NHSPUBLIC DENTAL SERVICES

JOB DESCRIPTION

GRADE: DENTAL Officer

PAY SCALE:Band 1

Salary range £38,095 to £57,142

LOCATION:The post is to be based in Galashiels Dental surgery, Scottish Borders.You may be asked to work elsewhere in accordance with the needs of the service. The postholder will be expected to participate in Borders Emergency Dental services ( BEDS ) rota at the weekend for which attendance at the BordersGeneralHospital, Melrose will be required.

HOURS: 30 hours per week

A new joint scheme has recently stated involving co-operation between all branches of the profession.

ACCOUNTABILITY

As an employee of the Board, the postholder will be accountable to the Clinical Service Manager with professional support and supervision from the Senior Dentist based at the BordersGeneralHospital.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The postholder will provide general dental services to members of the public who have had difficulties in accessing NHS dental care. A full range of treatment will be provided to people of all ages and domiciliary visits will be undertaken if required.

Dental practice managers are in post, supporting the Borders Public dental service from their bases in Coldstream and in Hawick. A dental enquiry line handles calls from the public and there are rotas covering out of hours work. R4 software is in use in the service.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL
Experience
  • A minimum of 2 years postgraduate experience in General Dental Practice within the past 3 years.

Qualifications
  • Dental degree
plus
  • A continuing professional development record in line with General Dental Council requirements.
  • A full UK driving licence.

Knowledge, Skills & Training
  • Full range of clinical dentistry.
  • Excellent communication skills both written and oral.
  • CPD should include areas relevant to general dental practice.
  • Basic IT skills and use of practice management software, including ability to present activity data if required.

Disposition
  • Able to demonstrate initiative and adaptability.
  • Empathy and a caring and patient approach.
  • A team player.
  • Ability to cope confidently well with pressure.

Others
  • Hepatitis B immunity status
  • Possession of a car and driving licence


DUTIES OF THE POST

The postholder will carry out all the duties which are expected of a Dental Officer .

  1. A provision of a full range of care to people of all age groups in accordance with local protocols and agreements.
  1. Provision of pain relief and emergency care.
  1. Domiciliary visits if necessary.
  1. Ensure the safe management of his or her clinic including following all health and safety policies and guidelines and proactively undertaking risk management in the clinic.
  1. Presenting any activity data required by the Clinical Director of Public Dental Services and the Clinical Service Manager.
  1. Participate in appraisal and other meetings as required.
  1. To supervise dental nurses in the clinic.
  1. Any other duties delegated by the Clinical Director.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The postholder will be expected to keep up to date with development in dentistry and particularly to attend national meetings and study days as agreed by the Clinical Director. Although every effort will be made to grant appropriate amounts of study leave and help towards fees, these allowances will depend upon meeting the needs of the service and available budgets.


NHS BORDERS PUBLIC DENTAL SERVICES

NHS Public Dental Services have benefited from substantial investment over the last few years; increased demand on the Board for both routine and emergency dental care has been addressed by the provision of additional surgeries at appropriate sites and the appointment of additional salaried general dental practitioners. A triage and joint emergency service with independent general dental practitioners is in operation.

The postholder will join at very exciting time of development for the Public dental service. A Senior Dental Practitioner is available for advice and referral. Kodak R4 software is used in the service. The Scottish Borders has a population of around 112,000 and in addition to the dentists within the Public Dental Services there are 15 independent practices.

Additional support is provided by a local Consultant Orthodontist based at the BordersGeneralHospital in Melrose. A part time Associate Specialist in oral surgery is in post at the BordersGeneralHospital and consultant maxillofacial surgery and restorative dentistry services are provided from St John’sHospital, Livingston and the Dental Institute in Edinburgh.

This job description is not definitive and therefore may be subject to future amendments following negotiation and consultation.


CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Employment will be with Borders Health Board, known as NHS Borders. It is a unified Board. There are no Trusts.

Conditions of service as agreed and amended by the Hospital Medical and Dental Staffs Whitley Councils.

SALARY: Salary range £38,095 to £57,142

.

HOURS OF WORK:30 hours per week.

LEAVE:Annual Leave– 27 days plus 8 public holidays.pro rata

SUPERANNUATION:The post can be superannuable in accordance with the regulations of the NHS Superannuation Scheme.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:NHS Borders is an Equal Opportunities employer. The Board’s Equal Opportunities Policy affirms that all employees should be afforded equal opportunities in employment, irrespective of their age, gender, marital status, race religion, creed, sexual orientation, colour or disability. Any applicant who considers they have been unfairly treated should make their concerns known to the Director of Human Resources, BordersGeneralHospital, Melrose, TD6 9BS.

SMOKING POLICY:The Board operates a no smoking policy. When selecting staff, the Board does not discriminate against applicants who smoke but applicants who accept an offer of employment will, in doing so, agree to observe the Board’s policy on smoking.

HEPATITIS B:NHS Borders offers Hepatitis B immunisation through its Occupational Health Service. It is recommended that all employees who may be at risk should receive this immunisation to prevent them from contracting Hepatitis B.

