Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Oral Health Promotion Team Lead within our community Dental Service. The role involves delivering oral health promotion advice to the population of Brighton and Hove with a particular focus on vulnerable communities and tackling health inequalities. Training is also delivered to health and social care professionals in line with best practice guidelines to change behaviour and deliver healthy outcomes for Brighton and Hove’s population.

The role is part time and offers flexible working, with some requirements for weekend and evening sessions to meet the operating hours of local services we partner with.

The team lead has autonomy to organise and co-ordinate activities of their team ensuring activity not only meets key performance indicators (KPIs) but also the needs of the local population of Brighton & Hove residents. If you are a motivated oral health education able to effectively manage a team, monitor and report on KPIs, with excellent communication and networking skills, able to establish trust with people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds we would love you to join our excellent team.

Main duties of the job

To lead and manage the Oral Health Promotion (OHP) team to include:

  • Provide appropriate information on oral health issues to inform Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust strategies e.g. health improvement plans, local public health reports.
  • Develop, plan and implement new initiatives, teaching programmes, worksheets, displays, power point presentations and other audio-visual aids ensuring these are appropriate to target group and meet local needs, and monitor their effectiveness.
  • Be accountable, and take responsibility for the most effective use of the Oral Health Promotion budget, taking into account resource commitments already agreed.
  • To act independently using initiative, problem-solving, analytical and decision making skills to carry out all necessary activities for the continuation of the Oral Health Promotion service including dealing with routine and non-routine issues.

    • Working for our organisation

    SCFT teams deliver a range of health and care services to more than 9,000 people every day, working in care homes, clinics, intermediate care units, people’s own homes, GP surgeries, schools and other community venues across the region.

    Our vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community and achieving the highest level of service is our top priority.

    The Oral Health Promotion Team sits within SCFT’s community Dental Services, offering a range of specialised dental care to patients with additional needs, emergency out of hours provision and oral health education and promotion. We seek to develop our staff to enable them to deliver an excellent standard of compassionate care to the communities we care for and achieve their ambitions.

    The OHP team is a small dedicated team of Oral Health Educators, with administration support, which has been established in the city for decades. We have an excellent reputation within our partnership organisations having built solid relationships over this period and tailored support to meet the needs of the community of Brighton and Hove.

    We are a friendly team based with the Special Care Dental clinic in Brighton, who work flexibly together to support the work of the OHP by fostering links and referrals into the dental service where appropriate. We are supporting by Brighton and Hove City Council, who commission the OHP activity, and have well established links with public health colleagues.

    Detailed job description and main responsibilities
    Main tasks

  • Maintain specialist knowledge and understanding of:
  • The causes, effects, process and prevention of a variety of oral and related diseases, and their impact on general health, based on current evidence.
  • The impact of oral disease and social determinants on both oral and general health.
  • The principles of health policy and strategy underpinned by current evidence and public health information.
  • Health promotion, health behaviour and educational theory, including the impact of social determinants and inequality on health status.
  • Underpinning principles of research and development

    • Train staff to deliver Oral Health Promotion and continually monitor to maintain high standards of delivery.

    To develop health alliances and be part of a multi-disciplinary team with other professionals from government initiatives e.g. Children Centres in areas of need, to plan and implement interventions to improve health and address inequalities.

    Work and liaise with other agencies, health professionals and government initiatives giving help, advice and training for their staff in all areas of oral health care including disseminating complex and contentious information.

    Collaborate with authorised organisations / bodies in the promotion of oral health issues through campaigns and exhibitions locally, when appropriate. This may involve out of hours working.

    Convey diverse, complex, multi-stranded information on a comprehensive range of oral health issues, dietary related topics and complex medical conditions to Early Years personnel, health professionals, social care professionals, educational professionals, community sector personnel and the public.

  • Selection and preparation of appropriate programme
  • Selection of appropriate material and audio visual aids
  • Travel to sites, transport and assemble equipment
  • Respond to comments and questions from the audience and follow up as required
  • Record activity.

    • To carry out home visits as requested by health visitors or other professionals to give specialist advice and / or support to families with specific problems.

    To maintain and update skills and knowledge by attending suitable courses and conferences and cascade to staff at regular meetings.

    To organise special events within the oral health calendar, e.g. National Smile Month and League of Friends events.

    To represent the Special Care Dental Service (SCDS) and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust at managed clinical networks and provide a report.

