About the Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen within NHS Forth Valley’s Public Dental Service (PDS) for a Dental Health Support Worker (DHSW) to join our dynamic and supportive team on a part-time, term-time basis.
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the delivery of the Childsmile Programme; a nationally funded initiative aimed at improving the oral health of children across Scotland.
As a valued member of the Public Dental Service team, you will work closely with local dental teams and partners to improve oral health outcomes for children and families across the Forth Valley area.
Key Responsibilities
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Support the delivery of the Childsmile Programme within nurseries and primary schools
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Assist with the implementation of oral health improvement initiatives and activities
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Deliver supervised toothbrushing programmes in line with national Oral Health Strategy
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Act as a link between education staff, parents/carers, dental practitioners, and oral health promotion teams
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Support families to access dental prevention and treatment services for their children
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Contribute effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
About You
We are looking for a motivated and organised individual with excellent communication skills who can engage confidently with children, families, and professionals across a variety of settings.
You will demonstrate:
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Strong interpersonal and listening skills
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Flexibility and willingness to travel throughout NHS Forth Valley
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Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team
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Good basic IT/computer skills
Essential Requirements
Qualifications:
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Educated to Standard Grade level (or equivalent)
Experience:
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Awareness of factors influencing and improving dental health
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Recent experience working within the childcare sector
Other Requirements:
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Ability and willingness to travel throughout the area of service delivery is essential for this post.
Additional Information
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This post requires membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. Further information is available at: www.disclosurescotland.co.uk
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A full induction programme will be provided and tailored to support you in your role
Informal Enquiries
For further information, please contact:
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Gail Stewart, Childsmile Development Officer Tel: 01324 616030 (Ext. 3934)
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Darline Reekie, Department Manager Tel: 01324 616042 (Ext. 3507)
The duties of this post require the successful candidate to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. More information on this scheme can be found at www.disclosurescotland.co.uk
As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK are advised to carefully review the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes. NHS Forth Valley may be able to offer sponsorship for certain roles, provided the post meets the minimum salary threshold and any other required criteria. If you are currently working in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, transitional arrangements may apply. Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed and is assessed on a case-by-case basis following interview and at the commencement of pre-employment checks. For further information on visa requirements and sponsorship eligibility, please refer to the UK Government guidance.
It is also recommend that anyone applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad read the following guidance: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Candidates should provide original and authentic responses to all questions within the application form. The use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or other third-party assistance to generate, draft, or significantly modify responses is strongly discouraged. By submitting your application, you confirm that all answers are your own work, reflect your personal knowledge, skills and experience, and have not been solely produced or altered by AI or similar technologies. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in your application being withdrawn from the application process.
Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail, therefore please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders) and your Jobtrain account for updates.
NHS Forth Valley is positive about disabled people and is committed to offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Please contact the Recruitment Office on 0330 041 4694 if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you with your application and/or interview.
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
