Job responsibilities
Job
Title: Dental
Technician
Reports to: Chief Technician
Band: 5
Department: Dental Production Laboratories
Location Leeds Dental Institute
AfC Job No: 860a
2. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
Support the work of the relevant
technical department in the effective and timely production of custom made
medical devices and other technical work including:
(Conservation Posts) a range of
single crown & bridge units, post & cores, temporary units, bite
raisers, splints, study models, Denar articulations and diagnostic wax-up
units for clinical treatment planning, plus some of the more complex crown and
bridge work as appropriate for own development.
(Prosthodontic Posts) a range of
removable full and partial acrylic and metal based dentures, repairs,
relines, additions, bite raisers, splints, study models and articulations.
May also include also some of the more complex prosthodontic work as appropriate
for own development.
(Orthodontic posts) a range of
removable appliances, immediate retainers, vacuum formed appliances, bite
raisers, splints, study models and repairs, plus some of the more complex
orthodontic work as appropriate for own development.
To develop own skills, knowledge
and experience within dental technology and to keep abreast of new and
developing technologies. An example of this is in the use of Cad-Cam
technology which is increasingly being used with in our production workflows.
Customer base is approximately 470
undergraduate dental students and approximately 100 postgraduate students and
clinical staff, within several clinical specialities including Conservation,
Prosthodontics, Orthodontics, Periodontology, Childrens, Acute Care, and
Sedation. Work load and type may vary throughout the year depending upon
academic and clinical requirements and trends and a flexible approach will be
required.
3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Dental
Technical Services Manager
Chief
Technicians (3) & Max Fac Prosthetist (1)
Senior
Dental Technicians (10)
Dental
Technicians (7)
Lab
Admin Co-ordinator (1)
Receptionist
(1)
Domestic
support (2)
4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
To provide technical support in the
laboratory to major specialised services, producing a range of dental
technical work and some specialised work as required.
To attend appropriate departmental
meetings as required
To ensure the equipment used within
the laboratory is in safe working order, reporting defects to the Head of
technical services and / or LDI Workshop.
To partake in the routine
maintenance of laboratory equipment (eg replacing dust filters, cleaning sand
blasters etc) and keep personal work areas clean and tidy.
To comply with the requirements of
the Medical Devices Directive within the Prosthodontic Laboratory, ensuring
appropriate quality records are kept and procedures adhered to.
To follow Health and Safety
standards in all areas of the dental laboratory, where all technical staff
use a range of potentially hazardous materials and equipment and may
encounter highly unpleasant fumes and body fluids.
To undertake appropriate training
and participate in regular appraisals to:
maintain and develop skills and
knowledge necessary for the job
ensure that all statutory
requirements in respect of Continuing Professional Development are
satisfied.
5.
THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values
Additionally
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
The post holder will be required to
develop and maintain good working relationships with all staff and students,
providing a professional, efficient and effective service to all customers of
the Dental Laboratories
6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE
TRUSTS (WYAAT)
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition.
7. INFECTION CONTROL
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
8. HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system
9. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
10. TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory
training required for the role.
11. COMMUNICATION & WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS
The
post-holder can expect to liaise daily with all members of the dental
laboratory staff group (shown on the organisational chart). There will also
be regular contact with dental clinical staff, students, tutors and nurses.
Occasionally there may be a requirement to communicate with other staff of
the Dental Hospital such as maintenance staff, porters, domestic or admin
staff.
Methods
of communication will predominantly involve face to face discussion and
written / printed documentation but may also include other media including
e-mail, telephone, etc.
12. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT: The role involves a
very high degree of manual dexterity and hand to eye co-ordination. The post
holder is responsible for producing custom- made dental appliances many of
which are very intricate in their nature for example the carving of
individual teeth in wax , working with delicate precision attachments and
implant components or manipulating fine wires to make clasps and springs for
dental appliances, all of which also
requires a high degree of accuracy. This element of the job will occur for
several hours each day, usually whilst sitting which can have a detrimental
effect in terms of neck and back discomfort or pain and other related
postural problems. Additionally the nature of this work often gives rise to
eye strain and discomfort.
Other
aspects of the role involve standing for up to an hour at a time whilst
casting dental impressions and other plaster work.
ii) MENTAL EFFORT: The intricacy and
accuracy of the work requires periods of intense concentration on a daily
basis, usually for up to a half of the working day.
Many
of the appliances made by the post holder are non-routine and require
detailed planning and consideration with regards to the design. The majority
of appliances require discussion between the post holder and the dental
clinician or clinical undergraduate, who, as a trainee dentist is reliant on
the expertise and advice of the post holder to ensure that the appropriate
information is recorded when the patient is present.
Regular
interruptions to work from clinical staff, nurses and reception staff are the
norm.
iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Generally, emotional effort is rare. The
role involves occasional contact with patients, some of whom have had
traumatic or surgical loss of dental or facial tissue. The extent to which
this may affect the post holder is a matter of conjecture.
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS: Frequent regular use of a range of
potentially hazardous materials including acids, methyl methacrylate and
other solvents and may encounter highly unpleasant dust and fumes.
Also
handles dental impressions and other components on a daily basis which may be
contaminated with body fluids including blood and saliva.
Frequent
regular use of high speed rotating cutting and grinding instruments and machinery and also metal
melting and casting equipment.
All risks are minimised by strict
Health and Safety procedures which includes the need to wear full face
visors, dust masks and gloves often for several hours each day. This
prolonged use of PPE can be restrictive making working conditions less
comfortable
