Specialty Dentist - Acute Dental Care

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Town London Salary £63,696 - £102,689 pro rata, plus London zone £2,162 Salary period Yearly Closing 28/09/2026 23:59

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£2.1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

The Acute Dental Care Department at the Dental Hospital operates a ten‑chair clinical facility located on the ground floor. The department is part of the Trust’s Dental Care Group, which works in close partnership with the King’s College London School of Dentistry across its Denmark Hill and London Bridge sites.

This post plays an important role in strengthening Acute Dental Care by supporting the delivery of high‑quality clinical services, inclusive and accessible teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and clinically focused research activity.

Core responsibilities include the assessment, diagnosis and management of individuals requiring urgent dental care, as well as arranging timely referrals for those who need specialist treatment within the Dental Hospital. A significant aspect of the role involves providing supportive, constructive clinical supervision to undergraduate dental students and junior colleagues. The post also requires close collaboration with the Oral Surgery Department and teams within the Restorative disciplines to ensure coordinated, person‑centred care.

The department manages a high volume of patients, with many referrals coming through the NHS 111 Dental Triage service. Additional referrals are received from other hospitals, general dental and medical practitioners, internal hospital teams and specialist departments within the Dental Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The 5PA post will be based at the Dental Institute at Denmark Hill. This will be reviewed within 3 months of the successful applicant taking up their post.

All employees are expected to undertake work on any of the Trusts sites as required by the service. As an employee of the Trust you will work in close co-operation with, and support other clinical, medical professional and managerial colleagues in providing high quality healthcare to the Trust’s patients. Integral to these responsibilities is the following:

• The provision of a first class clinical service
• Effective leadership to all staff engaged in the specialty
• Sustaining and developing teaching and research in conjunction with King’s College London / KHP
• Undertaking all work in accordance with the Trust’s procedures and operating policies
• Conducting clinical practice in accordance with contractual requirements and within the parameters of the Trust’s service plans
• Maintaining the confidence of business plans and development strategies formulated for the specialty, the Division or the Trust

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Together with other colleagues, to provide a high-quality care service to patients. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the Care Group.

Responsible for the cover of periods of annual leave and short-term sickness of colleagues.

Provide clinical supervision of junior dental staff as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.

Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives.

Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Divisional management team.

Contribute to departmental research interests in accordance with the Trust’s R&D framework.

Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, clinical governance programs and learning from Deaths.

Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the department’s/ Division’s Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.

Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).

Exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post-qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained.

Work in conjunction with clinical and other professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for peers and/or junior colleagues.

Undertake Divisional management duties as agreed with the Divisional/departmental Manager/Clinical Director.

Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.

Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintaining patient safety.

Person specification

• Full registration with the United Kingdom General Dental Council (GDC)
• Fellowship in Dental Surgery or Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, or equivalent
• BDS or equivalent
• A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience
• Clinical skills appropriate to an appointment providing acute dental healthcare
• Familiarity with the planning and manage¬ment of patients’ surgical requirements using local anaesthesia and appropriate sedation techniques
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development and training
• Effective participation in clinical audits/service evaluations/quality improvement programmes (with at least one audit project in last 12 months)
• Understanding of the current management issues in the NHS
• Ability to appraise scientific literature
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to relate with colleagues – clinical and non-clinical, patients and relatives
• Team based approach to care and service management, including appreciation of nursing and therapy roles
• Demonstrates a professional approach to work, with reliability, a strong commitment to attendance, and a consistently appropriate and professional personal presentation
• Fellowship in Dental Surgery (FDS), Fellowship of a Royal College, or other higher dental qualification relevant to the specialty
• Relevant additional degree or diploma
• Experience in the supervision of junior staff and undergraduate students
• Previous experience of clinical audit
• Research training Publications in professional journals
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Communications skills course
• Experience of undergraduate teaching, formal teaching qualification

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King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.