Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide chair side support to clinicians during clinical and minor oral surgery procedures,
assisting in the care and management of the patient throughout the patients
treatment journey, including pre operative and post operative care of patients
during Minor Oral Surgery, General Anaesthesia (GA) and Conscious Sedation (inhalation sedation or intravenous sedation)
procedures following appropriate training. To act as a chaperone at all times.
To communicate effectively with clinicians to provide high
quality, patient focused care. To work as part of a team; provide assistance
and support to colleagues, providing guidance and advice to new staff and
colleagues.
Routine involvement with children and adult patients,
challenging patient groups, including patients with complex medical histories,
mental health problems and learning difficulties, with frequent exposure to blood and saliva, possible
exposure to verbal and physical aggression, and on occasion other bodily fluids
e.g. vomit, urine and faeces.
Responsible for patient care before, during and after
treatment, monitoring the patient throughout, offering guidance and support in
a way in which complement the actions of other team members.
Safeguarding the welfare of the patient whilst in the surgery,
including monitoring the clinical signs of the patient, anticipating any unplanned
situations, such as a medical emergency. Recognise and assist in the provision of emergency medical care, taking
a lead role in managing a medical emergency should the need arise until emergency services arrive.
Responsible for preparation and organisation
of clinical environments where clinical procedures will be undertaken, clinical environments may also include hospital operating
theatres and recovery areas, prisons and secure mental health units.
Demonstrate and maintain a high
standard of infection prevention and control at all times in accordance with Department of Health, Health Technical
Memorandum 01-05 Decontamination in primary care dental service.
To ensure accurate preparation and presentation of dental
materials, dressings, medicaments, instruments and equipment as requested by
the clinician.
Complete
regular Quality Assurance processes/checks within the clinical environment
including dental, radiography, decontamination equipment, medical emergency drugs
and associated specialist surgery equipment. Acting on any problems or
malfunctions immediately, where necessary reporting them to the appropriate
person or agency and assisting in such cases where contingency arrangements
have to be made immediately to ensure that patient treatment can proceed as
planned.
To handle and
use expensive, sharp, and complex
equipment including hand instruments and intra-oral aspiration
equipment, in a manner which minimises the risk of cross infection or soft
tissue injury, e.g. aspiration to maintain a clear field and to ensure patient
comfort, soft tissue protection/retraction and irrigation of operative site
during minor oral surgery procedures.
Maintain
competence in the correct use of all equipment used in the clinical setting in
accordance with user instructions, department
procedures, and Trust policy.
Be
responsible for the safe use of expensive equipment including dismantling/ assembling/moving equipment and
carrying out safety checks prior to use by the clinician, some of which maybe
heavy and/or bulky, e.g. Inhalation sedation machines, surgical motors and hand
pieces, large medical gas cylinders, medical emergency equipment.
Provide support to clinicians providing care for a wide
range of Special Care patients, including patients exhibiting behaviour which
may present a challenge to those caring for them. This may involve adapting to patients needs often
involving sitting/standing for long periods of time, sometimes in awkward and
restricted positions. Provide verbal and written pre- and post-operative advice/instructions
for patients and carers which complement the actions of other team
members.
Safe moving and handling of patients
who may need additional support, including the use of supporting specialist
equipment, i.e. wheelchair tippers, hoists etc. Following appropriate training,
where necessary support patients by use of clinical holding skills for
essential care and treatment.
Following appropriate accredited training, provide
support in Conscious Sedation (inhalation sedation/ I.V sedation) procedures
under the supervision and direction of the clinician. Provide verbal and written pre- and post-operative advice/ instructions
for patients and carers which complement the actions of other team
members.
Perform monitoring of the
patients physical signs prior to, during and post treatment, enabling early
recognition of condition changes and ensuring appropriate action is taken where
appropriate e.g. recovery after sedation or difficult procedures.
Following
appropriate training prepare and
operate in a sterile hospital theatre environment where appropriate. Provide pre
and post operative support to clinicians providing treatment during General
Anaesthetic procedures. Assisting in the recovery of patients under
the supervision of qualified hospital recovery staff. Provide verbal and written pre and post-operative advice/instructions
for patients and carers which complement the actions of other team
members.
Following appropriate training
provide support to clinicians during Minor Oral Surgery procedures under the
supervision and direction of the clinician. This may involve adapting to patients needs often
involving sitting/standing for long periods of time, sometimes in awkward and
restricted positions. Provide verbal
and written pre- and
post-operative advice/instructions specific to minor oral surgery procedures for
patients and carers which complement the actions of other team members.
Recognise and participate in the management
of medical emergencies when required. Ensuring
competence is maintained on an annual basis, e.g. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Basic Life
Support (BLS) Immediate Life Support (ILS), Paediatric Life Support (PILS)
training.
Decontaminate, prepare and store dental equipment
and instruments following local and national decontamination policies and
procedures ensuring re-useable devices are maintained to a high standard in
accordance with HTM 01-05 Decontamination in primary care dental service.
Perform and record validation test procedures
for decontamination and sterilisation equipment on a daily and weekly basis, acting on and reporting faults to the
appropriate person or agency.
Prepare and decontaminate equipment and pre/post
prosthetic laboratory work ready for transportation when necessary.
Processing and storage of
digital dental radiographs and assisting in the correct procedure for dental
radiography, and where applicable process and develop
non - digital radiographs,
complying with current Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure
Regulations (IRMER)
and Health & Safety regulations.
Provide Oral
Hygiene advice, instruction and post-operative care to patients, parents &/or carers, in accordance with Department of Health Delivering Better Oral
Health guidance in a way in which complements the actions of other members of
the team whilst taking into consideration possible communication
barriers.
Undertake stock control,
replenishing consumable supplies and materials thus contributing to the smooth
running of the clinics.
Responsible for the control and ordering of stock including all dental
supplies, medical gases and associated drugs as required. This may include where applicable the
stock control, monitoring, and receipt of Controlled Drugs in accordance with
Trust policies. Ensuring effective and efficient use of physical and financial
resources. Checking expiry dates and ensuring stock is in date, stored and
rotated appropriately and held securely. Dispose of drugs/chemicals/clinical
waste in accordance with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and manufacturers
guidance, in-line with the Trusts policies and procedures.
Responsible for entering
accurate patient and financial information into electronic patient record (SOEL)
and paper record systems. Record computerised dental charting and notes in
relation to communication with patients or regarding patients appropriate to
role and responsibilities.
Participate in and contribute to clinical
governance and quality assurance processes including adverse incident reporting
using electronic incident reporting system (Ulysses).
Participate in and contribute to clinical
audit as required, ensuring practice and standards of care for the service are
developed and implemented.
Demonstrate knowledge and sound
understanding of responsibilities regarding Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH),
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and Ionising Radiation
Regulations & IRMER 2000.
Prepare for and provide support to
clinicians on domiciliary visits, including the setting out of instruments, and
the preparation of materials necessary for treatment and prosthetic work. Ensuring safe carriage of a full range
of equipment and instruments to and from the surgery, which will also include
medical emergency equipment and drugs
Where
necessary following appropriate training, provide support to clinicians undertaking epidemiological surveys within
schools and other establishments, including associated
administration duties, for example the planning, organising and preparation of the
surveys and data inputting survey results following surveys.
Welcome patients/clients and
visitors in a friendly and supportive manner.
Communicate appropriately and
sensitively with patients/carers/relatives who may be fearful, anxious,
vulnerable, have sensitive concerns or who do not have English as their first
language.
