Divine Care and Support Services

Dentist: job description

As a dentist, you'll typically lead a team of dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians, and treat a range of patients, from children to the elderly.

The most common role in dentistry is as a general dental practitioner (GDP). As a GDP, you'll work as a self-employed contractor providing dental care to the general public in high street practices. It's also possible to work part time in hospitals. You might provide services under the NHS, privately or both.

Types of dentistry

You may choose to specialise in a different area of dentistry, such as:

Community dental care - working in patients' homes, nursing homes and community clinics, treating patients who have special requirements that mean they can't attend a high street practice.

Dental public health - carrying out non-clinical work, assessing the dental health needs of populations rather than individuals.

Hospital dental care - dealing with cases of special difficulty and providing treatment to long-stay hospital patients, emergency treatment for short-stay patients or the general public for teaching purposes.

Armed forces - providing a comprehensive range of dental services for armed forces personnel in the UK and abroad, operating as a military dental officer.

Responsibilities

As a dentist, you'll need to:

• educate patients on oral healthcare
• examine teeth, diagnosing dental conditions using tools such as x-rays
• assess treatment options and agree treatment plans with patients
• carry out agreed clinical treatments such as restoring teeth affected by decay and treating gum disease
• maintain patients' dental records
• recruit, train and manage staff
• oversee budgets and maintain stocks of equipment
• market services to potential clients.

Some practices employ practice managers so that dentists can concentrate on clinical work.

Salary

As a newly qualified dentist, if you want to work in the NHS, you'll have to complete one year of foundation training. During this time you'll earn a salary of £33,720.

Most dentists are self-employed contractors in general practice, mixing NHS with private work. Profits of dental practices varies greatly but in general you can earn around £50,000 to £110,000. Wholly private dentists can earn £140,000+.

If you enter dental core training, instead of working in general practice, you will earn a salary of £39,467 to £50,017. There are also additional payments for night, weekend and on-call work.

If you work as a salaried dentist employed by the NHS, mainly in community dental services, you'll earn around £43,019 to £92,013.

In NHS trust hospitals, consultants in dental specialties earn a basic salary of £84,559 to £114,003 depending on the number of years spent in the consultant grade.

Working hours

If you work as a GDP, you'll work on flexible times.

What to expect

Jobs are available throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas.

When treating patients you'll be required to wear a tunic, surgical gloves and safety glasses for protection and to reduce the risk of cross-infection.

Eye strain and neck and back fatigue can be caused by the job. You may experience high stress levels when handling patients' pain and anxiety or as a result of working within strict time schedules. However, the role can also be very rewarding when you see patient satisfaction.

Travel within a working day and overnight absence from home are uncommon in general practice but may occasionally be necessary for work in hospitals or the community.

Opportunities for overseas travel may arise to attend international conferences.

Skills

You will need to show:

• manual dexterity and technical dental skills, plus the ability to maintain intense concentration for prolonged periods
• the ability to build relationships with patients and colleagues
• high level communication and interpersonal skills, for interaction with patients of all ages and backgrounds
• an interest in the welfare of others and a sympathetic manner, particularly to deal with patients' fears
• good administrative and managerial abilities to run a dental practice
• information technology skills, due to the increasing use of computers for keeping records and accounts, and for digital imaging of radiographs and intra-oral photography.

You could be employed as a dentist in a:

NHS or private dental practice - you'll either be employed as an assistant or will work as a self-employed associate. Dental practices vary in size from single practitioner, part-time surgeries to multiple-site partnerships with several associates.

NHS hospital trust - as a salaried dentist specialising in a certain area such as paediatric dentistry, orthodontics or restorative dentistry.

Community dental service - working in a variety of clinical settings as a salaried dentist within the NHS, including health authority surgeries, mobile clinics and residential homes.

Role in the armed forces - at locations in the UK and overseas with the Royal Air Force, Royal Army and Royal Navy.

Doctor (hospital): job description

Hospital doctors examine patients and diagnose and treat medical conditions

Key skills:

Hospital doctors treat people who have been admitted or referred to hospital. Specific responsibilities vary greatly depending on the area of specialism, but can include the following:

• meeting patients, examining them and discussing their symptoms and medical histories.
• referring patients to other medical specialists.
• performing surgical procedures.
• providing pre- and post-operative care.
• monitoring and administering medication.
• liaising with colleagues including other doctors, non-medical management staff and healthcare professionals.
• keeping patients’ records up to date.
• promoting health education.
• managing a department and supervising junior doctors.
• leading a medical team.

