Community Dental Therapist: Sponsorship Available

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Job summary

We are seeking a committed Community Dental Therapist to join our Community Dental Service in Carmarthenshire. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to deliver high-quality, preventative-focused dental care to children, young people, and vulnerable members of the community. The post will be primarily based at Elizabeth Williams Clinic, Llanelli, providing a stable clinical base. However, there may be an expectation to occasionally deliver care in community settings across the locality, supporting outreach services and improving access for those most in need. You will play a key role in improving oral health outcomes through patient-centred care, early intervention, and education, while working closely with dentists and dental nurses as part of a multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will be motivated by reducing oral health inequalities, confident in independent clinical practice, and committed to delivering compassionate, professional care across diverse settings.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will:

  • Apply knowledge of community dental patient pathways to deliver safe, effective, and best-practice care within the Community Dental Service.
  • Work under Direct Access arrangements and in accordance with Health Board Patient Group Directives (PGDs).
  • Adhere to the GDC Code of Conduct, professional standards, ethics of the dental team, and meet all core CPD requirements.
  • Develop, maintain, and review accurate and comprehensive treatment plans, ensuring care remains within the GDC scope of practice and tailored to individual patient needs.
  • Undertake ongoing patient assessment, including consent, medical and social history, and update clinical systems as required.
  • Use professional judgement to adapt treatment plans where necessary, including delivering additional treatment within the permitted scope of practice to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
  • Provide clear and effective preventative advice, including oral hygiene instruction and dietary counselling.
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential patient records in line with Hywel Dda University Health Board policies and GDC requirements.
  • Contribute positively to a team-based approach to care, supporting improved access to dental services and the promotion of oral health equity across the community.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma in Dental Therapy & Hygiene
  • Post Graduate certificate in at least one extended duty in dental therapy (e.g. Health promotion, special needs, radiography, sedation)
  • GDC Registration
  • Knowledge of specialist dental equipment and the associated legal responsibilities
  • Knowledge of Clinical Governance and participation in Audit
  • Conversant with basic life support, resuscitation techniques and management of medical emergencies.
  • Understanding of national trends relevant to assessment and intervention within the clinical and oral health improvement.

Desirable

  • Awareness of the CDS client criteria and its role.
  • Knowledge of GDP and Hospital Services.
  • Competency to operate under Direct Access
  • Knowledge of the oral health initiative programmes
  • Able to complete post graduate training in inhalation sedation to enable the provision of dental care with sedation.

Experience

Essential

  • Clinical experience in domiciliary, mobile dental unit or school setting environments
  • Managing complex patient groups
  • Experience in prioritising clinical needs
  • Evidence of working within a multi-agency team.
  • Risk assessment in relation to patient management

Desirable

  • Experience of working within remit of Direct Access
  • Experience in hospital dental service, Community Dental Service or General Dental Practice.

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel between sites in a timely manner

Desirable

  • Professional Indemnity Insurance
  • Ability to carry equipment for domiciliary visits such as dental chair, portable light, medical emergency equipment, defibrillator, oxygen cylinder and portable suction unit.
  • Ability to assist in manoeuvring patients in accordance with manual handling policies.
  • Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 22 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.