Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Locum Consultant in Restorative Dentistry to join our multidisciplinary Oral and Maxillofacial and Orthodontic teams at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is a unique initial opportunity to lead and innovate within a dynamic and supportive environment, delivering high-quality care and improving patient outcomes, with a vision to becoming a permanent member of our team.



As a Locum Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, you will play a pivotal role in providing exceptional patient care, contributing to the delivery of high-quality services within our department. Your expertise will be utilised to diagnose, treat, and manage a diverse range of conditions, including endodontic, periodontal, and prosthodontic cases.



Working alongside a dedicated team of consultants, nurses, and healthcare professionals, you will have the opportunity to enhance your clinical skills and make a significant difference in the lives of our patients. Our department is renowned for providing exceptional patient care and fostering a supportive and inclusive working environment.



As a Locum Consultant, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, a strong network of experienced consultants, and opportunities to engage in research and clinical audit projects.



Join our dynamic team and become an integral part of our mission to improve the oral health and well-being of our patients.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Expertise:

Provide expert restorative dental care, including complex diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of restorative cases, such as tooth wear, dental trauma, congenital dental anomalies, complex periodontal disease, and advanced endodontic and prosthodontic rehabilitation following head and neck cancer treatment.

Service Leadership:

Lead and develop clinical services in restorative dentistry, ensuring the highest standards of care and contributing to service improvement initiatives.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration:

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including oral surgery, orthodontics (including cleft palate and congenital hypodontia)) and maxillofacial surgery, to deliver comprehensive patient care.

Education and Training:

Supervise and mentor junior dental staff, where required, contributing to professional development and training. Participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs as required.

Clinical Governance and Research:

Participate in clinical governance activities, including audit, quality improvement projects, and research, to enhance service delivery and patient care. Engage in continuous professional development to stay abreast of advancements in restorative dentistry.

Patient-Centered Care:

Ensure the provision of patient-centered care by involving patients in treatment decisions, providing clear communication, and maintaining a compassionate approach to care.



Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.



Our Values



We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.



Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.



1. Job Outline



The appointee will join a large multi-disciplinary team initially as a Locum Consultant, with a view to making the role substantive for the right candidate with a pro-active approach to developing our Restorative Dentistry Services for the Trust, realising a vision and strategy for the future service that aligns with our OMFS unit strategy.



You will provide advice and treatment for patients with Hypodontia, advanced maxillofacial /dental trauma, Head & Neck cancer patients via Head & Neck MDT and other developmental conditions.



Provide advice and treatment for adult patients with Cleft Lip & Palate, amelogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta.



2. Duties and Responsibilities



The appointee will deliver clinical excellence within Restorative Dentistry. This will require collaborative working with colleagues within and external to the trust.



To provide clinical expertise in Restorative Dentistry supporting and supervising members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT).



Provide with consultant colleagues a specialty service to the Trust with responsibility for the diagnosis and management of patients referred to the Restorative Dentistry Service to meet growing demand.



The post-holder and other consultant colleagues will cover each other's absence for any annual or study leave.



The appointee will participate in clinical audit and show a commitment to continuing medical education (CME).



You will provide care to both inpatients and outpatients, ensuring that patients are provided with the highest possible standard of diagnosis, treatment and care in the most effective and timely way.



The successful candidate will work according to the terms and conditions of the new consultant contract and lead by example, setting and maintaining high professional standards.



All staff employed by the Trust are expected to comply with the Trust's Health and Safety policies.



You will actively conduct/ participate in audits related to both clinical and non-clinical aspects of work and participate in hospital Clinical Audit Programmes and all aspects of Trust wide Clinical Governance.



The appointee will maintain up to date knowledge of Restorative Dentistry and related areas appropriate to carrying out these duties. They will participate in a recognised programme of continuing medical education and professional development, with experience and enthusiasm in pursuing research projects.



To assist in the management and support of junior medical and dental staff and of technical staff according to Trust policies and in line with the requirements of the clinical service.



To maintain effective communication and working relationships with medical, scientific, management, technical and nursing staff, as required for performing the responsibilities of this post. This includes electronic communication within the department, the Trust, and with national and international colleagues.



3. Job Plan Contents



This 10 PA per week role consists of 8.5 PAs direct clinical care and 1.5 PA for Supporting Professional Activity (SPA). Further discussions on flexible working arrangements can be discussed with the successful candidate.



Job planning will be used to reflect the needs of the department, ensuring that contracted work is appropriately remunerated. An initial job plan review will be undertaken by the Clinical Director after 3 months and annually thereafter, or if the work pattern changes. Any additional PAs contracted by the Trust will be agreed as a separate part of the job plan by mutual consent.



A confirmed timetable of activity will be agreed with the successful candidate and the Clinical Director at the start of the contract. When this role is made permanent, college approval of this plan will be sought and confirmed.



The Trust is committed to extending the working day and to seven day working and hence by negotiation successful appointees may be asked to work earlier in the mornings, later in the evenings or at weekends in exchange for other day time duties. TOIL is offered when Consultants work i.e on Bank Holidays and this is in line with Terms & Conditions.



On Call duties



There are no on-call responsibilities with this role.



There is full time secretarial/administrative support to this role.



4. Job Purpose



The primary aim of this full time appointment as Locum Consultant in Restorative Dentistry is to provide consultant-led services to the population of Bedfordshire. Although initially a locum post that aims to support head and neck cancer service, hypodontia and cleft service, we are keen to work with someone that has enthusiasm and vision for our future Restorative Dentistry service, thereby realising substantive intention.



The appointee will contribute to the clinical activities of the specialty within OMFS, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. Multi-disciplinary clinics also run jointly with other dental specialists to treat hypodontia, including patients transitioning from paediatric dentistry to adult care and oral rehabilitation of patients with Head and Neck Cancer.



The successful applicant will be based at the Luton & Dunstable site providing a comprehensive diagnostic, treatment, and multidisciplinary service to support departmental patient activity targets.



The appointee will offer clinical dental education and supervision to junior staff in the department.



Candidates are required to hold a primary dental qualification, be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), have passed the intercollegiate specialist fellowship examination qualification (or show equivalence) in Restorative Dentistry from one of the surgical Royal Colleges. In addition, the successful candidate should be on the GDC specialist list in Restorative Dentistry or within 6 months of expected date of CCST.



The Trust is part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership (Integrated Care System) and within this the Bedfordshire Care Alliance. As a result of this, the successful candidate may be required to adapt their job plan in the future to work across more than one site within the area; this may also include delivering aspects of care in community settings which supports the Trust's vertical integration strategy.



Visiting Arrangements and assessment



All shortlisted applicants will be expected to visit the hospital prior to interview and make arrangements to discuss this post.

Prior to shortlisting:

Mr Rob Bunyan



Clinical Director for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Tel:

07989074394



Robert.Bunyan@bedsft.nhs.uk



Mrs Alison Rance



General Manager for OMFS & ENT

Tel:

07504 339 701



Alison.rance@bedsft.nhs.uk