About the Organisation:
As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do Open and honest, Respect and Kindness from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney:
With over 70 islands 20 of them inhabited Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position:
As a Senior Dental Officer within NHS Orkney's Public Dental Service, you will provide a full range of dentistry to patients of all ages while playing a key role in the delivery of care for patients with additional needs. Here in Orkney we have modern facilities and a wonderful team of experienced staff to work alongside you.
A significant part of the role involves supporting patients who require a tailored approach to treatment, including those experiencing dental anxiety, individuals with learning disabilities, medically or physically compromised patients, and those requiring domiciliary care. As a key aspect of the role, you will lead on Dental Conscious Sedation across NHS Orkney, helping to ensure the safe and effective delivery of sedation services and supporting the ongoing development of this important area of care.
The role may also include the provision of appropriate general dental services within the Public Dental Service in addition to providing Urgent Dental Care for PDS registered patients and those who are not registered in the local area. This includes, contributing to the out of hours/on-call rota (approx. 1in8) which attracts addition remuneration. Your pay is further enhanced with Remote Areas Allowance, Distant Islands Allowance and where eligible, Recruitment and Retention Allowance.
This is an excellent opportunity to bring your experience of hands-on patient care, making a meaningful difference to some of the most vulnerable members of our community whilst also developing as a leader, helping shape the future of specialist dental services in Orkney.
The Candidate:
You will be an experienced and motivated Dental Practitioner with full registration with the General Dental Council and recent experience working within a Public (Community) Dental Service setting. You will bring expertise in conscious sedation, alongside a commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care for individuals with a wide range of additional needs.
As the lead for Dental Conscious Sedation within NHS Orkney, you will have the knowledge, skills and confidence to work with patients who may experience dental anxiety, have learning disabilities, complex medical conditions, or require treatment in domiciliary settings. You will be committed to maintaining and developing your professional practice through ongoing continuing professional development and will be eligible to join the Health Board's dental list.
You will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to build positive relationships with patients, carers and colleagues. A flexible and reliable approach is essential, as is the ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. Good IT skills and a commitment to delivering safe, effective and person-centred care are also required.
We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate a clinical interest in sedation and special care dentistry and related fields, supported by postgraduate qualifications or equivalent experience. This may include areas such as advanced sedation techniques, complex and intermediate care provision, adults with incapacity, or domiciliary care services. Experience of leading teams and contributing to clinical governance activities, including audit and risk management, would be advantageous (but not a requirement) and will help support the ongoing development of specialist dental services across NHS Orkney.
It is essential that the post holder has access to transport and if driving themselves, should hold a full driving licence. If by virtue of a disablement, an applicant has the qualifications to perform the post but cannot drive, then the possibility of adjustments to arrange transport will be considered.
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37.5 Hours per week
This post is Permanent
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits and Salary:
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The salary for this post is Grade B and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,719 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us. Remote Areas Allowance (£4500 rising to £9000 after year 3) is available and where eligible, Recruitment & Retention Allowance may be available.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information:
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact [email protected]
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
To find out more about this opportunity please contact Steven Johnston, Director of Dentistry on [email protected]
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.
NHS Orkney is an equal opportunities employer committed to advancing equality and particularly welcomes applications from groups of people currently underrepresented within the workforce. We are a committed participant in the Disability Confident Leader Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for our vacancies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) - 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 this advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Interview Date: Tuesday 22nd of September 2026
