Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
Senior Dental Officer (Special Care)
The closing date is 06 April 2026
This post is a Band B, temporary position working across Dental HealthCare Peterborough Special Care Dental Service.
The role is initially for 6 months to cover maternity leave which may extend to 12 months.
Car parking is free.
We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic, and flexible Clinician to join our existing team, which operates as part of a wider service covering Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Suffolk.
We deliver high quality dental care in a busy patient‑centred environment along with dental public health work in the community. The work is wide ranging and might include inhalation sedation, general anaesthesia, urgent and domiciliary care. The post holder will be providing full courses of treatment to patients with special care needs and those most in need.
Our longstanding and experienced Clinical and Managerial Leaders support the team with their individual development needs and career pathways including offering Foundation Dentist training opportunities in some of our clinics.
Our clinics are well equipped and resourced. We are always striving to improve and have a Think QI approach to develop the service we provide to our patients and provide an environment where team members are free to offer solutions for improvement.
Working days/hours of work would be 15 hours across the week – Wednesday & Thursday.
Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 27th March 2026.
Main duties of the job
To provide clinical dental care to clients of the Dental HealthCare Special Care Dental Service. Client groups include children and adults with additional needs, vulnerable adults, looked‑after children with complex social care needs, and adults and children with moderate‑severe anxiety. Full training will be given where required, and clinical work will include:
* Provision of care under inhalation sedation (as provider/operator)
* Provision of care under general anaesthetic
* Provision of care to patients on a domiciliary basis
To carry epidemiological screening programmes in line with the Office for Health Improvement & disparities protocols.
To supervise and support dental care professionals, including provision of clinical supervision and response to day‑to‑day queries and concerns.
To assist with and participate in training and education, supporting dental care professionals working towards postgraduate qualifications, participating in peer review sessions, and demonstrating a commitment to continuing dental education.
About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There's one reason why our services are outstanding – and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high‑quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading‑edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
To provide a full range of dental care to patients of the Dental HealthCare Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Special care Dental Service. This includes priority groups, vulnerable and groups meeting special care service criteria, and children and adults with moderate‑severe anxiety.
Completion of fieldwork for dental epidemiological surveys.
The post will be based in Peterborough and work may need to be undertaken at other establishments where Dental HealthCare operates in the surrounding area.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. To provide clinical dental care to clients of the Dental HealthCare Special Care Dental Service. Client groups include children, and adults with additional needs, vulnerable adults and looked after children with complex social care needs, and adults and children with moderate‑severe anxiety. Full training will be given where required, and clinical work will include:
* Provision of care under inhalation sedation (as provider/operator)
* Provision of care under general anaesthetic
* Provision of care to patients on a domiciliary basis
2. To carry epidemiological screening programmes in line with the Office for Health Improvement & disparities protocols.
3. To supervise and support dental care professionals, including provision of clinical supervision and response to day‑to‑day queries and concerns.
4. To assist with and participate in training and education, supporting dental care professionals working towards postgraduate qualifications, participating in peer review sessions, demonstrating a commitment to continuing dental education.
5. To be an active member of the Dental Team in monitoring, evaluation, and development of the Dental Service, contributing to quality of service, service development, and sharing ideas.
6. To participate in Clinical Governance programmes such as audits and surveys.
Communication
1. Skilled communication with a range of patients and their families or carers will be required, as this role is primarily working with patients who have additional needs, some of whom will have communication barriers.
2. Communication of sometimes complex clinical information to patients of the service, sometimes in difficult circumstances and delivering difficult news.
3. Explaining risks and benefits of clinical care and treatment modalities to patients and their families or carers.
4. Excellent communication with clinical peers and leaders in a professional manner is essential to inspire confidence, motivation, and teamwork, and in the best interests of patients.
5. Communicates with other health and social care professionals on a range of issues relating to oral health.
6. Contributes to CCS internal communication strategies ensuring effective two‑way communication and engagement within the organisation.
People Management
1. Responsible for day‑to‑day supervision of dental nurse working alongside
2. Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and PDP process.
Clinical and Practice Governance
1. Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
2. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
3. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
4. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
5. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the GDC, and on a relevant performers list, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.
6. Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.
7. The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required.
8. Provide patients and their families/caregivers with information on standards they should expect from the team.
9. Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.
10. The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NHS Performer Number and GDC registration
* Trained in delivery of care under inhalation sedation, IV sedation, and/or general anaesthesia
Experience
* Satisfactory completion of Vocational Training or Vocational Training Equivalence.
* Experience of providing dental care under inhalation sedation and/or general anaesthesia
* Experience of working in a community/special care dental service
* Experience of providing care for patients with additional needs
Skills
* A high degree of tact and patience is required to work with patients who are sometimes challenging.
* Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
* Standard keyboard skills and ability to communicate through IT using packages such as Word, Outlook, Excel and Powerpoint.
* Skilled in the management of anxious patients
* Knowledge of the types of patients seen in special care services and how treatment/patient management may be adapted to suit them
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.
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
£81,716 to £95,579 a year per annum, pro‑rata
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