Dental Officer (Ministry of Health and Medical Services)

To reduce the overall oral health burden of disease by achieving key targets in the Oral Health Business Plan by means of the successful prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral health conditions in patients presenting to the hospital or health centre clinic, or to community, school and special clinic settings. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide clinical dental assessment, diagnosis and treat patients including preventive, conservative, curative or prosthetic and on-call services

2. Carry out simple surgical procedures as needed, being on call as rostered, also to identify and refer oral pathology and complex surgical cases to the Oral Surgery Department.

3. Prepare and deliver community outreach programs according to agreed policy and business plans.

4. Gather and document relevant data, and prepare and submit required reports.

5. Participate and assist in facilitating with Special Projects launched by the Oral Health and/or Allied Health departments.

6. Actively contribute to Ministry requirements, including planning, budgeting and corporate activities.

Knowledge & Experience

1. 1. Successfully completed a minimum of one year of Dental Internship (at a Divisional Hospital or other recognised hospital) as per Fiji Medical and Dental Council requirements.
2. 2. Demonstrated knowledge and practice of preventive/community dentistry, paediatric dentistry, orthodontics, conservative dentistry, endodontics, minor oral surgery, prosthetic dentistry, and oral pathology/medicine.
3. 3. Familiar with the Fiji Medical & Dental Practitioners Act 2017 and other relevant legislation.
4. 4. Proven capacity and knowledge of Clinical Practice Guidelines, Infections Control protocols and procedures, and Occupational & Health Safety Policies as applicable to dental practice.
5. 5. Maintain privacy and confidentiality of all patient or staff information.

Skills & Abilities

1. 1. Demonstrate accountability for all actions and use approved clinical guidelines and evidence-base data in clinical assessments, diagnoses and treating patients to expected practice standards.
2. 2. Demonstrate ability to communicate respectfully, effectively and positively with all patients / their families, and colleagues.
3. 3. Demonstrate ability to develop and provide support, mentor, and train and supervise staff.
4. 4. Demonstrate ability to analyse and contribute solutions to complex problems, especially in a resource constrained environment.
5. 5. Possess the ability to write comprehensive and analytical reports to a professional level.
6. 6. Possess the ability to be an effective and efficient team member and lead and manage a team.
7. 7. Demonstrate the ability to prepare, implement and report on community outreach programs with the relevant stakeholders.
8. 8. Be self-motivated to deliver dental services according to facility business plans.

Additional Information

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be measured through the following indicators:

1. Oral health/clinical dental assessments, diagnostics and treatments are provided in accordance with approved dental clinical practice, infection control procedures and guidelines; outreach programs and clinics are delivered as per the Oral Health Business Plan.

2. Clinical Targets are achieved to ensure that oral health services are provided as per Oral Health Business Plan, in the following specified areas: Extractions, Conservative Treatment, Preventive Treatment, and Endodontic Treatment (documenting number of dental treatments completed – root canal, fillings, and oral surgery cases completed).

3. Reports are prepared to a professional standard and submitted using accurate, relevant and timely information and data.

4. Effective participation to any assigned Ministry activities whenever required.

Contact Information

For any enquires please contact Ms Melaia Tamani on email melaia.tamani@he