The continuing employment of all whose work involves Exposure Prone Procedures will be dependant on compliance with the document “Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B” issued August 1993, and the associated directive from the Management Executive of the NHS in Scotland dated 18 August 1993 and addendum’s thereof. You are required to have immunity to Hepatitis B, and if you are unable to provide documentary evidence of such immunity, you will be investigated by the Occupational Health Service to determine your Hepatitis B status.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK

ACT:The postholder is required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work and co-operate with the Borders Primary Care NHS to ensure that statutory and departmental safety regulations are adhered to.

REHABILITATION OF

OFFENDERS ACT:This post is expected in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).


OTHER

  1. Hospital Services:

Oral surgery, Orthodontic, IV Sedation and a GA service is available at the BordersGeneralHospital, Melrose.

  1. Superannuation:

Membership of the NHS Superannuation Scheme will be voluntary. You are entitled to join or remain in the NHS Superannuation Pension Scheme, however you may choose not to. Should you opt to take out a Personal Pension Plan then this is a private matter between yourself and the financial institution concerned, and does not involve the Board in any way.

  1. Conditions of Employment.

iThere is a requirement to maintain current registration with the General Dental Council at all times during your period of employment with the Board.

iiFor a full-time salaried post the annual leave is at a rate of six weeks per annum. The leave year normally runs from 1 June to 31 May.

iiiWritten notice or termination – three months. Particular reference is made to the capitation and continuing care aspects of the current GDP contract (1 October 1990). Should you wish to terminate your contract sooner than originally agree, sufficient notice will be required in order that ‘continuing care’ patients’ treatment to be completed or referred elsewhere for treatment.

ivThe Board, following consultation and appropriate notice may wish to terminate the contract early if performance is below the expected standard.

vIndemnity – Whilst treating patients as an employee of Borders NHS Board you are covered under NHS Circular 1989 (PCS)32, however it is desirable that you are part (or fully) subscribed member of a recognised professional defence organisation.

viThe Board undertakes that it will not make deductions from, or any variations to your salary other than those required by law, without your express written consent.

viiThe officer who has been given authority by the Board to terminate your appointment is the manager designated by the Board as page 1 “Accountability”.

viiiNo smoking policy for staff

No employee of the Board will be permitted to smoke on Board premises.

When selecting new staff, NHS Borders does not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but applicants who accept an offer of employment will in doing so observe the Board’s policy on smoking.

ixDisclosure of Criminal Convictions – The post will allow substantial access to children as defined in NHS Circular 1989 (Gen)22. In accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) (Amendments) order 1986, shortlisted candidates will be required to submit details of all convictions including those spent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Following the selection interview only the ‘successful’ candidate will be subjected to a check by the Disclosure Scotland to verify details previously supplied by him/her. Offers of appointment will be made subject to satisfactory Disclosure Screening.

The dental surgeon must apply for the inclusion of his/her name in the dental list and remain in the list during employment as a dental surgeon at the clinic the acquisition of ‘list’ number is subject to NHS circular 1993 PCA(D)10, the complete details of the annex to the memorandum are available, on request, from Borders NHS Board at the time of application for the post.

xiImmunity Screening and Vaccination – In compliance with the department of health decree: all new members of staff undertaking exposure prone procedures are required to provide acceptable evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B before taking up post.

  1. Accommodation, Equipment and Assistance

For the purposes of conducting general dental duties, the Board will provide accommodation, furniture (fixed and movable), equipment, materials and ancillary and clerical assistance on a scale approved by the Secretary of State.

The dental surgeon will be required to use the appropriate National Health Service forms in connection with the treatment of patients.

5.Collection of Patients’ Charges

The dental surgeon will be required to collect patients charges in accordance with the regulations for remission to Borders NHS Board. Currently this applies to salaried dental practitioner posts and could involve community dental officer posts in the future in the event of a change of regulations.

6Domiciliary

An appropriate mileage allowance will be paid when the postholder is required to use his or her own car for travel, other than from home to base. The Board may at its discretion offer a leased car. If the offer of a leased car is refused, public transport rates will be paid for future mileage.

  1. Out of Hours Rota

The postholder will be required to participate in out of hours arrangements organised for the service. Further details of current arrangements will be discussed on request. Additional remuneration is made for participation.

8.Health and Safety

The postholder will take all reasonable steps to safeguard his or her own health & safety at work and that of colleagues, service users and visitors to the clinic. He or she will be expected to proactively identify and undertake risk management of local hazards including taking steps to eliminate or control identified hazards and completion of agreed records.

9.Referees

Satisfactory references from two approved referees will be required.


GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCOTTISH BORDERS

The Borders is a very attractive rural area with no main centres of population. Hawick and Galashiels are the largest towns. Galashiels is around one hours drive from Edinburgh and thee are good transport links from Edinburgh and Berwick via East Coast main line. Flights to many parts of the UK, Ireland and Europe are easily accessible from Edinburgh airport, approximately 1¼ hours drive away.

A good education centre is available adjacent to the BordersGeneralHospital where a medical library and on-line search facilities are available. This is now part of NapierUniversity.