Senior Dental Officer Special Care Dentistry

Job details

• Branch: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Location: Trustwide (SEHSCT)
• Directorate: Medical & Dental
• Functional Area: Dental Services - Community
• Salary: (See job details)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 14/05/26
• Closes: Tue, 09 June 2026 @ 4:00 PM
• Interview Dates: Interviews are scheduled take place on Thursday 25 June or Friday 26 June 2026

Notes

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment and treatment of patients who are unable to access General Dental Services due to their additional needs. This might include patients with challenging behaviour, older people and those requiring domiciliary dental care, complex medical conditions, physical disability, mental illness, learning difficulties, special dental conditions, social and behavioural limitations, anxiety management and bariatric patient, all in a variety of settings. The post holder will assist in the development and management of the Special Care Service and will support the Special Care team in the training and clinical supervision of other staff. They will have managerial, training and governance responsibilities.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

SENIOR DENTAL OFFICER SPECIAL CARE DENTISTRY

BAND

CDS SENIOR DENTAL OFFICER PAY SCALE

DIRECTORATE

PRIMARY CARE AND OLDER PEOPLE

INITIAL LOCATION

LISBURN BUT MAY BE REQUIRED TO WORK TRUSTWIDE

REPORTS TO

CLINICAL DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE

ACCOUNTABLE TO

TYPE OF CONTRACT

HOURS

ASSISTANT CLINICAL DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY DENTAL SERVICE

PERMANENT

22.5 hours per week

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment and treatment of patients who are unable to access General Dental Services due to their additional needs. This might include patients with challenging behaviour, older people and those requiring domiciliary dental care, complex medical conditions, physical disability, mental illness, learning difficulties, special dental conditions, social and behavioural limitations, anxiety management and bariatric patient, all in a variety of settings. The post holder will assist in the development and management of the Special Care Service and will support the Special Care team in the training and clinical supervision of other staff. They will have managerial, training and governance responsibilities.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide high quality specialist clinical oral healthcare services to priority groups who are either referred to, or under the long term care of the service.

To provide treatment under local anaesthesia, inhalation sedation, IV sedation and general anaesthesia when required.

To triage patients referred to the service where appropriate.

To provide clinical supervision and mentoring of dental staff where appropriate.

To assist the Clinical Director & Assistant Clinical Director in the day to day running of the clinics and services of the South Eastern H&SC Trust Community Dental Service.

Ensure records are completed accurately and contemporaneously and provide statistical and other information to SPPG and Trust.

Liaise with colleagues in hospitals, primary care, and others to ensure and improve the quality of patient care, in a timely fashion.

Undertake necessary training and development to comply with national, professional and Trust requirements and participate in regular appraisal with their Line Manager.

Take part in all aspects of clinical governance including GDC requirements, clinical audit, peer review and clinical supervision.

To contribute to the establishment of guidelines for best practice in relation to delivery of high quality Community Dental Services. To establish standards and protocols for provision of dental services for patients with additional needs.

To promote the role of the Community Dental Service in the Primary Care Team through multidisciplinary teamwork with other service providers.

To carry out research within the CDS with relevant academic bodies and other external agencies.

To plan and co-ordinate needs assessment and epidemiological surveys for older people and special care patients.

To supervise dental student placements, undergraduate and postgraduate and dental teaching programmes (dental students, student hygienists and student dental nurses) in conjunction with the School of Dentistry and Queens University Belfast

.

To develop and participate in training programmes in conjunction with Community Dental Staff for carers, nursing staff, other health and social care professionals, and community groups who are working with these groups.

To ensure that patients and their parents/carers are treated with dignity and respect at all times. Also to ensure that patients and, where appropriate, their parents/carers have adequate information about treatment options in line with service policy.

To be involved in multi-disciplinary team working with organisations linked to

special care / older people

To comply with Trust policies, service guidelines and codes of practice and

ensure that these standards are being applied Trust wide.

Other duties which may, from time to time, be required by changing requirements of the Service.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

To be involved with the planning and delivery of high quality, clinically effective services.

To be an effective member of the dental senior management team.

Lead the dental team at the clinic (or clinics) within the Trust which may include

Monitoring service performance.

Providing training and support to dental staff as required.

Assisting with postgraduate training of the dental team as appropriate.

Liaising with Assistant Clinical Director and other health professionals regarding the management of the clinic.

To participate in regular clinic staff meetings and attend other meetings which are arranged within the service

To take a role in the planning and participation in service quality improvement programmes.

Monitoring service activities and providing accurate reports as required for SPPG, Trust Directorate and the Clinical Director.

To Line Manage staff effectively.

Supervise and delegate appropriate tasks to other staff in accordance with current General Dental Council regulations where applicable.

Participate, as required, in the selection and appointment of staff reporting to him/her in accordance with procedures laid down by the Trust.

Take such action as may be necessary in disciplinary matters in accordance with Trust policies and procedures

To regularly update knowledge in the field of special care dentistry by attending relevant training and courses

To have delegated management responsibility as identified by the Clinical Director.

To attend relevant Trust Committees and working groups as required by the Clinical Director.

To carry out any other duties as directed by the Clinical Director

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

To participate in continuing professional development, audit, peer review as considered necessary for professional development and organisational needs.

Take responsibility for his/her own on-going learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

To maintain continuing professional development in line with General Dental Council requirements

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

The post holder will, in the event of a concern being raised with them, ensure it is managed correctly under the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and ensure that feedback/learning is communicated at individual, team and organisational level regarding the concerns raised, and how they were resolved.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example

Smoke Free policy

IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct

standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the South Eastern HSC Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern HSC Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the South Eastern HSC Trust’s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own on-going learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND

SALARY

SENIOR DENTAL OFFICER SPECIAL CARE DENTISTRY.

CDS SENIOR DENTAL OFFICER PAY SCALE

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE

PRIMARY CARE AND OLDER PEOPLES SERVICES

HOURS

22.5 Hours per week

Ref No: <to be inserted by HR>

<Month & Year>

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Shortlisting by Application Form

Experience

Minimum of 5 years post graduate clinical experience

Evidence of recent clinical experience of all aspects Special Care Dentistry within the past 5 years

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications/ Registration

A Bachelor of Dental Surgery Qualification

Full registration with General Dental Council

A member of a dental protection society

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Experience in the provision of dental treatment under General Anaesthesia and/or

Experience of provision of dental care under appropriate conscious sedation techniques.

Excellent communication skills.

Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team and lead a team

Ability to work on own initiative.

Good organizational skills.

Ability to prioritize workload.

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge of Community Dental Service.

Knowledge of issues associated with Special Care/ Older Patients.

Knowledge of current Dental issues.

Interview / Test

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience

Experience of working in different environments; hospital, community and general dental services.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Qualifications

On Specialist list for Special Care Dentistry or within 6 months of inclusion.

Relevant post-graduate qualification e.g. FDS RCS, MSc, MJDS RCS etc.

Shortlisting by Application Form

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information

To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,

Click Here

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times