Senior Dental Officer

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Dental Officer to join our growing Community Specialist Dental Service as a senior member of the team. The role requires leading the delivery of high quality oral health care for adults and children with complex medical, physical, cognitive, sensory or social impairments across multiple sites within the County Durham & Darlington community.

In addition to routine primary dental care, the post includes treatment under Day Case General Anaesthesia and sedation where appropriate. The successful candidate will be encouraged to contribute to service development, mentor less experienced staff and support other staff groups within the service.

EEO Statement
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as their participation is currently under‑represented.

• Provide oral health care for patients requiring specialist advice and treatment within the community setting and deliver a full range of NHS dental treatments under GDS regulations.
• Operate across multiple sites, maintaining service standards and continuity of care.
• Mentor and supervise junior staff, fostering a collaborative and professional environment.
• Contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development initiatives.
• Engage with multidisciplinary teams to develop patient pathways and ensure seamless care delivery.
• Collect and analyse clinical activity data for reporting and audit purposes.

• Provision of full clinical dental care for patients with special needs.
• Delivery of dental care under general anaesthesia and sedation.
• Provision of dental care in domiciliary and secondary care settings when appropriate.
• Care for bariatric patients.
• Lead planning and development of County Durham & Darlington Community Specialist Dental Services.
• Conduct teaching sessions and lead audit projects for service development.
• Carry out needs assessments and develop services for adult and child patients with special needs.
• Support and motivate community dental staff providing care for patients with special needs.
• Supervise and support dental care professionals in the effective day‑day management of clinic sites.
• Liaise closely with consultants in Paediatric Dentistry, SCD specialists and the Oral Health Promotion Team.
• Participate in local multidisciplinary networks to develop patient pathways.
• Undertake specific project work under direction of the Services Manager.
• Participate in the Job Planning, Appraisal and Trust Appraisal processes.

• Statutory Registration (Essential)
  • Full registration as a dental surgeon with the General Dental Council.
• Special Skills & Knowledge (Essential)
  • Portfolio of CPD relevant to Community Specialist Dental Service.
  • Membership of BSPD, BSDH, BSG, SAAD or other relevant society.
  • Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team.
  • Computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Special Skills & Knowledge (Desirable)
  • Relevant enhanced training/skills (e.g., Makaton, clinical holding, behavioural therapy).
  • Evidence of additional training (e.g., advanced endodontic therapy, prosthetics).
• Special Requirements (Essential)
  • Clinical supervision of dental officers, dental trainees and dental therapists.
  • Appropriate professional indemnity.
  • Ability to travel independently across the county.
• Qualifications (Essential)
  • Bachelor of Dental Surgery or Equivalent.
  • Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g., Diploma in Conscious Sedation, Paediatric Dentistry, Special Care Dentistry).
• Qualifications (Desirable)
  • Registrable qualification in Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Endodontics or other patient management techniques.
• Experience (Essential)
  • Significant experience as a dental officer or equivalent, with interest/skills in special areas (prosthodontics, restorative dentistry for elderly, paediatric dentistry, special care dentistry).
  • Ability to work at the national competency level for senior salaried dentists (Band
    
    B).
  • Provision of routine clinical dental care, sedation (inhalation/IV) and general anaesthetic treatment.
  • Sensitivity to needs of patient groups within the Dental Service remit.
• Experience (Desirable)
  • Experience of managing aspects of Clinical Governance in Dentistry.
  • Provision of care for medically compromised patients requiring hospital-based services.
  • Provision of care for bariatric patients.
  • Provision of domiciliary care to patients in the core service area.

• Disclosure and Barring Service Check required.
• Compliance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.

• Grade:
  Doctor – other (Hospital medical and dental staff)
• Pay Scheme: £81,716 to £95,579 a year (LD11 Band B, pro rata)
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Working Pattern:
  Full‑time
• Location:
  
  Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6AD

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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