    To be competent in identifying and using a variety of teaching techniques with relation to oral health training activities.

    To deliver oral health instruction and / or fluoride varnish, as prescribed by a Dentist to patients at any of the SCDS dental service clinics:

  • To work closely with the prescribing Dentist to ensure the provision of appropriate care for patients. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and liaise with the Dentist with respect to oral health. To give pre and post-operative instructions to patients, parents, carers or family members. To take responsibility for dental advice provided and maintain accurate written and electronic records of all discussions and treatment carried out. To take responsibility for checking and updating important and confidential information in patient records, such as medical histories and consent forms. To take responsibility for ensuring that informed consent has been obtained from patient or parent, or in the case of adults who do not have the mental capacity to consent for themselves ensuring the dentist has gained agreement from carers/other professionals as appropriate. To provide specialist oral health instruction to patients, parents and carers in a persuasive, non-judgemental, motivational and empathetic manner. To keep up to date with current techniques and dental materials. To keep up to date in the diagnosis and treatment of medical emergencies including the use of emergency drugs. To take responsibility for ensuring follow up or discharge arrangements are in place.

    • To provide high quality oral health advice in a domiciliary environment within patients’ homes, residential care homes and hospital settings, as required.

    To treat patients, carers and colleagues with respect and courtesy and deliver a high standard of customer care.

    To maintain a high standard of professional competence and personal integrity, including Continuing Professional Development and keep records of this to fulfil future mandatory General Dental Council requirements.

    To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients under care.

    To comply with the General Dental Council “Standards for Dental Professionals and Scope of Practice”.

    To ensure annual enrolment with the General Dental Council and indemnity insurance is current.

  • To liaise with other health and social care professionals such as doctors, interpreters, health visitors, school nurses, child protection team both within and outside the organisation to facilitate patient care.
  • Provide clinical and administrative data as required by the Clinical Director and General Manager.

    • To actively participate in Service Governance and quality assurance activities, taking a lead in specific audits and projects as required.

    To actively participate in staff meetings in order to develop service policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols.

    To conform to all Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and Special Care Dental Service policies, procedures and guidelines.

    To carry out any other duties in line with the grade of the post.

    Main responsibilities

  • To provide regular supervision and appraisal for Oral Health Promotion staff within the specified time periods. To identify and address their professional training needs through supervision and develop personal development plans with these staff.
  • To be responsible for the recruitment and induction and training of Oral Health Promotion staff.
  • To take a lead in delivering oral health support to all vulnerable groups and their carers in Brighton & Hove including substance misuse, homeless, learning disabilities, gypsies and travellers.
  • To oversee and monitor Oral Health Promotion staff’s delivery of Oral Health Promotion programmes.
  • To review and audit suggestions and comments of Oral Health Promotion programmes via evaluation sheets from attendees of training sessions.
  • To be responsible for service governance including clinical audit within the Oral Health Promotion department.
  • To monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) within the scope of the OHP service specification.

    • Person specification

    Experience
    Essential criteria

  • At least 3 years experience of delivery of health promotion
  • Excellent written communication
  • Current driving license

    • Desirable criteria

  • 3 years or more experience of staff management or supervision
  • Managing an external contract and/or reporting performance against KPIs
  • Budget management experience

    • Qualifications
    Essential criteria

  • Dental Care Professional qualification
  • Current registration with the GDC
  • Oral Health Promotion or teaching qualification

    • Desirable criteria

  • Management or Leadership qualification or training

    • Knowledge and skills
    Essential criteria

  • Able to complete a task to demonstrate communication of OHP advice
  • Knowledge of current best practice
  • Comprehensive knowledge of infection control
  • Evidence of partnership working
  • Evidence of time management and autonomous working

    • Desirable criteria

  • Management and supervision of staff
  • Managing a budget
  • Monitoring and Reporting on KPIs

    • Skills
    Essential criteria

  • Presentation Skills – to convey information clearly and concisely

    • Desirable criteria

  • Extensive knowledge of the OHP agenda.

    • This post may close earlier than the published closing date if sufficient applications are received.

    Correspondence relating to this vacancy will be conducted electronically. If you have not heard from us within two weeks please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please ensure that you check your emails, including your junk folder, on a regular basis. References will be requested electronically as well; please ensure you provide correct contact details for referees.

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