Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our clinical team as a Specialist in Special Care Dentistry. Plymouth Community Dental Services (PCDS) is
one of the largest specialist NHS dental providers in Plymouth, delivering
high-quality care to patients who are unable to access treatment through a
general dental practice. Our multidisciplinary team of over 50 staff includes
administrators, dental nurses, dental therapists, dentists, specialists, and
management professionals - all working together to provide compassionate,
patient-focused care.
The successful candidate will be joining an established team of specialists in Special Care Dentistry, Paediatric Dentistry and Oral Surgery. PCDS is an integrated community dental service where specialists across all domains work seamlessly together to provide holistic patient care. All specialists are well supported by a team of forward thinking and passionate senior clinicians, junior clinicians, dental therapists and dental trainees undertaking both formal and informal training pathways.
PCDS has a strong ethos of training and education, all in a supportive and friendly environment. We have recently undertaken an extensive surgery refurbishment programme, to provide our clinicians with modern and reliable facilities, which include an OPG, access to CBCT facilities, surgical handpieces, a wheelchair tipper and a recovery room for our patients receiving sedation.
Main duties of the job
As a Specialist in Special Care Dentistry your main duties and responsibilities will include: Providing
a full range of high-quality dentistry for adults with complex needs who meet
Tier 3 complexity in Special Care Dentistry. PCDS provides treatment on
referral, shared care and ongoing care for people whose additional needs
prevent them from accessing treatment in general dental services (GDS). When suitable, treatment may be provided for patients under inhalation,intravenous or transmucosal sedation. Treatment may also be provided under general anaesthesia in a tertiary hospital
setting, including designated special care dentistry lists, learning disability
lists and additional medical lists as required.
Working alongside and being supported by a fellow specialist in Special Care Dentistry, you will work closely to manage complex patients and help shape and direct the provision of Special Care provision for PCDS.
In addition to direct clinical work, you will also be pivotal in supporting the development and education of junior colleagues undertaking formal and informal training programmes. You will have protected time to undertake this, as well as any patient related administration within your job plan.
About us
PCDS is a subsidiary of Livewell Southwest, an independent, award-winning social
enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across
Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of
Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports
centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and
collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while
empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in
shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right
time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead
healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training
pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care
Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship
programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all
sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental
health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the
application process, contact the Recruiting Manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Maintaining GDC specialist
registration and hold an NHS performer list number.
Holding a personal development plan and
participate in relevant continual professional development.
Providing
a full range of high-quality dentistry for adults with complex needs who meet
Tier 3 complexity in special care dentistry. PCDS provides treatment on
referral, shared care and ongoing care for people whose additional needs
prevent them from accessing treatment in general dental services (GDS).
Providing
treatment for patients under intravenous, transmucosal and inhalation sedation.
Completing Immediate Life Support on an annual basis (funded by PCDS).
Providing
treatment for patients under general anaesthesia in a tertiary hospital
setting, including designated special care dentistry lists, learning disability
lists and additional medical lists as required.
Support the provision of urgent
care services as appropriate.
Providing high quality clinical
education and supervision to dentists in both formal and informal training
pathways.
Supporting the sedation lead in delivering
training in conscious sedation.
Assisting
in the appraisal process for Senior Dental Officers (Band B) undertaking a
Special Care role
Being the educational and/or
clinical supervisor of specialty trainees in special care dentistry training
programme.
Contributing to the educational
programme of undergraduate dental and dental hygiene and therapy students,
potentially including lectures at the dental school and providing clinical
observation opportunities.
Liaising with and providing
professional guidance and assistance to health and social care professionals.
Collaborating
with dental care providers within GDS and secondary care.
Collaborating
with the Clinical Lead and specialists to develop the special care dental
service.
Triaging
special care dentistry referrals from both general dental professionals and a
range of health and social care professionals.
Being
flexible to provide services across both PCDS sites and University Hospital
Plymouth sites, as per service requirements.
