Care Champion for your Organisation's Oral Health

Oral Care Champion

Find out what the role of an oral champion entails

SMILING MATTERS 2023 REPORT recommend having an Oral Champion to promote good practice

The Role of an Oral Champion

Oral Care Champions take the lead on oral health within a service. They play a significant role in increasing awareness about the importance of oral health and promoting best practice; ensuring that oral care is carried out. They can be responsible for putting systems and processes into place so that oral health care plans are followed and that residents have access to preventive and treatment services when required.

To be successful in their role, Oral Care Champions are advised to have training so they have some basic oral health knowledge. It's important that oral champions understand the impact poor oral health has in exacerbating health conditions, especially in vulnerable adults with chronic illness while positive oral health can improve a condition. Smiling Matters 2023 report

Oral Champion Course

Aim

Understand the skills required to carry out good practices in mouth care and have the knowledge to confidently carry out your role as an oral champion.

By the end of this course:

you will have the necessary knowledge and skills to confidently carry out your role as an oral champion
a basic understanding of oral health and how poor oral health impacts health conditions, especially in vulnerable adults with chronic illness
have best practices and tips in mouth care management
feel confident with recommending mouth care tools particularly in palliative and end of life care
be able to give practical tips and coping strategies to help other staff members with people that resist.
have an understanding of the quality standards in oral healthcare to include how to complete an oral health assessment

Testimonials

"Excellent and informative training delivered in a relaxed and friendly manner. Lots of new information and tips for best practice in oral health care. Teaches new skills and takes away any concerns about delivering oral health care in practice. Would highly recommend!"

Specialist Care Practitioner

Damuscus Care

"I have recently become an oral health care champion for my care home.I sort of understood my role, but this course put everything in perspective,identified my role and guided me through the knowledge and responsibilities I needed for this position. I would recommend this course for anybody who is interested in exploring this role within their working environment."

Care Assistant

West Acre Nursing Home, Winchester

"Extremely useful information, would recommended to attend this. You have opportunity to ask questions / advice which helps."

Deputy Service Manager

Action 4 Care

ORAL CARE CHAMPION COURSE

BOOKING & PAYMENT FORM

Complete form and payment per nominated oral champion

BOOKING & PAYMENT FORM

I am completing this form for myself

I am completing this form on behalf of a staff member

If you are completing this form on behalf of someone else and would like to receive a payment receipt and confirmation please indicate your email address below.

DETAILS OF PERSON ATTENDING

Student's Name

Phone Number

Student's email address

Job title

Name of care home, hospital, hospice, home care service

FULL ADDRESS FOR RECEIPT PURPOSES

Address

SELECT DATE

*On receipt of payment you will receive a confirmation email and Zoom link 1 week prior to the course.

Thank you.

You will shortly receive a confirmation email with receipt. Please allow up to 1 day.

* It's important to know that while an oral champion should have a basic understanding of what is needed for good oral health, champions are NOT expected to be oral health experts.

THE ROLE OF AN ORAL CHAMPION

Increase awareness about the importance of mouth care among staff
Ensure that all residents have oral hygiene tools and products.
Make sure that oral assessments are carried out for every new resident regardless of how long their stay and incorporated into their care plan.
To oversee that daily mouth care is carried out. Document tooth brushing activity
To ensure that mouth care policy and plans are in place
Appropriately refer residents to the dental team and communicate with other health and social care professionals when required.
Responsible for ensuring that staff have been trained, particularly new staff

BENEFITS OF HAVING AN ORAL CARE CHAMPION

They can be an effective way of introducing and supporting change within oral care policies and practices. They consider how things could be done differently for better oral health of residents.

ALLOCATING THE RIGHT PERSON

It is advisable to allocate a staff member that shows an interest in oral health, Ideally a member of staff that comes forward to voluntarily accept the role as an Oral Champion.

Care managers may decide to train more than one Oral Champion, especially where part-time staff are employed.