Dental Therapist Advanced Practitioner

Go back Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Dental Therapist Advanced Practitioner

The closing date is 14 July 2025

1 x Fixed Term contract/secondment opportunity for up to 12 months

Internal applicants who wish to be considered for a secondment opportunity should discuss with their line manager the suitability of a possible secondment

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Dental Therapist Advanced Practitioner with experience of delivering direct access care to join our team at Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust Community Dental Services, supporting clinics across the county. This is an opportunity to be part of an experienced team delivering care in a community service setting and to gain valuable experience, with a variety of different patient cohorts.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have the opportunity to work in various clinical settings including community hospitals, community health centres, domiciliary care and residential homes whilst being supported by an experienced Dental Nurse.

The patients who access the community dental service include adults and children, patients with additional needs and patients with learning and physical disabilities all of whom will have been referred to the service as they are unable to access the care they require in a general dental practice setting. The post holder will be supported by a Specialist in Special Care and a dedicated Senior Dental Officer alongside a highly experienced and friendly dental team.

The post holder will be encouraged to utilise their full scope of practice to deliver direct access care and perform a range of specialist clinical, restorative or preventative procedures without direct supervision according to treatment plans under the direction of dentists within the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Service or under direct access to defined patient groups.

The Community Dental Services Gloucestershire is passionate about investing in its dental team. We provide our staff with opportunities to grow their capabilities and support Dental Therapists to develop their skills.

As you will be expected to provide support to all clinics across Gloucestershire, the ability to travel and work in all bases in the county is essential.

About us

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense ofbelonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:

• 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
• 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.

This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

Job responsibilities

To perform a range of specialist clinical, restorative or preventative procedures without direct supervision according to treatment plans under the direction of dentists within the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Service or under direct access to defined patient groups.

To plan the management of patients, often patients with additional needs, paediatric patients and patients with moderate to severe anxiety demonstrating an understanding of their physical and social needs

To maintain any associated patients records following delivery of care

To provide oral health advice, oral health plans and instruction to specific client groups with multiple complex needs and to provide advice and instruction to parents and carers.

To carry out a significant range of clinical procedures/activities to a high standard and comply with all relevant local and national guidance.

To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their carers, often in highly complex situations

Provide clinical day to day supervision to dental nurses and apprentice/trainee dental nurses.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Dental Therapy and Hygiene (or equivalent UK qualification required for GDC registration)
• Registered with GDC
• Diploma in Dental Health Education

Experience

• Clinical experience of full range of dental care treatments recognised as within dental therapist advanced practitioners scope of practice
• Skilled/Experienced in the management of anxious patients
• Experienced in delivering direct access care to patients
• Clinical experience in NHS dental practice or Community Dental Service

specialist knowledge

• Trained to undertake additional therapy duties
• Evidence of participation in Clinical Audit

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

£46,148 to £52,809 a yearper annum (pro rata)