Hospital doctors can work in a number of specialties, including the following:

• anaesthetics
• emergency medicine
• general medicine
• obstetrics and gynaecology
• pathology
• paediatrics
• psychiatry
• surgery
• trauma and orthopaedics.

Junior doctors’ working hours should average up to 48 a week under the Working Time Directive (a set of regulations that outlines working hours and rights to rest periods). They can work extra hours if they wish (and they must be paid for them).

Graduate salaries

The British Medical Association reports that junior doctors in the NHS earn a basic salary of around £28,000 in their initial foundation year. On top of this, they receive additional pay for any work they do over 40 hours a week, at night and weekends, and an allowance for any time spent on call.

Qualification and training required

You can only become a doctor in the UK with a relevant degree and training.

The first stage of qualification is a five-year undergraduate medical education at an accredited medical school . Some universities offer a six-year course for students without a science background; others offer a four-year course for graduates.

Key skills for hospital doctors

Doctors need to have:

Manual dexterity.

The ability to solve problems .

Effective decision-making skills.

Leadership and management skills.

Excellent communication skills , including the ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages or whose first language may not be English.

Midwife: job description

Midwives deliver babies and provide antenatal and postnatal advice, care and support to women, their babies, their partners and families.

Midwives need the ability to deal with emotionally charged situations as part of their everyday work.

What does a midwife do?

Key skills:

Midwives support women and their families through pregnancy and labour and in the time immediately after birth. They work in a range of settings, including expectant women’s homes, local clinics, hospitals, midwifery-led maternity units and GP surgeries. They are part of a team of professional and medical staff that includes doctors, social workers, neonatal nurses and health visitors. Midwives may be assisted by maternity support workers and be responsible for supervising them.

Typical duties include:

• examining and monitoring pregnant women
• assessing care requirements and writing care plans
• undertaking antenatal care in hospitals, homes and GP practices
• carrying out screening tests
• providing information, emotional support and reassurance to women and their partners
• taking patient samples, pulses, temperatures and blood pressures
• caring for and assisting women in labour
• monitoring and administering medication, injections and intravenous infusions during labour
• monitoring the foetus during labour
• advising about and supporting parents in the daily care of their newborn babies
• helping parents to cope with miscarriage, termination, stillbirth and neonatal death
• writing records
• tutoring student midwives
• identifying high-risk pregnancies

Midwives may work on a rota and be on call to provide care on a 24-hour basis.

Typical employers of midwives

National Health Service (NHS)

GP practices

Private hospitals

The armed forces

Independent practices

Qualifications and training required

You can only become a midwife with an approved midwifery degree that leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

 

Key skills for midwives:

Ability to deal with emotionally charged situations

Excellent teamworking skills

Interpersonal and communication skills

Strong observational skills

An interest in the process of pregnancy and birth

Flexibility and adaptability

Ability to work and communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds

Ability to follow instructions and procedures

Caring and patient

Salary:

A midwife starting salary is £25,655 and goes up to £31,534

Occupational Therapists: job description

Occupational therapists help people overcome physical and mental problems that are the result of disability, injury, ageing or illness.

Occupational therapists provide practical advice and solutions to enable people to live full, satisfying and independent lives.

Occupational therapists work with adults and children with many different needs, from patients who need support adapting to life after major surgery to elderly people who need adaptations such as stairlifts in order to be able to stay in their own homes. They provide practical advice and solutions to enable people to live full, satisfying and independent lives. Specific duties vary depending on the field of work and whether occupational therapists (sometimes referred to as OTs) are based within hospital or community settings.

 Responsibilities of the job include:

• undertaking patient assessments of physical, communication, interaction and cognitive skills
• planning and providing appropriate treatment and activities
• giving advice and arranging support for family members, carers and clients
• undertaking general administrative tasks, for example writing reports, making telephone calls, maintaining records and case notes
• liaising with doctors, family members, carers and other professionals and keeping them updated
• planning further treatment and reviewing progress
• assessing treatment success at multi-professional case conferences/meetings
• advising people on how they can approach everyday tasks differently
• adapting people's environments, whether at home or at work

Typical employers of occupational therapists:

NHS trusts

Local authority social services departments

Nursing and residential homes

Day care and health centres

GP practices

Prisons

Industrial organisations

Qualifications and training required:

You need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to practise as an occupational therapist and, in order to register, you need to complete an undergraduate or postgraduate occupational therapy degree approved by the HCPC. Approved degrees are listed on the HCPC website.