Participating in the Southwest Special
Care Dentistry MCN and
engaging with regional peer review groups.
Participating in clinical audit,
peer review, and other clinical governance activities.
Completing
and maintaining level 3 adult safeguarding
training and referring adults at risk via local safeguarding pathways.
Supporting colleagues with safeguarding concerns.
This
role involves working closely with adults at risk and necessitates a Disclosure
and Barring Service check.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Maintaining GDC specialist
registration and hold an NHS performer list number.
Holding a personal development plan and
participate in relevant continual professional development.
Providing
a full range of high-quality dentistry for adults with complex needs who meet
Tier 3 complexity in special care dentistry. PCDS provides treatment on
referral, shared care and ongoing care for people whose additional needs
prevent them from accessing treatment in general dental services (GDS).
Providing
treatment for patients under intravenous, transmucosal and inhalation sedation.
Completing Immediate Life Support on an annual basis (funded by PCDS).
Providing
treatment for patients under general anaesthesia in a tertiary hospital
setting, including designated special care dentistry lists, learning disability
lists and additional medical lists as required.
Support the provision of urgent
care services as appropriate.
Providing high quality clinical
education and supervision to dentists in both formal and informal training
pathways.
Supporting the sedation lead in delivering
training in conscious sedation.
Assisting
in the appraisal process for Senior Dental Officers (Band B) undertaking a
Special Care role
Being the educational and/or
clinical supervisor of specialty trainees in special care dentistry training
programme.
Contributing to the educational
programme of undergraduate dental and dental hygiene and therapy students,
potentially including lectures at the dental school and providing clinical
observation opportunities.
Liaising with and providing
professional guidance and assistance to health and social care professionals.
Collaborating
with dental care providers within GDS and secondary care.
Collaborating
with the Clinical Lead and specialists to develop the special care dental
service.
Triaging
special care dentistry referrals from both general dental professionals and a
range of health and social care professionals.
Being
flexible to provide services across both PCDS sites and University Hospital
Plymouth sites, as per service requirements.
Participating in the Southwest Special
Care Dentistry MCN and
engaging with regional peer review groups.
Participating in clinical audit,
peer review, and other clinical governance activities.
Completing
and maintaining level 3 adult safeguarding
training and referring adults at risk via local safeguarding pathways.
Supporting colleagues with safeguarding concerns.
This
role involves working closely with adults at risk and necessitates a Disclosure
and Barring Service check.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Excellent clinical skills with a broad experience of primary dental care.
- Experience in the multi-disciplinary management of special care patients including treatment under sedation and general anaesthesia.
- Experience of working in primary and secondary dental care settings relevant to special care dentistry including the domiciliary setting.
- Effective participation in clinical audit, service evaluations and quality improvement programmes. Ability to critically appraise scientific literature.
- Evidence of relevant CPD.
- Experience of teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate level.
- Evidence of training in education and/or clinical supervision.
- Experience in the day-to-day clinical management of a special care dentistry team
Desirable
- Experience of line management and completing appraisals. Experience in constructive feedback, developing and motivating staff.
- Leading research and/or quality improvement and/or service development projects relevant to Special Care Dentistry. Participation in clinical research. Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or posters presented at conferences/meetings.
- Experience in supervising specialty trainees and/or dentists on postgraduate training pathways.
Qualifications
Essential
- Primary dental qualification such as BDS or equivalent.
- Possession of Intercollegiate Membership in Special Care Dentistry or on the GDCs special care dentistry specialist list by equivalence.
- Full registration with the United Kingdom General Dental Council (GDC).
-
- On the Special Care Dentistry Specialist list with the General Dental Council (or eligible within 6 months).
- On (or eligible for) NHS Performers List
Desirable
- Other relevant postgraduate qualification in special care dentistry or equivalent
- (for example: MSc, PhD, postgraduate qualifications in sedation).
- Clinical education qualification.
- Qualification or evidence of further training in healthcare leadership and management
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of wider NHS legislation and governance as it applies to dental specialties
- Communication skills: Demonstrates clarity in written and spoken communication and capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation. Able to build rapport; listen, persuade and negotiate.
