Job Role

The Community Oral Health Officer (COHO) provides patient-centred oral health services, preventive care and community education. The role supports early identification of oral health problems, appropriate treatment and timely referral, while maintaining accurate clinical records and a safe care environment. All clinical activities must remain within the officer’s current authorised scope of practice, demonstrated competence and facility protocols.

2. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

•  Improve access to safe and timely oral healthcare.
•  Promote oral hygiene and prevent avoidable oral diseases through patient and community education.
•  Identify oral health needs and coordinate appropriate treatment, referral and follow-up.
•  Maintain high standards of patient safety, clinical documentation and service delivery.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Patient Assessment and Oral Healthcare

•  Obtain relevant medical and dental histories, conduct oral examinations and document findings.
•  Develop and explain care plans, obtain informed consent and deliver permitted preventive and basic clinical care within the authorised COHO scope.
•  Recognise conditions requiring dental officer or specialist attention and arrange timely referral.
•  Provide clear aftercare instructions and review patients to assess progress and address concerns.

B. Preventive Care and Patient Education

•  Educate patients on toothbrushing, oral hygiene, diet and risk factors affecting oral health.
•  Provide individual and group counselling suited to patients’ age, health needs and understanding.
•  Support preventive oral health activities and encourage regular reviews and early care seeking.

C. Community Outreach and Health Promotion

•  Support planning and delivery of oral health education and screening activities in schools and community settings.
•  Work with community health teams to identify underserved groups and improve referral uptake.
•  Record outreach participation, findings and follow-up needs, and report service gaps.

D. Infection Prevention and Clinical Safety

•  Follow hand hygiene, protective equipment, instrument decontamination and sterilisation procedures.
•  Ensure safe handling of sharps and healthcare waste and maintain a clean treatment environment.
•  Check equipment readiness, report faults and monitor essential supplies and expiry dates.
•  Recognise clinical emergencies, provide first response within training and activate the facility’s emergency pathway.

E. Documentation and Reporting

•  Maintain complete, accurate and confidential patient records, including consent, treatment and referrals.
•  Prepare service reports covering attendance, care provided, outreach and follow-up outcomes.
•  Protect patient information and use approved systems for record keeping and communication.

F. Team Coordination and Service Improvement

•  Coordinate patient care with dental officers, nursing staff and other clinical teams.
•  Participate in clinical reviews, audits and continuing professional development.
•  Escalate incidents and patient concerns promptly and contribute to improvements in care quality. 

Qualification

4. QUALIFICATIONS

•  Diploma in Community Oral Health from a recognised institution, or a recognised higher qualification in the same field.
•  Registration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and a valid annual practising licence.
• Completion of applicable internship and registration requirements.
• Demonstrated practical competence in oral health assessment, preventive care, infection prevention and clinical documentation.
•  2–3 years of relevant post-registration experience in a dental clinic, hospital or community oral health programme.

5. COMPETENCIES

•  Clinical judgement and safe practice: assess oral health needs, recognise limitations and refer promptly.
•  Patient-centred care: demonstrate empathy, obtain informed consent and explain care clearly.
•  Quality and safety: apply infection prevention standards and maintain accurate clinical records.
•  Communication and teamwork: coordinate care and communicate effectively with patients and clinical teams.
•  Professional integrity: uphold ethical standards, accountability and patient confidentiality.
•  Organisation and adaptability: prioritise patient needs and manage competing demands effectively.
•  Community health promotion: deliver practical oral health education and support preventive care.