Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic and patient-focused clinician to join Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Dental Services as a Dental Officer on a full-time maternity cover basis. Based at Aylesham Health Centre, you will provide high-quality dental care for children and adults with additional physical, medical, behavioural, or mental health needs across a variety of community settings. The role includes delivering Tier 2 dental care, supporting patients requiring sedation or general anaesthesia, and providing treatment in clinics, prisons, mobile dental units, and patients' homes when required. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for promoting excellent oral health outcomes, ensuring compliance with clinical governance and infection prevention standards, and contributing to service development, audit, and quality improvement activities.

Main duties of the job

• To provide tier 2 level dental care for paediatric and special care patients who have been referred into the service and remote triaging for dental patients in pain and patients on the waiting list as directed by the clinical director.
• To provide dental treatment under inhalation sedation (intravenous sedation if required by service need) and general anaesthetic
• To provide dental treatment at HMP prison sites, mobile dental units and domiciliary care as required by service need
• 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 Kent and London Quality Group (DCQG)
• Comply with Dental Practice Inspections as organised through the Area teams, and ensure delivery of all CQC outcomes for patient care

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.

Details
Closing date: 31 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Salary: £54,502 to £81,753 a year pro rata, per annum
Contract: Fixed term, 9 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 846-8162024-TS-3

Person Specification
Essential qualifications and experience

• Full registration with the UK General Dental council with performer number and no restrictions
• Demonstrates competency in Level 1 Dentistry (e.g: Routine examinations, restorations, provision of partial and full dentures, root canal treatments, stainless steel crowns using the Hall Technique etc)
• Experience of delivering dental care in a range of dental service settings e.g. mobile dental unit and/or domiciliary setting
• Experience of working with children and adults with special needs
• Enhanced clinical skills which will support the delivery of services outlined in the service specification
• Skills to provide dental care under sedation (Inhalation sedation/ Intravenous sedation).
• Compliance with GDC standards for dental professionals, and knowledge and skills to promote these standards within the clinical team
• A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently are essential for this role.
• Ability to lead and manage the immediate clinical environment and team.

Desirable

• Relevant postgraduate dental qualification
• Epidemiology fieldwork
• Experience working with Dentally dental Software
• Communication skills required to build partnerships with stakeholders outside the immediate clinical environment
• Interest in leading projects and service development
• Experience in teaching/ clinical supervision

Employer details
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Aylesham Health centre, Aylesham, CT3 3BB
Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact: Marisa Da Costa, Clinical Director East Kent Dental Service, marisa.dacosta@nhs.net

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome to apply and will be considered alongside all other applications.