Job summary
We are recruiting for a part-time Specialist in Orthodontics to join our Community Dental Service based at the JR Hospital to provide dental care for people who find it difficult to access treatment in a general dental practice.

You'll provide specialist orthodontic assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and care within community and hospital dental services, working with Special Care and Paediatric Dentistry patients.

Your role will be split equally (50/50) between Oxford Health and OUH where you will deliver shared care and work closely with consultant colleagues for support and advice across Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), Orthodontics, Oral Medicine and Restorative Dentistry. You'll also contribute to multidisciplinary pathways for patients with hypodontia, dento-alveolar conditions, cleft lip and palate and craniofacial conditions.

This role involves managing children, young people and some adults whose orthodontic needs are complicated by disability, medical or behavioural factors, developmental dental conditions and complex social circumstances. You'll also contribute to clinical leadership, referral management and quality improvement.

If you are a Specialist in Orthodontics with full GDC registration and experience in specialist orthodontic practice, we would love to hear from you. Join our friendly, multidisciplinary team and make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and adults who require specialist, person-centred dental care.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake specialist orthodontic consultations, clinical examination, diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment planning for new and existing patients, making autonomous decisions within the agreed scope of practice.
• Provide appropriate preventive, interceptive and active orthodontic care within the commissioned community service, including fixed and removable appliance treatment, space management, retention, urgent orthodontic care and long-term monitoring where indicated
• Use clinical records, photographs, radiographs, digital models or scans and other investigations appropriately, complying with radiation protection, information governance, professional guidance and local policy
• Deliver shared care with Special Care Dentistry, Paediatric Dentistry and OUH consultant colleagues in OMFS, Orthodontics, Oral Medicine and Restorative Dentistry, coordinating prevention, dental stabilisation, restorative or surgical care and orthodontic treatment in the correct sequence.
• Apply the relevant legal and professional frameworks for consent, children and young people, capacity and best-interest decision-making
• Contribute orthodontic advice to conscious sedation and general anaesthetic pathways where clinically justified and commissioned; recognise promptly when hospital-based or tertiary multidisciplinary management is required.

About us
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details
Date posted: 30 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Doctor - other
Salary: £101,434 to £116,573 a year per annum | pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 267-MSD7274447
Job locations: John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For full details of the role, please refer to the attached job description. To help you prepare a strong application, please take a look at our application guide, which offers helpful advice and guidance throughout the application process.

Service context and scope: The Community Dental Service provides care for patients who cannot readily access or receive appropriate treatment within high street orthodontic practice. The Specialist Orthodontist will work across community clinics as a core member of an integrated team, collaborating with primary, secondary and tertiary care services to provide safe, equitable and coordinated care and advice.

Key working relationships: OHFT Clinical Director and OUH Clinical Lead; OUH consultant colleagues in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), Orthodontics, Oral Medicine and Restorative Dentistry; specialists and clinicians in Special Care Dentistry and Paediatric Dentistry; orthodontic therapists, dental therapists, dental nurses and oral health improvement teams; general dental practitioners and local specialist orthodontic practices; anaesthetic, medical, allied health professional, education, social care and safeguarding teams; and patients, parents, carers, advocates and community organisations.

The community orthodontic caseload may include:

• Children and young people requiring specialist orthodontic assessment, interceptive care or treatment appropriate for a community setting
• Patients with learning disability, autism, physical or sensory disability, neurological or mental health conditions, complex medical needs, dental anxiety, behavioural support needs or communication difficulties
• Patients requiring coordinated orthodontic, preventive, restorative, surgical, special care or paediatric dental care
• Patients with eruption disturbances, impacted or ectopic teeth, developmental dental anomalies, trauma-related needs or complex interceptive treatment requirements
• Patients affected by health inequalities, social vulnerability, safeguarding concerns or other barriers to mainstream orthodontic services
• Patients requiring assessment and onward referral to hospital or tertiary multidisciplinary pathways where complex cases can be managed in the community with hospital oversight (hub and spoke model)

Person Specification
Skills
Essential:

• Calm and resilient in complex situations
• Adaptive, reflective and willing to learn
• Committed to teamwork, inclusion and continuous improvement

Desirable:

• Evidence of active involvement in professional networks, community outreach, patient participation or service user co-design

Qualifications
Essential:

• BDS or equivalent dental qualification
• Full General Dental Council registration
• Inclusion of GDC specialist list in orthodontics

Desirable:

• Membership in Orthodontics or equivalent postgraduate qualification
• Postgraduate qualification in education, leadership, management or QI

Knowledge
Essential:

• Specialist orthodontic assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
• Interface between orthodontics and special care and paediatric dentistry
• Clinical governance, risk management, infection prevention, IG and patient safety

Desirable:

• Understanding of conscious sedation and general anaesthetic dental pathways
• Knowledge of Managed Clinical Networks and commissioning
• Knowledge of digital orthodontics and workflows

Experience
Essential:

• Substantial experience in specialist orthodontic assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and active treatment
• Experience in managing children and young people with complex orthodontic needs and fixed and removable appliance therapy
• Experience adapting care for patients with disability, neurodivergence, medical complexity, anxiety, behavioural or communication needs
• Experience of MDT working and recognising cases requiring secondary or tertiary care
• Evidence of participation in audit, QI, peer review, risk management and incident learning
• Experience teaching, supporting or supervising dental professionals or learners

Desirable:

• Experience working in a Community Dental Service
• Experience managing adults with special care needs
• Experience contributing to sedation or general anaesthetic pathways
• Referral triage, waiting list management and demand and capacity work

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Oxford Health NHS Trust
Address: John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Director - Dentistry, Sarah Buckingham, sarah.buckingham@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk, 01865904040

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