Dental Hygienist - Public Health

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Amherst, NS

16d•CA$33 - CA$40•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Manager, Healthy Communities, the Public Health Dental Hygienist works collaboratively with partners across school, community, government, and health to improve oral health outcomes for children. As part of our work to advance Health Promoting Schools in Nova Scotia, this includes offering a fluoride varnish program to pre-primary and elementary-aged children in identified communities. The Public Health Dental Hygienist also works in collaboration with the Consultants (Public Policy & Social Action, Strategic Partnership & Engagement, and Health Equity) and the rest of the Healthy Communities Team to address local population health needs and to take action to improve population health and reduce health inequities. The Dental Hygienist is the lead on oral health initiatives and participates collaboratively in advocacy work as it relates to oral health. They use a health equity approach and work directly with key partners (e.g. school communities, childcare facilities, municipalities) to provide tangible oral health support to develop and implement oral health focused programs and policies. The Dental Hygienist, using evidence-informed strategies, seeks and advocates for policy and system change, with emphasis on optimizing oral health through community engagement, coalition building, volunteer development, and partnership development. They continually assess community oral health through both formal and informal means (e.g. community health profiles, Provincial Public Health Fluoride program, gathers local intelligence, seeks out experiences and stories). They recognize the conditions that impact oral health, recommend strategies and interventions to address, and work collaboratively to achieve positive oral health outcomes.

Requirements

Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Bachelor's degree.
Must be licensed and a member in good standing with, a provincial regulatory body (e.g. the College of Dental Hygienist of Nova Scotia) and must hold RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist) or DH (Dental Hygienist) designation; must maintain licensure throughout course of employment.
Experience in planning, development, implementation, and evaluation oral health-related programs, policies, services and initiatives.
Demonstrated proficiencies in the Core competencies for Public Health & LEADS.
Demonstrated success in building strategic partnerships, networks, coalitions, and collaborative working relationships with a variety of internal and external partners to support healthy communities (particularly oral health) work.
Demonstrates an understanding of population based approach.
Demonstrated ability to plan and be self-directed, including the ability to set clear and realistic goals, activities, timelines, deliverables and accountability for own/team function in conjunction with team members.
Able to conduct assessments and analysis.
Demonstrated knowledge of volunteer recruitment, training and retention methods.
First Aid/CPR Certification.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's in Dental Hygiene preferred.
Competencies in other languages an asset, French preferred.

Responsibilities

Improve oral health outcomes for children.
Offer a fluoride varnish program to pre-primary and elementary-aged children in identified communities.
Address local population health needs and take action to improve population health and reduce health inequities.
Lead on oral health initiatives.
Participate collaboratively in advocacy work as it relates to oral health.
Use a health equity approach and work directly with key partners to provide tangible oral health support.
Develop and implement oral health focused programs and policies.
Seek and advocate for policy and system change, with emphasis on optimizing oral health through community engagement, coalition building, volunteer development, and partnership development.
Assess community oral health through both formal and informal means.
Recognize the conditions that impact oral health, recommend strategies and interventions to address, and work collaboratively to achieve positive oral health outcomes.