Job summary
We are looking for a dedicated and skilled Dentist to join our forward-thinking Dental Services team at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust. This is an exciting and highly rewarding role where you will deliver comprehensive dental care across a wide range of community settings, as well as provide essential treatment for patients currently detained by His Majesty.

You will play a key part in improving oral health for some of the most vulnerable and underserved groups in Kent, while offering strong clinical leadership within a diverse, multidisciplinary service. As a visible ambassador for our Dental Services, you will champion excellence, uphold the highest standards of professional practice, and help shape the future of specialist community dentistry across the region.

Main duties of the job

• To provide dental care for patients currently being detained by Her Majesty at HMP sites across Kent.
• Involve patients in their care and treatment. Offer information, support and motivation to patients regarding oral health, diet and smoking
• To work with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders to provide a seamless care package for KCHFT dental patients
• Monitor the application of clinical governance practice including dental nurse standards, infection control and cross infection
• Participate in audits as directed by senior management or the Dental Strategic Business Unit Quality Group (DSBUQG)
• Comply with Dental Practice Inspections as organised through the Area teams, and ensure delivery of all CQC outcomes for patient care
• Comply with all KCHFT clinical and non-clinical policies
• Act as an ambassador for the dental service, lead and positively motivate the teams, focus on patient outcomes and key performance indicators and activities
• Attend and chair meetings as directed by the senior management team

About us
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated 'Outstanding' by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Job responsibilities
As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net, quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert.

We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference here.

Good luck! We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Dental degree (BDS, BChd or recognised equivalent)
• Satisfactory completion of Dental Foundation Training year.
• Has current GDC registration with no restrictions and has a performer number with experience within NHS dentistry

Desirable

• Experience of providing dentistry in General practice.
• MFDS, MJDF

Experience
Essential

• Experience of providing care which requires the application of sound ethical and professional principles in a complex physical, social or intellectual context.
• Professional clinical approach including participation in appraisal, peer review, clinical audit and continuing professional development activities
• Sufficient knowledge, confidence and experience to deal sensitively and professionally with issues of poor or under performance in colleagues and other members of the dental team.
• Protects the confidentiality of patients' information

Desirable

• Knowledge of Dentally dental system or similar computerised dental charging system
• Knowledge of wider dental environment

Knowledge
Essential

• Willingness to participate in clinical research and audit as directed with the potential to take the lead in clinical research projects or audits which within their competence.

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Can demonstrate leadership qualities with the ability to train a range of staff and provide clinical and/or organisational leadership and training in a general or recognised clinical specialist domain.

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Ability to work well within a multidisciplinary team.
• Willing to participate in 360-degree appraisal process.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).