Lead Dental Assistant

Full Job Description

The Dental Assistant position is located at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Lead Dental Assistant facilitates team or unit processes by working collaboratively with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed, that good working relationships among team members and management are maintained and that team priorities, needs and achievements are coordinated with management.

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency: Dental assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Experience and Education: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.

OR, Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on [Dental] Accreditation (CODA) OR, Experience/Education Combination.

Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. Certification.

Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in their field.

Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, (b) Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry.

OR, (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).

Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7405 (a) (1) (D) on Dental Accreditation. Failure to obtain certification during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.

This will result in removal from the GS-681 series and may result in termination of employment. Certification in basic life support methods is highly desirable.

Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes DANB as the national certification for Dental Assistants.

DANB certification is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level, and is required for all positions above the full performance level.

Loss of Credential.

An employee in this occupation who fails to obtain licensure/certification/registration within the required time frame, or who fails to maintain the required licensure/certification/registration must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment.

Grade Determinations: GS-7 Lead Dental Assistant Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities a.

Advanced knowledge of dental assisting across multiple areas of practice, and demonstrated ability to provide guidance to staff dental assistants. b.

Skill in coordinating clinical work flow and assignments. c. Ability to assist in dental program development, outcome management, and strategic planning. d.

Skill in acting as liaison between staff dental assistants and the supervisor. e. Ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff dental assistants.

Preferred Experience: Current Pittsburgh facility dental employee with 1 year of experience as a Dental Assistant.

Reference: See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G17- Title 38 Hybrid Qualification Standards For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS -7. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Major Duties:

The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision.

GS -7 Lead Dental Assistant Lead Dental Assistants, at this level, serve in staff dental assistant positions independently performing more complex work in assigned specialties in supervisory dental assistant positions.

The dental assistant receives and prepares patients for dental treatment and assists the dentist at chair-side, bedside or in the operating room.

Lead Duties: Duties listed below comprise at least 25% of the lead dental assistant's time. - Leads a team of employees performing at the GS-6 level.

- Serves as a work leader, assuring the work assignments of employees in the unit are carried out.

Coordinates daily dental assistant work assignments at the start of the shift and throughout the day as the need arises.

- Monitors the status and progress of work and makes adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Obtains assistance from the supervisor as needed for major issues or problems that arise.

- Checks work in progress to see that the supervisor's instructions have been followed. - Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques.

Trains employees (dentist, dental residents and dental assistants) in computerized dental patient record systems including generating patient consults, storing and viewing digital images, entry of diagnostic data and preparation of treatment planning.

- Provides expert advice on specific tasks, procedures and policies.

- Serves as a liaison between the scheduler and the dentist to maintain efficient and productive use of the dentist's patient care time and minimize missed opportunities.

- Makes written instructions, reference materials and relevant background material available. Obtains needed information on decisions from the supervisor on major issues and problems that arise.

- Reports to the supervisor on individual performance, progress and training needs of employees and on performance problems.

- Makes recommendations to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignments, recognitions of performance and personnel needs.

- Maintains the dental station and treatment area in a clean and operational condition.

- Uses the computerized patient record system Dental Imaging: - Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed.

- Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized and retakes are minimized. - Imaging requests are accomplished within the desired time frame.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization - Demonstrates proper infection control procedures setting up and cleaning up operatories.

- Instruments are properly prepared for sterilizations by SPD standards. - Instruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care.

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.