 

 

Key skills for occupational therapists:

• Patience
• Determination
• Enthusiasm
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• An interest in working closely with people
• Good teamworking skills
• Ability to find solutions to problems

Salary

Salaries for occupational therapists working in the NHS start at Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates (£25,655 to £31,534).

Salaries for specialist occupational therapists range from £32,306 to £39,027 (Band 6) and advanced/highly specialist occupational therapists can earn £40,057 to £45,839 (Band 7).

Salaries for senior roles, such as clinical/professional lead, clinical manager and consultant, typically range from £47,126 and £63,862 (Bands 8a and 8b).

Salaries in local government are likely to be at similar levels to the NHS. Salaries will vary depending on the type of employer, your location, skills and experience.

 

With experience, you may also choose to set up in private practice where there may be the potential to earn more. Success depends on range of factors including your skills, specialist areas, experience, location, contacts and entrepreneurial skills.

 

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

 

Working hours

In the NHS you'll typically work a 37.5 hour week, but may need to be flexible over a seven-day period. In private practice, you may work evenings and weekends to suit client needs.

Physiotherapists: job description

Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques and therapies in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients who are affected by physical problems caused by illness, disability, injury or ageing.

A structured career path exists within the NHS, and there are also opportunities within the private sector.

Physiotherapists work with a variety of patients including physically disabled children, women before and after giving birth, athletes, patients who are in hospital or attending clinics and people within the community.

Tasks can include:

• helping patients recover from accident, illness or injury
• organising therapeutic physical exercise sessions
• providing massages
• using specialist techniques such as electrotherapy and ultrasound
• collecting statistics
• writing reports
• liaising with professionals such as doctors and nurses
• providing education and advice about exercise and movement
• keeping up to date with the latest advancements in the profession

There are good opportunities for promotion: a structured career path exists within the NHS, and openings commonly occur within the private sector. Alternatively physiotherapists can specialise or move into teaching, research and managerial positions.

Qualifications and training required:

To qualify as a state registered physiotherapist you will need to take a physiotherapy degree approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You will then need to register with the HCPC.

Key skills for physiotherapists:

Good time management

The ability to build a rapport with patients from a variety of backgrounds and communicate with their relatives and carers

Tolerance and patience

Good physical health and fitness

Interpersonal skills

Teamworking skills

Types of physiotherapist:

There are many clinical specialties and sub-specialties within physiotherapy, which have grown over time. These include:

 

• cardiovascular - includes chronic heart disease and rehabilitation after a heart attack
• geriatric - focusing on older adults
• men's and women's health - includes conditions related to the reproductive system, childbirth, prenatal and postnatal care
• neurology - includes multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and stroke patients
• neuromusculoskeletal - includes arthritis, back pain, sports injuries and whiplash
• paediatrics - treatment of infants, children and young people
• respiratory - includes asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.

Other areas include learning disabilities, mental health, oncology and palliative care.

There are also generalist roles available where physiotherapists treat patients with several co-existing, long-term conditions and complex needs.

Salary:

Jobs in the NHS consist of nine pay bands and are usually covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates. Starting salaries for qualified physiotherapists (Band 5) range from £27,055 to £32,934. Senior physiotherapists can earn between £33,706 and £40,588 (Band 6).

As a clinical specialist/team leader, you can earn between £41,659 and £47,672 (Band 7).

Salaries for advanced clinical practice, extended scope or clinical lead physiotherapists are around £48,526 to £54,619 (Band 8a), rising to between £56,164 and £65,262 (Band 8b) for consultant physiotherapist roles.

Salaries can rise to in excess of £67,064 (Band 8c) for management roles such as head of service. Those working in London and the surrounding areas may receive a high-cost area supplement of between 5% and 20% of their basic salary.

Salaries and conditions outside the NHS vary, although the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) recommends that all physiotherapists should receive at least the same pay and terms and conditions of employment as those in the NHS. This may not, however, be possible in all cases, although you should use the NHS pay rates as a guide when negotiating your salary.

It's also possible to combine NHS work with private work. Experienced physiotherapists may combine clinical work, university lecturing and research.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours:

Physiotherapists typically work 37.5 hours a week, which may include evenings, nights and weekends.

As a sports physiotherapist you're likely to work at the weekend, and in private practice your hours will reflect the needs of your clients.

Locum and part-time work opportunities are also available.