- Problem solving and decision making: Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions.
- Managing others and team involvement: Capacity to work effectively with others. Able to work in multi-professional teams and supervise junior dental staff.
- Empathy and sensitivity: Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people.
- Organisation and planning: Capacity to manage and prioritise time and information effectively. Capacity to prioritise own workload.
- Disability awareness: Capacity to work and interact confidentially, effectively and fairly with all colleagues and patients regardless of any physical or mental disability.
- Equality awareness: Demonstrates attitudes and behaviours that recognise and promote equality for all.
- Vigilance and situational awareness: Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
- Coping with pressure: Capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with changing and evolving circumstances.
Desirable
- Experience of line management and completing appraisals. Experience in constructive feedback, developing and motivating staff.
- Leading research and/or quality improvement and/or service development projects relevant to Special Care Dentistry. Participation in clinical research. Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or posters presented at conferences/meetings.
- Experience in supervising specialty trainees and/or dentists on postgraduate training pathways.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Excellent clinical skills with a broad experience of primary dental care.
- Experience in the multi-disciplinary management of special care patients including treatment under sedation and general anaesthesia.
- Experience of working in primary and secondary dental care settings relevant to special care dentistry including the domiciliary setting.
- Effective participation in clinical audit, service evaluations and quality improvement programmes. Ability to critically appraise scientific literature.
- Evidence of relevant CPD.
- Experience of teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate level.
- Evidence of training in education and/or clinical supervision.
- Experience in the day-to-day clinical management of a special care dentistry team
Desirable
- Experience of line management and completing appraisals. Experience in constructive feedback, developing and motivating staff.
- Leading research and/or quality improvement and/or service development projects relevant to Special Care Dentistry. Participation in clinical research. Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or posters presented at conferences/meetings.
- Experience in supervising specialty trainees and/or dentists on postgraduate training pathways.
Qualifications
Essential
- Primary dental qualification such as BDS or equivalent.
- Possession of Intercollegiate Membership in Special Care Dentistry or on the GDCs special care dentistry specialist list by equivalence.
- Full registration with the United Kingdom General Dental Council (GDC).
-
- On the Special Care Dentistry Specialist list with the General Dental Council (or eligible within 6 months).
- On (or eligible for) NHS Performers List
Desirable
- Other relevant postgraduate qualification in special care dentistry or equivalent
- (for example: MSc, PhD, postgraduate qualifications in sedation).
- Clinical education qualification.
- Qualification or evidence of further training in healthcare leadership and management
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of wider NHS legislation and governance as it applies to dental specialties
- Communication skills: Demonstrates clarity in written and spoken communication and capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation. Able to build rapport; listen, persuade and negotiate.
- Problem solving and decision making: Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems and make decisions.
- Managing others and team involvement: Capacity to work effectively with others. Able to work in multi-professional teams and supervise junior dental staff.
- Empathy and sensitivity: Capacity to take in others perspectives and treat others with understanding; sees patients as people.
- Organisation and planning: Capacity to manage and prioritise time and information effectively. Capacity to prioritise own workload.
- Disability awareness: Capacity to work and interact confidentially, effectively and fairly with all colleagues and patients regardless of any physical or mental disability.
- Equality awareness: Demonstrates attitudes and behaviours that recognise and promote equality for all.
- Vigilance and situational awareness: Capacity to monitor developing situations and anticipate issues.
- Coping with pressure: Capacity to operate under pressure. Demonstrates initiative and resilience to cope with changing and evolving circumstances.
Desirable
- Experience of line management and completing appraisals. Experience in constructive feedback, developing and motivating staff.
- Leading research and/or quality improvement and/or service development projects relevant to Special Care Dentistry. Participation in clinical research. Publications in peer reviewed journals and/or posters presented at conferences/meetings.
- Experience in supervising specialty trainees and/or dentists on postgraduate training pathways.
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).
