The Role
Prevention programmes are tasked with reducing inequalities in oral health and ensuring access to dental services across Lanarkshire. The post holder will have management responsibilities and report to the Senior Dental Officer for the Prevention Team and the Clinical Director of the Public Dental Service. These programmes adopt a multi-agency approach to improving the oral health of priority groups and target groups can range from babies at birth to elderly adults.
Examples of current programmes are included below;
The ‘Childsmile’ programme combines targeted and universal approaches to tackling children’s oral health. Oral Health Educators (OHEs) work in partnership with Dental Health Support Workers to initiate, establish & maintain the Nursery and Primary School Toothbrushing programmes based on national standards. Oral Health Educators will work with various members of the prevention team to provide oral health advice and support access to dental care.
The ‘Caring for Smiles’ programme within Lanarkshire supports care home staff, ensuring they have the skills to deliver effective oral health care. OHEs deliver the national accredited training to staff working within care homes as well as provide care and support for residents who find oral care challenging.
The ‘Open Wide’ initiative provides care, support and training for carers of younger adults who are dependent on care. OHEs will be responsible for supporting patients with complex needs in a wide variety of NHS and non-NHS settings across Lanarkshire, including private residences. Training and support will be developed and delivered according to the needs of the patients.
‘Smile for Life’ intervention supports people experiencing homelessness: OHEs will
provide training to internal and external agencies as well as helping service users access appropriate dental services.
‘Mouth Matters’ programme supports offenders within HMP Shotts. OHEs will help prisoners to maintain their oral health as well as supporting them on their liberation to access dental services.
Oral Health Educators will be involved in any new oral health initiatives recommended by Scottish Government.
NHS Lanarkshire
Have you always wanted to work with NHS Lanarkshire? Then this might be the opportunity for you to join Team Lanarkshire!
Here at NHS Lanarkshire, we put the patient at the heart of everything we do. Each colleague within the organisation plays a key role in how we deliver our healthcare services.
We proudly serve a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in both North and South Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is comprised of Acute Services (which currently provide hospital based services over 3 main sites), Corporate & Property & Support Services, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships which provide integrated primary healthcare and social care services to local communities and surrounding areas.
What we'll need you to bring
1. Evidence of degree or equivalent level or experience
2. Knowledge and experience in delivering or managing of the National Oral Health Improvement Programmes for Scotland including Childsmile, Caring for Smiles, Open Wide and Mouth Matters
3. Knowledge across the full range and scope of the National Oral Health Programmes
4. Project and change management experience
5. Ability to deal with complex situations, both patient and staff related, in order to lead towards a set target
6. A track record of working in partnership to successfully effect change
7. Management qualification, be working towards same or have acquired relevant experience
8. Must have a valid full driving licence
9. Ability to interact and liaise effectively with all levels of staff and external groups
10. Excellent planning, prioritising, organising and time management abilities
11. IT skills and an understanding of the Data Protection Act
12. Supportive and mentorship skills
13. Coaching and leadership skills
14. Ability to maintain communication link between Senior Management and Prevention team.
15. Good interpersonal skills & self-motivated
16. Ability to take direction and work as part of a team through procedures and protocols to meet agreed targets
17. Experience of planning and delivering Oral Health training programmes both to internal staff members but also external such as care home sector
18. Ability to use initiative, intuition and knowledge in imaginative and creative ways to overcome problems and stimulate change.
19. Awareness of patient confidentiality, child protection issues, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Adults with Incapacity Act
20. Able to cope confidentially
21. with a designated work remit, but yet remain a part of the wider dental team in Lanarkshire
22. Committed and able to use initiative
23. Good organisational and administrative skills
24. Good communication skills - written and verbal
25. Car driver with a full, valid UK/EU/EEA drivers licence
Please note for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.
Contract type
Permanent
Full time
37 hours
Location
This role will be based in Public Dental Service within Coathill Hospital.
Whilst this advertisement may be for a specific post(s) in a particular location, applicants who are shortlisted for interview may be considered for similar vacancies in alternative locations.
Looking to find out more?
If you’re looking to find out more, then we would love to hear from you!
Why NHS Lanarkshire?
Join us and you will discover a supportive environment where you will have the chance to add to your skills and further your career.
Some of NHS Lanarkshire’s benefits include:
26. A minimum of 27 days annual leave increasing with length of service
27. A minimum of 8 days of public holidays
28. Membership of NHS Pension Scheme, with life insurance benefits (for more information on the NHS Pension Scheme visit the )
29. Paid sick leave increasing with length of service
30. Occupational health services
31. Employee counselling services
32. Work-life Balance policies and procedures
NHS Lanarkshire have a range of support services on topics that can impact both on your working and personal life including occupational health, spiritual care and independent counselling. This support can be accessed using the links on this page.
Further Information
For more information on the role, please refer to the Job Description. If you’re looking for more information on the recruitment process, organisation or the services we provide, please refer to our information pack, or our .