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Job summary

Main area
Senior Dental Therapist
Grade
Band 7
Contract
12 years (Fixed Term)
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Days to be agreed)
Job ref
150-CP2059-PC
Employer
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Special Care Dental Service, School Clinic
Town
Brighton
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum pro-rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Dental Therapist

Band 7

Job overview

Do you want to make a difference?

If you are well organised, able to prioritise and work on your own initiative without direct supervision but also enjoys working as part of a team to provide excellent patient care, then we look forward to hearing from you.

Part Time (22.5 hours per week) 1 year fixed term contract Applications are invited from Dental Therapists with an interest in Special Care Dentistry to join our motivated and committed teams. You will provide comprehensive dental care for adults and children within our special care dental service both in the fully equipped clinic and occasionally on a domiciliary basis. The post includes line management of other Dental Therapists in the service, with clinical work based at Morley Street Dental Clinic, Brighton and Crawley Hospital.  Full GDC registration is essential.

The Special Care Dental Service is part of a countywide service providing NHS Dental treatment to patients on referral, operating Mondays to Fridays, 08:30am to 4:30pm.

 

Main duties of the job

  • 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, adhering to Mental Capacity Act guidance
  • To keep up to date with current techniques and dental materials, restoring teeth using a wide range of treatment and materials appropriate to the patient.
  • To take responsibility for the care of a patient in a medical emergency, carrying out appropriate emergency care and resuscitation, and to keep up to date in the diagnosis and treatment of medical emergencies including the use of emergency drugs (which may involve supervising the patient outside of normal working hours until an escort or suitable transport arrives).
  • To maintain a high standard of professional competence and integrity, including Continuing Professional Development and keep records of this to fulfil future mandatory General Dental Council requirements
  •  Demonstrate on-going, continuous professional development and not work outside their defined level of competency, raising any concerns regarding this immediately with the prescribing dentist and/or manager as appropriate
  • To actively participate in Clinical Governance including Audit and Research, and to actively participate in staff and peer review meetings in order to develop service policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols
  •  Participate in and deliver Clinical Supervision and Appraisals according to Trust policy

Working for our organisation

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?
•    Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
•    Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
•    Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
•    Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
•    Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
•    Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
•    Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
•    Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our valuesCompassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To deliver dental therapy to a higher training standard to patients with a wide range of special needs at any Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust dental clinic or on a domiciliary basis.
  • Assist in the manoeuvring of patients using mechanical aids, for instance hoists, wheel chair tilting platform.
  • To carry out the full range of dental care within the statutory remit governed by the General Dental Council (details Appendix 1).
  • To administer and provide treatment for patients utilising inhalation sedation.
  • To work closely with the dentist prescribing the course of treatment to ensure the provision of appropriate care for patients including preventive oral care, treatment of caries, periodontal disease and tooth wear.
  • Monitor dental health of all patients, record indices and report findings to dentist responsible for patient’s course of treatment.
  • To give current and accurate advice to patients with complex needs, parents and carers on oral health matters and treatment in a way that can be understood.
  • To evaluate patient progress, reassess and liaise with the dentist with respect to oral health, recognising abnormalities of the oral cavity and the rest of the patient and raise concerns where appropriate.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GDC Registered
  • Dentistry BDS
  • Performer number

Skills & Knowledge

Desirable criteria
  • Dental Software

Experience

Desirable criteria
  • Working within the NHS or a similar healthcare setting
  • Special Care Dental Experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerCommitted to being an Inclusive EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Award

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Michael Morcos
Job title
Assistant Clinical Director
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07917 050 989
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