This is a rewarding opportunity to take on a senior clinical leadership role within Community Dental Services in Hywel Dda University Health Board. You will help lead a service that provides care for children and adults who may not be able to access routine dental care because of additional, complex or specialist needs. Working across a range of clinical settings, you will support safe, compassionate and effective care, while helping shape how the service develops for the future.
We are looking for someone with strong clinical credibility, sound judgement and a genuine interest in leading people and improving services. You will need to be comfortable working with complexity, supporting colleagues, making balanced decisions and building good relationships across teams and organisations. This role would suit an experienced dental professional who wants to combine direct clinical care with wider leadership, service improvement, governance and workforce development.
This is an exciting opportunity to provide senior clinical leadership for Community Dental Services across Hywel Dda University Health Board. The post holder will support the delivery and development of safe, high-quality dental care for children and adults with additional and complex needs, while maintaining an active clinical role. Working closely with clinical, professional and managerial colleagues, they will help shape service plans, lead improvement, support referral management and pathway development, and promote better access, quality and outcomes for patients.
The role involves leading and supporting a skilled multidisciplinary dental workforce across community clinics, hospital-based pathways, domiciliary care and other care settings. The successful candidate will contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement, audit, safeguarding, workforce development and oral health programmes. They will also work with partners across primary, community and secondary care, as well as wider professional and public health networks, to support joined-up, prevention-focused care.
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, inc luding our volunteers, through:
- Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and With ybush General in Haverfordwest ;
- Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron , Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Re source Centre in Pembrokeshire;
- 48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only p roviders and 11 health centres;
- Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
- Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
As a senior leader within the Health Board, the post holder will lead the delivery and development of evidence-based, prevention-focused dental services that are responsive to clinical need and aligned with Health Board priorities. The role includes leading Community Dental Services and All-Wales Oral Health Programmes, supporting service planning and modernisation, and working closely with clinical, dental professional and managerial colleagues to improve quality, access and patient outcomes. The post holder will also contribute directly to clinical delivery through dedicated clinical sessions each week across Hywel Dda sites as agreed.
The Clinical Lead will provide effective and innovative leadership to support service improvement, workforce development, clinical governance, quality improvement, audit, research and teaching. The role requires close partnership working across the Health Board and with external stakeholders including Welsh Government, Public Health Wales and relevant professional networks. The post holder will promote high standards of professional practice, foster multidisciplinary and cross-site working, and support the development of seamless clinical pathways for patients with complex needs.
This is a senior role requiring a credible and experienced dental professional with strong leadership, communication and organisational skills, and a clear commitment to National Health Service values and the Health Board’s quality and improvement agenda. The post is mainly based in Carmarthen, with travel required across the three counties. The successful candidate will be expected to inspire and motivate others, lead change constructively, and balance strategic leadership with hands-on clinical practice and operational oversight.
We welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate strong clinical credibility and leadership potential, including those ready to step into a broader leadership role with appropriate support and development.
In return, you will join a supportive dental service with a commitment to quality, prevention, prudent healthcare and better outcomes for patients. Hywel Dda offers the chance to work across diverse communities in west Wales, with opportunities to influence service design, strengthen clinical pathways and contribute to meaningful improvement. We welcome applications from candidates who are ready to bring their experience, values and ideas to a role where they can make a real difference for patients, staff and local communities.
We are looking for a credible and experienced dental professional who can combine strong clinical judgement with visible, compassionate and practical leadership. The successful candidate will communicate clearly, build positive working relationships, support staff through change and use evidence, service information and patient feedback to improve care. They will bring resilience, sound judgement, good organisational skills and a clear commitment to National Health Service values, prudent healthcare and continuous improvement.
For full details of the role requirements please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for this vacancy.
Discussions around working pattern will take place during initial job planning, where preferences, requirements and options can be discussed and explored in full.
Hywel Dda University Health Board is committed to providing healthcare services that are patient-centric, ensuring that our community receives the best possible care. We value inclusivity and foster a workplace culture that embraces diversity and supports every individual’s contribution towards a welcoming healthcare environment.
We welcome applications from all sections of society and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Hywel Dda 3 Counties - https://youtu.be/RUMDpjtu1sY
Lifestyle in Wales - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgt03XPT6RQ
Medical Leadership in Hywel Dda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLioZyqIpwk&t=33s
