Job responsibilities
Key Result Areas
To assist in the facilitation of care, for patients accessing the services of the Oral & Facial Department, including both clinical and non-clinical duties
Main Responsibilities
General
Possess significant theoretical and practical knowledge, to competently assist in both Maxillofacial and Orthodontic procedures.
Possess good knowledge in the use of specialised equipment, assembly, and maintenance and be competent in their use.
To prepare, set up and work independently and manage the relevant clinic rooms, provide all the relevant medical records, letters, reports, radiographs, study models.
To decontaminate and prepare clinical area between patients.
Prepare and mix dental materials upon request and to maintain a high level of cross infection between patients.
To keep reception informed of clinic running times and reasons for delay.
Key board and computer skills to access relevant information used as part of the daily running of the clinic, retrieving pathological, and radiography results.
Using IT software for keeping databases to maintain/control levels of stock and facilitate patient study model location.
To facilitate the decontamination, sterilisation, effective storage and monitoring of all clinical instruments.
Using knowledge and skills to recognise the onset of potential medical emergencies.
Maintain security measures within the Department ensuring a high level of security at all times. With emphasis on drugs, sharps and expensive medical equipment.
Maxillofacial
Assisting with and managing the care of Maxillofacial patients for non-routine procedures, providing constant observation, and prolonged concentration to provide a high quality care.
Undertake scrub nurse duties to operative/clinician to include retraction and aspiration of surgical operation site, and ensuring that the appropriate nursing care is maintained.
To assist in any procedure/examination and investigation, ensuring pre and post-operative advice is given succinctly to the understanding of the patient.
Undertake suture removal under supervision of consultant.
To maintain aseptic conditions in Oral Surgery procedures.
To explain precise pre-operative instructions for patients undergoing minor oral surgery, who are medically compromised and also to clarify a procedure if asked.
To administer oral antibiotic cover under the instruction of the clinician, and to accurately document this in the patients records.
Orthodontic
Use of the digital camera for clinical photography and downloading digital images for record keeping/ treatment planning.
Assistant to Consultant Orthodontist and other Orthodontic Clinicians during treatment with a range of complex fixed and removable appliances.
Line Management Responsibility
Help support and take an active part in training newly appointed staff.
To supervise and support other team members where appropriate
Assist in the induction of Locum clinicians
Assist in the supervision of placements students
Undertake a specifically delegated task to enable the efficient management of the Oral & Facial Service e.g. COSHH, ordering, diary management and patient record systems
Deputise for the Oral & Facial Manager in their absence, on a daily basis as per staff rota
Provision of Professional Advice
Provide advice that contributes to the care or education of the patient
Comms/Key relationships Internal & External
To have excellent communication skills both with patients and staff, to be reassuring, understanding with good listening skills. To use tact and persuasion when required enabling procedures to be carried out effectively and efficiently.
Maintaining patient and client confidentiality and contribute to the effectiveness of the patients journey through the Department ensuring privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
To be able to interact with patients on a regular basis who are anxious, have special needs, challenging behaviours, learning difficulties, diabetic, disabled, medically and physically compromised or categorised as high risk.
Dealing with telephone enquires referred to the Department by: GDPs GMPs, Trust Staff, Community Dental or from Hospital A&E Department, or from patients who have been or are patients at the hospital.
Liaise with Consultants, clinicians, reception, laboratory, radiology, pathology, HSDU, secretaries, wards, porters, pharmacy
Maintain equipment to include decontamination and arrange for faults to be rectified, keep accurate records.
To keep accurate records and ensure the security of drugs within the Department.
Accurate record keeping in patients notes when scribing for doctors/clinicians.
Additional record keeping for administration of drugs, expired drugs specimens sent for histology.
During clinics to maintain constant concentration, to be adaptable to unscheduled change and the ability to multitask throughout the clinic and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Using IT skills, knowledge, training and experience to design and produce resources
To organise appointments, keep to time and outcome appointments correctly.
Control of resources
Maintain stock control
Take responsibility for the individual allocation of products to meet the patient needs
Judgement and decision making freedom to act
Recommend dental products, handle and ensure security of cash of dental products sales, issue receipts for all transactions.
Using knowledge, initiative and experience in the absence of the Consultant/Clinician, and then to assess and liaise with the appropriate professionals.
Working Conditions
Dealing with emotional or distressing circumstances e.g. Patients and relatives receiving bad news.
To provide flexible working to help maintain the service needs of the Department and be adaptable to changes within the department.
Dealing with aggressive patients and their relatives, clients or carers.
Effective disposal of contaminated clinical waste, adhering to Trust policy.
To follow guidelines when being exposed to hazardous substances
Frequently exposed to highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. ulcers, mouth odour and bodily fluids
Dealing with aggressive patients and their relatives, clients or carers.
Research & Development
Collecting data for clinical audit, waiting time audit.
Develop and update written procedures applicable within the Department i.e. Local decontamination procedure, COSSH etc.
To attend regular Departmental Clinical Governance Business meetings and report any relevant Surgery, Research and Development and Audit reports.
To have an active role in the implementation of Clinical Governance to include Risk Management, Research and Development, Audit planning and implementation with the aim to improve and maintain patient focused quality care.
To contribute towards the development of new initiatives in order to expand the service.
Attend training in order to support specialist role and as a GDC Registrant
Other duties
Flexibility in working across the Arden patch to provide nursing covering at any site associated with the service as required
