Job summary
Dental Therapist Band 6 £37,388 - £44,962 37.5 hours per week, 12 month Fixed Term Contract
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Service is looking for a Full Time Dental Therapist to join our Community and Personal Dental Service Team.
You will be part of a team delivering high quality dental care to people of all ages and from a diverse range of cultural and social backgrounds . The successful candidate will deliver dental therapy services within our community and personal dental services including providing preventative oral health care and treatment to patients and liaising with Dentists over their treatment. A key element will be the provision of dental hygiene activity and restorative care.
This post would be appropriate for a recently qualified Dental Therapist looking for an exciting development opportunity to work in a varied and challenging environment.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Service Team is committed to the provision of high quality dental care. Joining us means that you will be fully supported in your professional development, and will participate in audit and quality assurance as part of our clinical governance programme.
For informal enquiries please contact Lisa Allen on 0151 531 8575
Main duties of the job
The post holder is to provide clinical, restorative and preventive care and treatment through a treatment plan prescribed by a Dentist. The Post holder would be expected to manage patients who may present with complex needs
The Post Holder will plan, provide and adapt tailored oral healthcare advice and instructions to children and adult patients. Patients will have a full examination and assessment by a Dentist. The patient will then be referred to a Dental Therapist who will then plan and deliver treatment whichfalls within their scope of practice.
Dentists and therapists are required to work closely together to identify suitable patients with the dentist available to provide clinical leadership and support.
The post holder will be expected to work at any establishment at any time throughout the duration of the contract, normally within the boundaries of the Trust
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Plan the delivery of care for patientsTailor and provide appropriate patient adviceProvide preventative oral health care and treatment to patients and liaise with dentists over thetreatment of caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear and other oral conditions referring thepatient to a dentist for a more detailed Oral Health Assessment or review where necessaryBe alert and manage any significant changes in the patients (either physical, medical or mentalcondition) either during treatment or over a course of treatment and inform the referring dentist of any such changes or causes for concernPlan and organise the delivery of care for individual patients to incorporate provision of restorative care preventative care and advice over the minimum number of visitsTo be aware and report concerns appropriately if there are any child or adult protection concerns
Responsible for working autonomously in the provision of dental care and advising patientsfollowing referral from a dentist.Responsible for liaising with the referring dentist regarding any necessary changes required.Responsible for deciding and providing the most appropriate form of behaviour management appropriate to the patients needs.Responsible for choosing the most appropriate method and materials for restoring a tooth.Responsible for selecting most appropriate mode of delivery of local anaestheticThe therapist may operate in a clinic without the presence of a dentist working within the limitsof practice set out for Dental Therapists in the current GDC Standards and Scope of Practice. In these circumstances, the therapist would be the lead clinician on site and as such may need to liaise with the Senior Dental Nurse Manager, Directorate Management Team, Administrative Team and other specialities as required.Plays a key role in ensuring that daily, weekly and monthly checks have been completed by dental nurses and signed off appropriately
Liaise with other health professionals and relevant organisations regarding patient carePrepare and provide preventive oral health care plans and treatment to patients within the limits of practice set out for Dental Therapists in the current GDC Standards and Scope ofPracticeProvide individual, specialised advice to other health professionals, carers and support workersCarry out clinical examination of patients, diagnosis and treatment planning within theTherapists competence.
Evaluate and update any changes in the patients medical history and assess the patients fitness to receive dental treatment on a visit by visit basisUse indices to screen and monitor periodontal diseasePrescribe radiographs and take, process and interpret various film views used in dental practiceProvide care under treatment plans provided by dentists for patients.Prepare and provide specific appropriate oral health care advice and instruction to child and adult patients and also their carers.Provide clinical, restorative and preventive care utilising appropriate methods to ensure that the patients dental pain and anxiety are managed appropriately. Select an appropriate form of behaviour management for the patient within the limits of thetherapists individual training and competency (e.g. use of acclimatisation, desensitisation, tell/show/do, care with sedation or a combination of approaches.Select the type of restorative procedure to be carried out, ensuring that treatment plans are amended by the referring dentist where appropriate.Ensure that any issues arising are highlighted and reported to the dentist to enable referrals to be reviewed and reassessed.Vary the detail but not the direction of a prescription if required. Can change the number of tooth surfaces required to restore and select appropriate material used dependant on the findings during treatmentRecognise and liaise with dentists over the treatment of caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear and other oral conditions referring the patient to a dentist for a more detailed Oral HealthAssessment or review where appropriateEnsure that oral health advice is tailored appropriately to the needs of individual patients andtake into consideration any special requirements/medical issues/conflictsBe aware of any changes (especially deterioration) in the patients condition during treatment or over a course of treatment and ensure appropriate action is taken.18. Be aware of any issues around changes in consent, mental capacity and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) at each appointment
Job description
Job responsibilities
Plan the delivery of care for patientsTailor and provide appropriate patient adviceProvide preventative oral health care and treatment to patients and liaise with dentists over thetreatment of caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear and other oral conditions referring thepatient to a dentist for a more detailed Oral Health Assessment or review where necessaryBe alert and manage any significant changes in the patients (either physical, medical or mentalcondition) either during treatment or over a course of treatment and inform the referring dentist of any such changes or causes for concernPlan and organise the delivery of care for individual patients to incorporate provision of restorative care preventative care and advice over the minimum number of visitsTo be aware and report concerns appropriately if there are any child or adult protection concerns
Responsible for working autonomously in the provision of dental care and advising patientsfollowing referral from a dentist.Responsible for liaising with the referring dentist regarding any necessary changes required.Responsible for deciding and providing the most appropriate form of behaviour management appropriate to the patients needs.Responsible for choosing the most appropriate method and materials for restoring a tooth.Responsible for selecting most appropriate mode of delivery of local anaestheticThe therapist may operate in a clinic without the presence of a dentist working within the limitsof practice set out for Dental Therapists in the current GDC Standards and Scope of Practice. In these circumstances, the therapist would be the lead clinician on site and as such may need to liaise with the Senior Dental Nurse Manager, Directorate Management Team, Administrative Team and other specialities as required.Plays a key role in ensuring that daily, weekly and monthly checks have been completed by dental nurses and signed off appropriately
Liaise with other health professionals and relevant organisations regarding patient carePrepare and provide preventive oral health care plans and treatment to patients within the limits of practice set out for Dental Therapists in the current GDC Standards and Scope ofPracticeProvide individual, specialised advice to other health professionals, carers and support workersCarry out clinical examination of patients, diagnosis and treatment planning within theTherapists competence.
