Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry in Norfolk

Make a Meaningful Difference in Children’s Oral Health. Community Dental Services CIC is an award-winning, employee-owned social enterprise, delivering high-quality, compassionate dental care to vulnerable and underserved communities across East and Central England. We are currently seeking an experienced and motivated Specialist in Paediatric Dentistry to join our Norfolk & Waveney team. This is a rewarding opportunity to work with a wide range of children and young people with complex dental needs in a supportive, collaborative environment.

About the Role: You will provide specialist paediatric dental care across community settings in Norfolk and Waveney, with most of your time based at Siskin Dental Centre, Norwich. You will also deliver sessions at other local clinics and provide treatment under general anaesthesia in acute hospital settings.

Your work will include:

• Delivering comprehensive oral care to children and adolescents with additional needs, complex medical conditions, and behavioural challenges
• Leading paediatric dentistry provision across the service and supporting clinical governance activities
• Supporting and mentoring dental officers and senior clinicians with complex cases
• Providing expert advice to general dental practitioners, other healthcare professionals, and carers
• Actively engaging in the Paediatric Managed Clinical Network (MCN) and regional service development
• Leading or supporting sedation and GA services as needed

What We Offer:

• 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme
• Full clinical indemnity provided by CDS CIC
• Mileage allowance for travel across sites
• Surgery uniform provided
• Supportive mentorship and opportunities for professional development
• Chance to work within an employee-owned organisation, where your voice and ideas matter
• Involvement in regional networks and service innovation
• A fulfilling role in a patient-focused, values-led service with no UDA pressures

What We’re Looking For:

• Fully registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and on the Specialist List in Paediatric Dentistry, or within 6 months of achieving CCST
• Active NHS Performer Number
• Significant clinical experience in paediatric and special care dentistry
• Experience in providing treatment under general anaesthesia
• Experience in inhalation sedation
• Excellent team-working, leadership, and communication skills
• A valid UK driving licence and access to a car

• Postgraduate qualification in sedation (e.g., Diploma, MSc)
• Experience in intravenous sedation
• Evidence of research, audit, or teaching experience
• Hospital-based paediatric dentistry experience
• Leadership or project management experience

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• To provide a full range of oral care for children and adolescents with learning difficulties, complex medical problems, severe behavioural problems and other priority groups as agreed with the commissioners, using a full range of techniques including behavioural management, sedation and general anaesthetic where appropriate.
• To take clinical responsibilities for a caseload including comprehensive diagnostic, preventive, restorative and surgical care in both a clinic setting and under general anaesthesia.
• To provide leadership in paediatric dentistry for the service and actively contribute to the Clinical Governance programme, providing relevant reports if required.
• To provide clinical support for dentists within the service with complex cases including those where treatment under general anaesthetic is necessary.
• To provide advice to local GDPs and other healthcare professionals or care providers where appropriate.
• To support and advise the Clinical Director, Chief Operating Officer, Clinical Lead and Operations Manager.

Relationships: Work in conjunction with the Clinical Lead, Chief Operating Officer, Clinical Director, other Consultants and Specialists, Senior Dental Officers and Dental Officers, particularly those involved in providing sedation within the service. Liaise with colleagues in Community Dental Services, Hospital and General Dental Services; commissioning and training leads; professional networks.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Provide support to the dental team with respect to treatment planning and provision of comprehensive dental care under general anaesthesia.
• Undertake thorough examination and assessment of patients and deliver a full and comprehensive range of dental care to the client group in order to render them dentally fit in a caring, safe and efficient way.
• Plan and manage care where there are complex medical co-morbidities or the situation requires the involvement of other professionals and/or carers to resolve complex patient management issues as agreed with local commissioning.
• Plan, develop and implement programmes to prevent disease and promote health in target groups within the population if required to do so.
• Identify commonly occurring medical emergencies and lead the dental team in the appropriate first line management of the emergency, using appropriate techniques equipment and drugs.
• Keep up to date with developments in this area and/or able to advise other members of the team and take responsibility for organising the training and resources for the acute management of medical emergencies within the main clinic of responsibility.
• Use appropriate local anaesthetic and patient management approaches to control pain and anxiety during dental treatment. This will include the use of sedation.
• Responsible for organising training and resources in support of the availability of sedation within the service if required to do so.
• Provide comprehensive dental assessment and treatment under General Anaesthetic in a hospital setting.
• Undertake the diagnosis, selection of appropriate restorative technique and delivery of restoration or replacement of teeth in an effective way. Undertake a range of restorative techniques.
• Undertake the diagnosis, selection of appropriate periodontal techniques and delivery of periodontal care in an effective way.
• Routine exodontia and/or simple surgical exodontias.
• Organise clinical teaching and training programmes if required and support others in relation to paediatric dental care.
• To Attend and actively participate in the Paediatric Dentistry Managed Clinical Network (MCN) meetings and activities.
• Engage collaboratively with other MCN members to contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality paediatric dental services across the region.
• Share clinical expertise and insights, supporting service improvement initiatives and evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to strategic planning, service evaluation, and the implementation of regional guidelines and pathways.

Job Description Status: The above job description is indicative only. It is intended to represent current priorities and is not meant to be an exhaustive list. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade. Any changes to this job description to take account of changing service needs will be made in discussion with the post holder. This job description and the role will be reviewed as part of the Personal Development Review process to take account of changing needs /development of the service. To meet the evolving needs of the organisation you may also be required to provide cover in other areas following appropriate discussion.

Key Outcomes: Appropriate clinical dental care, examination and screening provided to a high standard for clients of the Community Dental Service and recognised Professional Standards. Assist the service in managing the referrals received and work with Operations team to manage the allocation and assessment of referrals among the clinicians working at local clinics. Work with clinicians throughout Norfolk & Waveney CDS to ensure effective management of clinical diaries enabling efficiency in the number of patients assessed, thereby reducing any backlog of referrals and failure to meet required targets and key performance indicators. Actively participate in and contribute to CDS peer review activities and clinical supervision/audit meetings. To ensure that there is adherence to acceptance and discharge criteria for children referred to the service. To provide training, advice and support to the service and other members of the dental team.