Dental Health Support Worker

Fixed term/Secondment opportunity for 12 months

• Secondment Opportunity - Existing permanent employees must first discuss this opportunity with their substantive line manager and complete the secondment request form prior to interview. The secondment request form and the associated secondment policy can be found on the HR/Recruitment intranet pages and must be completed and signed by the substantive line manager. The Candidate should then take it with them to interview as confirmation that an agreement has been granted.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Public Dental Service (PDS) for a Dental Health Support Worker to join our dynamic team.

We are seeking a highly organised, friendly, and motivated individual to support the delivery of the Childsmile programme. Childsmile is a national programme funded by the Scottish Government to promote and improve the oral health of children in Scotland.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will engage with families to support them in maximising their health and wellbeing through linking, referring, and signposting to wider community services.

• Act as a key link between families, dental teams, health visiting teams, and education staff
• Engage with vulnerable groups and communities to support oral health improvement
• Take social histories to identify needs and support appropriate interventions
• Facilitate access to community-based services and support networks
• Contribute to the development of local service networks, including voluntary and public sector initiatives
• Support integration of oral health into wider health and community services
• Work in partnership with local stakeholders to plan and deliver community-based services

Applicants must meet all of the following:

• Post holder must hold a Childsmile qualification
• Experience of working with families, children, or within a community-based role
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage workload effectively
• Competent IT and computer skills
• Flexible approach to working, including willingness to travel across NHS Forth Valley
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the area of service delivery is essential for this post.

• Experience of working within health, social care, or community services
• Knowledge of local community resources and support services
• Previous experience working within Childsmile or oral health programmes

• Friendly, approachable, and supportive manner
• Highly organised and reliable
• Ability to work independently and use initiative
• Commitment to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities

For informal enquiries, please contact:

• Gail Stewart, Childsmile Co-ordinator/Team Lead - gail.stewartt |
• Darline Reekie -

The duties of this post require the successful candidate to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.

The duties of this post require the successful candidate to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. More information on this scheme can be found at

Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK are advised to carefully review the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes. NHS Forth Valley may be able to offer sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. If you are currently working in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, transitional arrangements may apply.

Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks. For further information on visa requirements and sponsorship eligibility, please refer to…