Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

•    In collaboration with the Consultant, patient and their family (as appropriate), identify their individual care needs when formulating a management plan, ensuring a holistic approach to care.  
•    Clean and prepare tooth surfaces ready for orthodontic treatment 
•    Identify, select, use and maintain appropriate instruments 
•    Insert passive removable orthodontic appliances 
•     Insert removable appliances activated or adjusted by a dentist 
•     Remove fixed appliances, orthodontic adhesives and cement 
•     Identify, select, prepare and place auxiliaries 
•     Take clinical records, which include photographs and impressions 
•     Make a patient’s orthodontic appliance safe in the absence of a dentist 
•     Fit orthodontic headgear 
•     Fit orthodontic face bows which have been adjusted by a dentist 
•     Take occlusal records including orthognathic facebow readings 
•     Take intra and extra-oral photographs 
•     Fit tooth separators 
•     Place brackets and bands 
•     Prepare, insert, adjust and remove arch wires previously prescribed or, where necessary, activated by a dentist 
•    Give advice on appliance care and oral health instruction, to both and patient carers 
•     Fit bonded retainers 
•     Carry out Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) screening, under the direction of a dentist or direct to patients 

•    Make appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals 
•     Keep full, accurate and contemporaneous patient records 
•     Give appropriate patient advice 
•    Monitor and ensure cleanliness and infection prevention/control measures are adhered to.  

Communication and Representation 

•    Use advanced communication and interpersonal skills. 
•    Provide and receive information of a highly complex, sensitive or contentious nature.  
•    Deliver written and verbal information in an understandable way to patients and/or relatives/carers, consultants and other healthcare colleagues. 
•    Dealing with verbal complaints following correct protocols. 
•    The post holder will need to be able to communicate potential complex information to ensure that any barriers that the patient may have to understanding the treatment is explained clearly. 
•    Work as part of the multidisciplinary team fostering good interdepartmental relationships and helping to achieve high morale for patients and staff and continuous quality improvement.  
•    Lead and promote programmes of health education and health promotion and involve patients and carers appropriately in decision-making.  
•    Shared responsibility with the other clinicians for covering for colleagues during periods of annual leave and short-term sickness.
•    To contribute to departmental research interests in accordance with the Trust’s R&D framework.

Administrative Responsibilities

•    Manage own clinics and appointments, liaising with patients and clerical staff to ensure the care pathway is well organised.  
•    Maintain up to date records and ensure that confidentiality is respected at all times. 
•    Maintain a commitment to improving the quality of service provided.