RGN (Registered Nurse) Job Profile

There are over 600,000 nurses working in the UK, and the demand for qualified nurses continues to rise. Due to an ageing population, more people are requiring medical care than ever before. The nursing workforce continues to overcome challenges, despite factors such as delays to legislation changes and Brexit at play. At Divine Care and Support Services Limited, we will be working with nurses and we’ve detailed below some of the key things to know and understand in your nurse job.

How do I get a Registered Nurse/RGN Job?

In order to practice as a registered nurse, also known as an adult nurse or RGN, you must have a degree in nursing. In addition to this, nurses need to register with the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery council).

What do Registered Nurse/RGN jobs involve?

A Registered nurse job (or RGN job) is both varied and complex, and cannot truly be defined by a job description. Your RGN job may differ depending on the environment you’re working in, whether you’re in a clinical setting on a hospital ward, or out in the community.

Typically, a registered nurse/RGN job will involve some or all of the following responsibilities;

Delivering care plans for patients

Monitoring vital signs

Carrying out assessments and blood tests

Liaising with other team members including doctors and senior nurses

Observing patients condition and recording information

Administering medications

Communicating with patients and their families

 Where can my Registered Nurse/RGN job take me?

There are a range of jobs available for qualified registered nurses in the UK, both in the NHS and private organisations. As a registered nurse, you can develop expertise in an area of your choosing. Some of the most common registered nurse jobs include;

Registered Nurses: A&E Nurse Job

Working in an Accident & Emergency setting means A&E nurse jobs can be both fast paced and high pressure. Primary care means that no two days are the same. A&E nurses collaborate with a range of other medical staff, and be confident in a constantly changing environment.

Registered Nurses: Acute Care Nurse Job

Nursing in an acute setting usually comes after primary care (such as A&E) and involves dealing with patients with a variety of conditions and symptoms that are serious but short term. Acute care nurse responsibilities include monitoring patients, administering medication and conducting assessments.

 

 

Registered Nurses: Theatre Nurse Job

Theatre Nurses are involved when patients undergo surgery, from planning through to recovery. Also known as perioperative care, this may include support the anaesthetists, arranging surgical instruments and monitoring patient conditions.

Registered Nurses: ICU Nurse Job

Delivering care to patients in Intensive Care Units or Intensive Therapy Units, ICU nurses closely monitor patients condition, manage medication and treatments, and collaborate with other team members. You may need to communicate care plans to patients and their families.

Registered Nurses: District Nurse/Community Nurse Job

Nursing out in the community is a drastically different setting to working in a hospital environment. District nurse jobs and community nurse jobs treat patients in their own homes, as well as health centres or other community settings.

How much do Registered Nurses Get Paid?

Within the NHS, pay structure is based on a “banding” system. Bandings for qualified nurses start at Band 5, so newly qualified nurses will fall into this band.

Band 5 Registered Nurse/RGN Pay Rates

1 - 2 years experience   £24,907

2 - 4 years experience £26,970

4 - 5 years experience £27,416

6 - 7 years experience £30,615

Band 6 Registered Nurse/RGN Pay Rates

1 - 2 years experience £31,365

2 - 4 years experience £33,176

4 - 5 years experience £33,779

6 - 7 years experience £37,980

Nurses working in London will receive a “London weighting” to cover the cost of living in the capital, for either the inner, outer or fringe of the city. Private nurse pay rates are unregulated, so they can vary depending on the role and organisation, however typically private nurse salaries are in line with NHS bandings, or slightly higher. It’s worth noting that alongside pay rates not being regulated, there are no benefit guidelines for private nursing, so often benefits packages for private nurse jobs do not rival those offered by the NHS.

For more information on nurse pay and nursing salaries, visit our Registered Nurse Salary and Pay Rate Guide here.

Care assistant job description

Reports to: Registered manager or Care Coordinator

Purpose of role

To support customers with all aspects of their day to day living, so they can enjoy the best

possible quality of life. You will mostly work alone with the customer in their home. Providing

care and support offers many rewards, but can also be challenging. Compassion, good

communication skills and a calm and caring manner are essential for this important role in our

company.

Key responsibilities

To provide safe, reliable, compassionate care and support to meet the individual needs and

wishes of each customer. Each person is unique. You must respect each customers’ choice

about how their care and support is given and promote their dignity at all times.

You may be the only person the customer sees over a period of time, it is therefore essential to

report any changes or causes for concern to your line manager promptly. You need to be clear

about when to seek help and advice in order to keep customers safe and promote their well-being.

Duties

Care and support

Give non-discriminatory care and support that values the whole person rather than merely

seeing a list of care needs. Carefully listen and observe how each customer prefers their care

and support to be delivered on a day to day basis. Help them make their own decisions so they

can be as independent as possible.

