The Educational Supervisor: I qualified in Newcastle in 1995, and after my Foundation year started working for Community Dental Services, first in Staffordshire then moved to the Lincolnshire service in 1997. I have worked through the ranks, gaining my Diploma in Special Care Dentistry in 2011, and in 2018 became the Operations Director for the Lincolnshire Special Care Dental Service.
I am passionate about what we do, and very proud of what we achieve. I love working with people, who are often very vulnerable, and helping them to accept dental care in a safe and supportive environment.
In my spare time I am found on long dog walks or lifting weights in a gym.
The Practice: The Dental Clinic is situated within North Hykeham Health Centre and has a large free car park. It is a dual surgery set up with 2 large clinics that allow access for wheelchairs and we also have a hoist and a wheelchair tipper, which can be converted into a bariatric bench. We have facilities to provide sedation and also have the WAND available to administer local anaesthetic.
We are a County wide service, with a team of 27 employees working from 7 sites around Lincolnshire that provide dental care for adults and children with medical, mental health and physical disabilities, or who are extremely nervous. We also provide domiciliary care, sedation and treatment under general anaesthetic.
As a salaried service we are not UDA target driven, which allows us to give the time required to provide a person's dental care.
The Area: North Hykeham is an area 4 miles NW of the city of Lincoln, in Lincolnshire, and 15 minutes off the A1. Lincoln itself is often described as a mini-York with a castle, huge cathedral and many Roman ruins. Lincoln has a thriving University and as such the city center has benefited from investment in infrastructure, including places for eating out and entertainment.
Lincolnshire is a rural County known for its agriculture, but also with the rolling hills of the Wolds, the seaside experience of Skegness and regular sitings of the Red Arrows flying display team, who practice out of Scampton.
Other Points of Interest: As a member of a county wide service, all employees are expected to be willing, on occasion, to travel around the County to see patients, attend meetings / trainings or to support other clinics should the need arise, so access to a car is essential. Though spread out, we are very much a team, meeting together regularly for team meetings, peer review and face-to-face trainings, and are very supportive of each other.
Special Care Dentistry is about the people. It is about care and communication with the patient and their support network, and developing knowledge and behavioural techniques that encourage patient trust and gain co-operation. We have a very experienced workforce of dentists, therapists and dental nurses who are committed to supporting any new members in gaining the skills required in order to become proficient in providing treatment for people with additional needs.
Our Company Community Dental Services CIC provides employee indemnity and free access to the Agilio training platform. Travel payments are made if additional travel is required