Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry

Job overview

Do you want to make a difference?

If you are well organised, able to prioritise and work on your own initiative without direct supervision but also enjoys working as part of a team to provide excellent patient care, then we look forward to hearing from you.

The Special Care Dental Service is part of a countywide service providing NHS Dental treatment to patients on referral, from General Dental Practitioners, GPs and other health and social care professionals. We have clinics across the county, operating Mondays to Fridays, 08:30am to 4:30pm, as well as a domiciliary service.

The role is primarily based in Worthing (2days) and Chichester (1day), with one of these days in Brighton (alternate weeks supporting the GA session). Occasional cover at other clinics may be required.

Planned interview date: 2nd July 2026.

Main duties of the job

• a)     The post is mainly based at Worthing and Brighton (and Crawley until relocation to Worthing), with outreach activity across all clinics. Flexibility is required, as the successful applicant may be expected to work at any clinic location in line with service needs.

The post holder will liaise with a wide range of teams both clinical and non-clinical under the guidance of the Clinical Head of Service, Consultant in Special Care and Operational Head of Service.

The post holder will be expected to provide dental treatment under local anaesthesia +/- sedation and under day case general anaesthesia sessions. Treatments will include dento-alveolar surgery and restorative treatment. This will include patients who have a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairment or disability or a combination of these factors. The post holder will be expected to treat medically compromised patients.

The post holder will supervise and develop teaching for the whole dental team. Supervise dental therapists, Band A and Band B dentists

You will work in close co-operation with, and support other clinical, medical professional and managerial colleagues in providing high quality healthcare to the Trust’s patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

a) Provision of specialist NHS dental care to the children and young people with complex needs and/or disabilities in primary care clinical settings, under general anaesthesia and occasionally by a domiciliary visit, with the completion of associated clinical records.

b) Support the Consultant in Special Care Dentistry and specialists in managing referrals into the service.

c) Organising and actively leading on outreach within the dental service to support the development of the clinicians.

d) Management of line reports.

e) Training, development and mentorship of clinical staff in the service.

f) When opportunity arises, support the Specialty Training  Programme in Paediatric Dentistry, with a consideration for the development of a formal training pathway in Paediatric Dentistry StR training programme linked to an academic centre.

g) Create a climate where excellence in practice flourishes and where individuals are respected and valued for their role and contribution.

h) Set, monitor, implement and maintain excellent standards of practice and patient care through a range of quality improvement activities that include clinical practice benchmarking, clinical audit, patient feedback measures, performance and outcomes review and professional accountability. Ensure all standards are aligned to all relevant Trust strategies.

i) Undertake all work in accordance with the Trust’s procedures and operating policies/procedures.

j) Conduct clinical practice in accordance with contractual requirements and within the parameters of the Trust’s service plans.

k) Maintain the confidence of business plans and development strategies formulated for the specialty, the division or the Trust.

l) Monitor performance activity.

m) Contribute to the planning, development and day to day operational management of the service.

n) Assist and deputise for senior colleagues as required, including service representation at meetings within and external to the Trust related to the dental service.

• ) It is envisaged that the appointee will be able to actively contribute to the development and delivery of the service.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information on the role.