Follow the instructions in the care and support plan agreed with each customer. This may

include:

• All aspects of personal care such as showering and bathing, dressing and grooming,

dental hygiene, toileting and continence care.

• Assisting with medicines, ordering and collecting prescriptions or returning unwanted

medicines to the pharmacy for safe disposal.

• Supporting the customer to eat and drink well. For example, helping the customer to plan

what to eat and drink, giving gentle encouragement, shopping, preparing and serving

food and drinks, clearing the table, washing up and keeping the kitchen area clean and

tidy, agreeing with the customer how to store food safely and when to dispose of out of

date produce.

• Safely using aids and personal equipment in a manner that respects the dignity of

customers. For example walking frames, wheelchairs, manual and electric hoists, sliding

sheets and moving boards, hearing aids and other physical aids

• Housework such as dusting, tidying, washing floors, vacuuming and sweeping, doing the

laundry and ironing, making beds and changing the linen.

• Social and physical activities or mental stimulation such as keeping in touch with

friends/relatives, taking a customer out shopping or to social activities, hobbies such as

reading, photo albums, games, etc.

• Supporting a customer through temporary and terminal illness, including end of life care,

hospital appointments, liaising with community health support and families.

Record and report all relevant customer information

• The care and support that you provide and assistance with medicines

• Changes to a customer’s condition or other concerns e.g. faulty equipment or hazards in

the home

• Response to emergencies, accidents, incidents and safeguarding matters

• Contact with families or carers and other professionals

• Other matters as required by Divine Care procedures

• Keep all information about customers and their families secure and confidential

Work well as part of the Divine Care team

• Follow Divine Care policies, procedures and guidance at all times

• Take part in staff and customer meetings

• Attend training activities, supervisor and appraisal meetings

This list is not exhaustive and you may be asked to carry out additional duties. We will provide

you with full training in line with regulatory requirements.

Role specification

This provides a picture of the skills, knowledge and experience you must have to carry out the

role. You should demonstrate how you meet the ‘essential criteria’ by giving examples where

possible. We will use this information to select suitable applicants for this post.

 

 

Essential criteria

Personal attributes

· Caring and compassionate towards people in need of care and support

· Dedicated to non-discriminatory care practice. This means respecting people suffering from

a range of medical conditions with different backgrounds and beliefs to your own.

· Self-motivated and keen to learn.

· Willing to seek guidance when needed and to follow instructions

· Excellent time keeper and reliable

· Good hygiene practice, including personal hygiene and a smart appearance

· Good stamina and level of fitness to meet the physical demands of the job

· Knowledge and understanding

· General understanding of the needs of people who require care and support

· Respect for the rights of our customers.

· Understanding the importance of giving the best possible care and support centred on the individual needs and wishes of each customer

· Understanding about the importance of confidentiality and what this means as a care

assistant

Experience and skills

· Ability to listen, communicate clearly and build positive working relationships with customers, their families, Divine Care staff and other social and health care professionals

· Ability to give care and support to customers with all aspects of their daily living. To always

respect their dignity, privacy and choices, be non- judgmental and promote their independence.

· Good organisational skills, so customers receive the services they expect.

· Ability to use own initiative and work alone or as part of a team especially in an emergency.

· Numerical skills to support customers in managing their money and buying shopping or

paying bills when requested to do so

· Ability to keep written records in clear English about the care and support given to each

customer, including help with medicines.

· Ability and willingness to follow Divine Care’s policies, procedures and instructions and to

participate in relevant training

 

Additional requirements

All staff are expected to meet regulatory training standards. Care assistants must attend

initial induction training with Divine Care before providing care and support to our

customers. During the first 12 weeks you will continue to receive on the job and classroom

based training to help you fully understand your role. You must be willing to participate in

ongoing training so you can continue to give good and safe care and support.

You will need to obtain:

· an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service

formally known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding

Authority (ISA)

· Class 1 business insurance and current MOT (if using own car for business purposes)

Desirable criteria:

· A relevant care and/or health qualification

· Previous experience as a care assistant or as an unpaid carer

· Knowledge of how to recognise abuse and safeguarding procedures

· Working knowledge of health and safety matters relating to home care

· Flexible approach to working

· Full drivers licence – no more than 6 points

Salary:

£22,000 to £24,000 per annum.

Post holder declaration:

I agree to fulfil the duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability within this role.

Name: …………………………………………………………………….

Signed: ……………………………………………............. Date: ………………………