Evaluate and update any changes in the patients medical history and assess the patients fitness to receive dental treatment on a visit by visit basisUse indices to screen and monitor periodontal diseasePrescribe radiographs and take, process and interpret various film views used in dental practiceProvide care under treatment plans provided by dentists for patients.Prepare and provide specific appropriate oral health care advice and instruction to child and adult patients and also their carers.Provide clinical, restorative and preventive care utilising appropriate methods to ensure that the patients dental pain and anxiety are managed appropriately. Select an appropriate form of behaviour management for the patient within the limits of thetherapists individual training and competency (e.g. use of acclimatisation, desensitisation, tell/show/do, care with sedation or a combination of approaches.Select the type of restorative procedure to be carried out, ensuring that treatment plans are amended by the referring dentist where appropriate.Ensure that any issues arising are highlighted and reported to the dentist to enable referrals to be reviewed and reassessed.Vary the detail but not the direction of a prescription if required. Can change the number of tooth surfaces required to restore and select appropriate material used dependant on the findings during treatmentRecognise and liaise with dentists over the treatment of caries, periodontal disease, tooth wear and other oral conditions referring the patient to a dentist for a more detailed Oral HealthAssessment or review where appropriateEnsure that oral health advice is tailored appropriately to the needs of individual patients andtake into consideration any special requirements/medical issues/conflictsBe aware of any changes (especially deterioration) in the patients condition during treatment or over a course of treatment and ensure appropriate action is taken.18. Be aware of any issues around changes in consent, mental capacity and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) at each appointment
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in dental hygiene and therapy to degree level or equivalent ie B.Sc or Diploma in Dental Hygiene or Therapy
- Current registration with General Dental Council
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with child and adult patients with complex needs
- Experience/involvement in health needs assessment
- Use of Clinical IT Systems
- Knowledge of child and adult protection procedures and keys signs to indicate a child or adult "at risk"
- Knowledge of behavioural management techniques for children and adults with complex needs
- Detailed knowledge of a broad range of complex medical conditions and an understanding of their impact on the provision of dental care
- Knowledge of relevant medico legal issues impacting on care provision such as consent and parental responsibility
- Knowledge of relevant health education messages relevant to the specific needs of patients and the evidence base supporting this information
- Knowledge of health and safety issues such as radiation protection and cross infection control relevant to operating safely in the dental clinic and in other settings (such as nursing homes and schools)
- Understanding the key principles of information governance and clinical record keeping
Desirable
- Experienced in clinical audit and peer review and able to lead on audit areas within the directorate clinical governance system
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Communication skills - able to communicate with the very young, adults with learning disability
- Aware of ways to overcome communication barriers for those with sensory impairment
- Organisational and time management - able to prioritise and organise clinical and non-clinical time of self and other colleagues such as oral health educators.
- Able to perform BLS in line with current guidelines and to deal with common medical emergencies (e.g. faints)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification in dental hygiene and therapy to degree level or equivalent ie B.Sc or Diploma in Dental Hygiene or Therapy
- Current registration with General Dental Council
KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience of working with child and adult patients with complex needs
- Experience/involvement in health needs assessment
- Use of Clinical IT Systems
- Knowledge of child and adult protection procedures and keys signs to indicate a child or adult "at risk"
- Knowledge of behavioural management techniques for children and adults with complex needs
- Detailed knowledge of a broad range of complex medical conditions and an understanding of their impact on the provision of dental care
- Knowledge of relevant medico legal issues impacting on care provision such as consent and parental responsibility
- Knowledge of relevant health education messages relevant to the specific needs of patients and the evidence base supporting this information
- Knowledge of health and safety issues such as radiation protection and cross infection control relevant to operating safely in the dental clinic and in other settings (such as nursing homes and schools)
- Understanding the key principles of information governance and clinical record keeping
Desirable
- Experienced in clinical audit and peer review and able to lead on audit areas within the directorate clinical governance system
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Communication skills - able to communicate with the very young, adults with learning disability
- Aware of ways to overcome communication barriers for those with sensory impairment
- Organisational and time management - able to prioritise and organise clinical and non-clinical time of self and other colleagues such as oral health educators.
- Able to perform BLS in line with current guidelines and to deal with common medical emergencies (e.g. faints)
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
