Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Clinical Director to lead the Oxfordshire Community Dental Service (OCDS) which delivers specialised NHS dental care at our 9 dental clinics in the Oxfordshire region. The service provides a comprehensive range of oral health care for priority groups that include individuals with learning difficulties, mental health conditions, physical health needs, complex medical histories, severe dental anxiety and phobias. Services provided include sedation, general anaesthesia, domiciliary care, out-of-hours urgent dental care and oral health promotion.
This is a full-time substantive role and a key one in our directorate leadership team. We are looking for someone with expert clinical dentistry skills and experience in leading a complex clinical service. The role requires flexibility, an ability to work across the directorate and beyond dentistry, someone who can manage competing demands and lead our service both in and out of hours.
Our team is made up of a range of disciplines, and this post is expected to promote change and innovation as well as provide clear oversight to patient and staff safety and wellbeing, performance and managing the quality agenda across the service. We are developing the neighbourhood agenda across Oxfordshire and are seeking a leader with strong communication and engagement skills and someone who can represent the Trust and the service in the partnership arena.
Main duties of the job
Key duties involve the following areas which are outlined in detail on the attached job description:
- Corporate responsibilities
- Leadership of Clinical Professionals
- Strategic and Development
- Operational and Financial Management
- Clinical Governance Responsibility
In addition, there are ongoing postgraduate training programmes which are supported within our service. We work collaboratively with directorates in the Trust, with the local secondary care NHS Trust in the region and other Community Dental Services in the Thames Valley.
About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide professional and operational advice/expertise on dentistry to Trust and Directorate leadership teams, boards and committees including as required the Performance Boards, Quality Committees and Extended Leadership Team.
- Provide professional leadership for Trust employed dental staff, including dentists (all grades including Consultants, Specialists and dental trainees) and dental nurses.
- Lead the Dental Senior Management teams to ensure clinical and operational compliance and work closely with senior colleagues to provide broader senior leadership to the Directorate and Trust, including participating in the relevant leadership meetings and events.
- Working collaboratively with commissioners, Managed Clinical Networks, Local Dental Networks, Integrated Care Boards - Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry (POD) leads, Local Dental Committee, Healthwatch, Provider Partners, Trust and Directorate Transformation/QI teams and service users to develop clinical pathways and deliver high quality dental services.
- Lead on the planning, development and implementation of integrated pathways and clinical dental services in collaboration with secondary care providers, including general anaesthetic services.
- Responsible for overseeing and managing all staff providing dental services within the Trust, including special care and paediatric dentistry, urgent care, oral health promotion, screening, epidemiology and all clinical pathways with secondary care (general anaesthetic).
- Responsible for budget management for the Dental Services and for monitoring income, expenditure and activity data transmission to the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) in relation to patient care.
- The Clinical Director will maintain an agreed and effective clinical commitment to direct patient care, with a particular emphasis on special care and paediatric dentistry as appropriate.
Interviews for this role will be held on Friday 24 April 2026 at Trust HQ, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Oxford OX4 4XN.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide professional and operational advice/expertise on dentistry to Trust and Directorate leadership teams, boards and committees including as required the Performance Boards, Quality Committees and Extended Leadership Team.
- Provide professional leadership for Trust employed dental staff, including dentists (all grades including Consultants, Specialists and dental trainees) and dental nurses.
- Lead the Dental Senior Management teams to ensure clinical and operational compliance and work closely with senior colleagues to provide broader senior leadership to the Directorate and Trust, including participating in the relevant leadership meetings and events.
- Working collaboratively with commissioners, Managed Clinical Networks, Local Dental Networks, Integrated Care Boards - Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry (POD) leads, Local Dental Committee, Healthwatch, Provider Partners, Trust and Directorate Transformation/QI teams and service users to develop clinical pathways and deliver high quality dental services.
- Lead on the planning, development and implementation of integrated pathways and clinical dental services in collaboration with secondary care providers, including general anaesthetic services.
- Responsible for overseeing and managing all staff providing dental services within the Trust, including special care and paediatric dentistry, urgent care, oral health promotion, screening, epidemiology and all clinical pathways with secondary care (general anaesthetic).
- Responsible for budget management for the Dental Services and for monitoring income, expenditure and activity data transmission to the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) in relation to patient care.
- The Clinical Director will maintain an agreed and effective clinical commitment to direct patient care, with a particular emphasis on special care and paediatric dentistry as appropriate.
Interviews for this role will be held on Friday 24 April 2026 at Trust HQ, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Oxford OX4 4XN.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of wider dental agenda
- Knowledge of clinical governance agenda
Qualifications
Essential
- A Primary Dental Qualification registrable with the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS / BChD) or equivalent
- Full registration with General Dental Council
- Vocational Training or General Professional Training certificate, equivalence or exemption from Vocational Training
- On GDC specialist list for Special Care Dentistry or Paediatric Dentistry
- Evidence of membership of professional organisations relevant to clinical area of expertise
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (including oral, presentation and report writing)
- Involvement in staff training and development
- Evidence of significant recent clinical experience
- Experience in treating a broad range of patients
- Experience of staff management
- Experience of teaching or supervising staff (therapists/ dental officers/DCTs)
- Able to demonstrate clinical competence at specialist level
Desirable
- Evidence of research and publications
Contractual Requirements
Essential
- Have NHS performer number (on the appropriate list required for Trust dentistry services)
- Hold a full UK driving licence and have use of a car
- Have enhanced DBS as working with children and vulnerable adults
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of wider dental agenda
- Knowledge of clinical governance agenda
Qualifications
Essential
- A Primary Dental Qualification registrable with the General Dental Council of the United Kingdom: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS / BChD) or equivalent
- Full registration with General Dental Council
- Vocational Training or General Professional Training certificate, equivalence or exemption from Vocational Training
- On GDC specialist list for Special Care Dentistry or Paediatric Dentistry
- Evidence of membership of professional organisations relevant to clinical area of expertise
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (including oral, presentation and report writing)
- Involvement in staff training and development
- Evidence of significant recent clinical experience
- Experience in treating a broad range of patients
- Experience of staff management
- Experience of teaching or supervising staff (therapists/ dental officers/DCTs)
- Able to demonstrate clinical competence at specialist level
Desirable
- Evidence of research and publications
Contractual Requirements
Essential
- Have NHS performer number (on the appropriate list required for Trust dentistry services)
- Hold a full UK driving licence and have use of a car
- Have enhanced DBS as working with children and vulnerable adults
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
