How to Hire Staff for your Dental Practice

Creating a reliable, driven workforce is an arduous task for any business. In the dental industry, employers need to liaise with their HR teams to ensure they hire qualified, professional, and experienced workers.

But it’s not just about finding dentists with the right certificates. Dental businesses include all kinds of roles; like, hygienists, therapists, assistance, and admin staff.

Employers have a duty to ensure they hire dental workers lawfully, ethically, and fairly. Without the right steps, you could end up hiring workers illegally, breaching patient confidence, and even ruining business reputation.

For further advice, contact one of our expert HR advisors free of charge today. Now, let’s look at what steps employers need to take when recruiting dental staff:

What checks need to be done before hiring dental staff?

According to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), dental employers must make sure any candidates you hire are suitably qualified for the job. And that they can conduct their work duties properly, safely, and lawfully.

There are two crucial areas you need to check before you take on new people: recruitment and criminal records. Let’s take a deeper look into each area:

Recruitment checks

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 states you need to check the following recruitment factors before hiring dental staff:

Staff recruitment policies: This should reflect the Health and Social Care Regulations, as well as other relevant laws.

Staff recruitment procedures: The CQC will verify whether your recruitment policies and procedures are suitable.

Staff records: Employers will need to provide staff records which show things like:

• Personal identity (with a recent photo).
• Full employment history with gap explanations. (Candidates who are new to the dental industry won’t require references).
• Evidence of qualifications.
• Evidence of registrations/memberships to professional bodies (like the General Dental Council).
• Information on any physical/mental conditions relevant to a person’s capacity to work. (This applies after reasonable adjustments are made).

Any dental staff who work with vulnerable children or adults need to have satisfactory evidence of conduct from their previous job. They’ll also need a satisfactory explanation for why their job ended.

Clinical staff need to provide evidence of immunisation against Hepatitis B virus; including any level of response (titre levels). If you have staff without immunisation, you’ll need to conduct an appropriate dental surgery risk assessment.

Criminal record checks

Employers must decide which staff members require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. For example, those who work with vulnerable children or adults, etc. You must have a process to arrange DBS checks for them and to what level.

For more information on which employees require DBS checks, you can contact the Disclosure and Barring Service directly. Or you can use the NHS Employers DBS check eligibility tool for more assistance.

All clinical staff must have a DBS check. This can include dentists, dental hygienists, dental hygiene therapists, and dental nurses. Some employees might have done DBS checks done through the NHS’s Performers List. Employers must verify this before hiring them; and conduct risk assessments on their work duties.

Legally, non-clinical staff don’t require DBS checks. You should make this decision based on individual cases. For example, a non-clinical worker who has zero access to patients may not require a DBS check. You’ll need to demonstrate reasons behind not carrying out DBS checks for non-clinical staff; and conduct risk assessments on their work duties.

How to hire staff for your dental practice

Ever-changing laws and economic fluctuations raise all kinds of issues for dental companies. Employers need to set out solid, secure, and compliant recruitment methods.  

Not only will this help you discover talented candidates… But you’ll also find individuals who can help encourage business productivity, continuity, and success. For further advice, why not read about tackling everyday HR issues in dental businesses?

Now, let’s look at how employers can hire qualified and talented staff for their dental practice:

Present a minimum daily guarantee

Having high-end, appealing salaries is a sure-fire way to attract candidates. But if all your competitors are offering the same, you’ll need to stand out. A great way to do this is by presenting a minimum daily guarantee.

These offer candidates financial security, as well as stability with their income. From receptionists to orthopaedic assistants – providing a minimum daily guarantee appeals to new candidates, employees looking for lateral jobs, and even those with student debts.

Offer work incentives and bonuses

Work incentives and bonuses are a great way to attract top-talented candidates. And it’s just as applicable in the dental sector, too.

Offer potential candidates a signing bonus; which can be a deciding factor for some candidates. You can even offer relocation bonuses to help candidates settle into their new work placement.

Provide a Continuing Education (CE) allowance

Another great way to attract and retain skilful dental staff is through supporting their career development. Within the dental sector, some dentists are eligible for financial support to help continue learning.

Continuing Educational (CE) allowances help individuals with progressing their dental skills and strengthen their expertise. Providing CE allowances doesn’t just support staff development. It also helps embed stronger personal relations within themselves and the business.

Offer training and mentoring

Not everyone who works within a dental practice is… a dentist. There are dozens of other roles you might recruit for; like hygienists, dental assistants, and healthcare administrators. Anyone within these roles can benefit from professional development.

Staff training and mentoring allow employees to take their work role to the next level. Not only does it improve their professional skills, but it provides them with confidence to make vertical moves.

Get expert advice on hiring dental staff with Peninsula

Like many healthcare businesses, dental practices face all kinds of recruitment issues. From finding qualified professionals to carrying out criminal record checks… Employers must complete all appropriate steps before taking a new dental worker onboard.

Peninsula offers expert advice on hiring dental staff. Our 24/7 HR advice is available 365 days a year. Want to find out more? Book a free chat with one of our HR consultants. For further information, call 0800 051 3685.

Sources

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 | GOV

DBS eligibility tool | NHS Employers

Disclosure & Barring Service | GOV