My role is office based however a great deal of my time is spent visiting care homes to educate care staff on oral health care and how they can help maintain their residents’ mouths and teeth. I also support staff and provide guidance so they can complete national documentation around risk assessment and care planning of their residents.
Sian Thomas
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I take great satisfaction from the fact that the training we provide will support staff to care for others and improve their oral health. As an Oral Health Promotion Officer I work independently and prepare training resources to meet the audience’s needs. The training provided also gives support and confidence to staff to deliver Oral health safely and effectively.
How did you get into your role?
I trained as a dental nurse, and after a number of years working in a dental surgery, I completed the Oral Health Certificate qualification. I then became an Oral Health Promotion Officer for Carmarthenshire. I am now the Designed to Smile co-ordinator and the Gwen am Byth co-ordinator and deliver oral health promotion programmes to staff in Care homes, hospitals, teaching staff and school pupils.
What kind of person would your job suit?
This role would best suit a person who is confident to stand up and speak in front of people. Good communication skills are needed to deliver effective training sessions to a range of people. You will need to be organised so that you can plan your days, and also be able to co-ordinate your support workers who will assist you in producing training materials for the programme. You have to be able to work independently, but also be part of the bigger team.