WYAAT)
7. INFECTION CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system
9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS
The
post-holder can expect to liaise daily with all members of the dental
laboratory staff group. There will also be regular contact with dental
clinical staff, students, tutors and nurses. Occasionally there may be a
requirement to communicate with other staff of the Dental Hospital such as
maintenance staff, porters, domestic or admin staff.
Methods
of communication will predominantly involve face to face discussion and
written / printed documentation but may also include other media including
e-mail, telephone, etc.
12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The
role involves a very high degree of manual dexterity and hand to eye
co-ordination. The post holder is responsible for producing custom- made
dental appliances many of which are very intricate in their nature for
example the carving of individual teeth in wax , working with delicate
precision attachments and implant components or manipulating fine wires to
make clasps and springs for dental appliances, all of which also requires a high degree of
accuracy. This element of the job will occur for several hours each day,
usually whilst sitting which can have a detrimental effect in terms of neck
and back discomfort or pain and other related postural problems. Additionally
the nature of this work often gives rise to eye strain and discomfort.
Other
aspects of the role involve standing for up to an hour at a time whilst
casting dental impressions and other plaster work.
ii)
MENTAL EFFORT:
The
intricacy and accuracy of the work requires periods of intense concentration
on a daily basis, usually for up to a half of the working day.
Many
of the appliances made by the post holder are non-routine and require
detailed planning and consideration with regards to the design. The majority
of appliances require discussion between the post holder and the dental
clinician or clinical undergraduate, who, as a trainee dentist is reliant on
the expertise and advice of the post holder to ensure that the appropriate
information is recorded when the patient is present.
Regular
interruptions to work from clinical staff, nurses and reception staff are the
norm.
ii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT
iii) WORKING CONDITIONS:
a. Frequent regular use of a range of
potentially hazardous materials including acids, methyl methacrylate and
other solvents and may encounter highly unpleasant dust and fumes.
b. Also handles dental impressions and
other components on a daily basis which may be contaminated with body fluids
including blood and saliva.
c. Frequent regular use of high speed
rotating cutting and grinding instruments and machinery and also metal
melting and casting equipment.
All
risks are minimised by strict Health and Safety procedures which includes the
need to wear full face visors, dust masks and gloves often for several hours
each day and occasionally ear defenders for up to half an hour at a time.
This prolonged use of PPE can be restrictive making working conditions less
comfortable
