Oral Health Improvement Practitioner

JOB PURPOSE The postholder will work within the Plymouth Community Dental Service PCDS to develop, implement and evaluate defined Oral Health Improvement activities. Working closely with clinicians to ensure effective and efficient delivery of oral health programmes in line with national oral health strategies such as Delivering Better Oral Health, an evidence-based toolkit. This role will undertake oral health appointments with patients of the service, including adults/children and those with additional needs or who are medically compromised and to undertake fluoride varnish application under the prescription of a clinician. SCOPE AND RANGE This post will provide a comprehensive oral health service for patients with complex needs, as well as evidence-based oral health promotion to key population groups, in line with national and local strategies for reducing inequalities in oral health. The provision of Oral Health Promotion is multifaceted, requiring a range of inter-personal, presentational, and organisational skills, as well as an understanding of the impact of social and environmental determinants of health. The ability to work independently and flexibly is an essential part of this post. Responsibility for People Management Facilitate and support with on-going staff training in oral health promotion to the wider dental team and other healthcare professionals where appropriate. Ensure oral health improvement programmes are patient focussed. Work together with peers to ensure service promoting oral health; identifying new ways of working regarding oral health promotion where necessary. Collaborate and work in partnership, developing and strengthening professional working relationships to improve oral health outcomes with other health care professionals. Under take appraisals on junior staff where necessary Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources Ensure effective marketing and communication systems are used within the service for oral health promotion, including the use of digital approaches. All resources to be produced to a professional standard. Organise, update and distribute oral health resources to support intervention of the wider dental team. Responsibility for administration Identify appropriate measures of targeting patient groups commissioned to be seen by the service regarding oral health promotion. Ensure oral health promotion data is kept up to date and reviewed at least annually. Monitor and evaluate oral health promotion activities as required, maintain appropriate records and produce quarterly reports of activities undertaken relevant to an agreed work plan Monitor and evaluate oral health promotion activities as required, maintain appropriate records and produce quarterly reports of activities undertaken relevant to an agreed work plan To collate data and provide reports promptly for CDS managers, Dental Board and meetings with commissioners Responsibility for people who use our services Lead on undertaking oral health clinics, providing appointments with patients of the service each week (including those with special needs / neurodivergent / medically compromised) and the application of fluoride varnish where necessary as prescribed by a clinician. Work in partnership with the whole dental team and other relevant health professionals on oral health promotion. Undertake oral health promotion in dental surgeries across the service, wider Livewell departments, residential homes and local schools where required as necessary. Work responsibly, independently and flexibly. Have the skills to work well with both adults and children across all the special care group Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments Responsible for ensuring oral health promotion is embedded into all aspects of health care delivery within the service in line with current guidelines such as Delivering Better Oral Health. Communicate confidently and efficiently including presenting information to people from different backgrounds and abilities with varying levels of literacy and health literacy. Act as a point of contact and source of knowledge and skills for both internal and external enquiries to the service regarding oral health. Maintain up to date knowledge on national policies regarding oral health and NICE guidelines where relevant. Identify best practice in oral health promotion and incorporating the practice into key working relationships. Develop and deliver interventions to improve oral health in conjunction with key national oral health guidelines such as mouth care matters and delivering better oral health toolkit. Comply with standards and evidence-based guidelines developed in the Community Dental Services through its Clinical Governance audit and training programmes Other Responsibilities You may be required to support the oral health nurses with the fluoride varnish project with primary schools and oral health messaging. You will also be required at times to undertake dental nurse duties clinically in surgery. You may be required to represent the service on the Plymouth Oral Health Improvement Group, in conjunction with Plymouth City Council, Public Health and other oral health providers. Ability to be able to visit different locations within the city to support with oral health promotion for the dental service. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS This postholder will work with patients of the service, other dental colleagues to inform of up-to-date oral health promotion toolkits. Oral health promotion will also be undertaken with wider Livewell colleagues (such as in-patient settings), local residential homes and local schools. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB This post will undertake oral health activity in a dental surgery setting as well as talks in local schools and residential homes. Driving between different locations will be necessary. Creation of and maintaining of oral health resources as well as collation of oral health promotion evidence to be collated using various administrative systems, such as excel and good keyboard skills required.

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