Community Dental Officer

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and conscientious dentist with good interpersonal and clinical skills to join the Community Special Care Dental Service. This is a full time position and will involve working in our clinics based in South East London (Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham) as well as providing domiciliary care for our patients residing in the local area.

The successful candidate will preferably have current or recent previous, experience of working in a UK-based salaried primary-care dental service. They should have established and demonstrable skills in the provision of oral health care for children and adults with special needs. Ideally the candidate will also have experience of domiciliary dentistry, dental screening and dental epidemiological fieldwork. Candidates who have worked in General Dental Services and have an interest in Special Care will also be considered.

Working as part of a team and with excellent nursing support, this post will suit a dentist who is committed to providing a high standard of oral health care.

Good clinical and patient-management skills will enable the post-holder to achieve a high level of personal job satisfaction.

Full registration with the GDC and completed vocational training or equivalence is essential for this post as is eligibility for a NHS performer number. A driving licence and daily access to a vehicle is also essential.

Interview date Thursday 25 June 2026

Main duties of the job

• Responsible for providing high quality oral health care to patients, both adults and children, in need of special care and to vulnerable children with high caries rates and behavioural issues around the provision of dental treatment.
• The organisation of a designated surgery or clinic. The location of the clinical duties may be varied according to the needs of the service.
• To keep accurate and clear contemporaneous written records on each patient outlining the clinical treatment performed and any advice given
• Participation in school screening activities and identifying the dental needs of the people in the locality by participating in appropriate BASCD epidemiological surveys.
• Arranging other activities as required by the service including oral health promotion activities, organising schemes for the prevention of dental disease and screening of relevant groups within the population of SE London (Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be responsible for the completion of clinical and administrative data required by the Department of Community Special Care Dentistry for contractual, research or audit purposes.
• To change and adapt professional duties at short notice as required by the needs of the Department. To work from more than one clinical base during the week as determined by the needs of the service
• To maintain a high standard of personal integrity and professional competence including a commitment to Continuing Professional Development. All dental officers are required to keep accurate records of all CPD activity, as this will form part of mandatory requirements for revalidation by the General Dental Council.
• To participate in Peer Review, Clinical Governance and annual Departmental Study Days within the Department of Community Special Care Dentistry
• To take responsibility for the safety and security of the working environment specifically with reference to health and safety at work legislation, control of substances hazardous to health, risk management and local and national decontamination guidelines.
• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• Attending such courses or postgraduate training as requested including the Trust’s mandatory training courses.
• Attending other meetings as directed by the Consultant/Head of Department or his/her authorised deputies.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.