Certified Senior Dental Assistant

BC Cancer

Abbotsford, BC

 

 

Reporting to the Head, Department of Dentistry, supervises Assistants and performs related booking, chair-side and clerical duties.

 

 

What you’ll do

 

• Provide daily supervision to Assistants regarding all aspects of departmental activity such as organization of work area, supplies and equipment and file maintenance. Resolves work related problems and provides input to Department Head for performance review purposes.
• Coordinate schedules for dental professional staff by: prioritizing and scheduling patient appointments for the dental clinic and for O.R. procedures; organizing the acquisition of supporting documentation for patient visits; and making changes/adjustments as needed.
• Screen patients and assesses dental needs to set priorities for dental visits; schedules appointments according to urgency of need, ensuring continuity of sequential appointments.
• Ensure patient charts are requested for scheduled appointments; checks patient chart and treatment plan for completeness and follows-up on missing documentation according to procedure. Files treatment plans alphabetically.
• In consultation with medical/dental staff, adjusts appointment schedules according to emergent needs. Communicates changes in schedules to patients, staff and those affected.
• Perform all the chair-side duties of a dental assistant. Makes impressions to fabricate gel carriers; constructs and fits custom gel carriers and instructs patients on how to use. Fabricates bite blocks and gingival protectors in preparation for radiotherapy procedures. Provides home care instruction to patients.
• Maintain a double entry system on content of file, logs all work and photographs; boxes and files study models, files photographs, dictation, reports, letters and laboratory reports until further follow-up is required by the Dentist.
• Complete purchase orders for dental supplies as prescribed by the Dentist and requisitions for Department supplies.  Ensures an adequate inventory of materials is on hand.

 

 

What you bring

 

Qualifications:

 

• Completion of Grade 12.
• Completion of a recognized Certified Dental Assistant program
• Two (2) year’s recent, related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Current registration with the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. 
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Cancer contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

 

 

Core Competencies

 

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

 

 

You have:

 

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to supervise.
• Organize work.
• Operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

 

 

What we bring

 

 

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

 

 

Job Type: Temporary, Part-Time (0.60 FTE until October 4, 2027)

Wage: $31.18 per hour

Location: 32900 Marshall Road, Abbotsford BC V2S 0C2  

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work: Tuesday – Thursday; 0700-1500, 0730-1530, 0800-1600, 0830-1630, 0900-1700, 0930-1730, 1000-1800 or as operationally required.

Requisition Number: 195287E

 

 

** Please note: Support for nomination with the BC Provincial Nominee Program is not a guarantee, entitlement or an employee benefit after receiving a full time job offer with PHSA**  

 

 

   

What we do

 

BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia. BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

 

PHSA plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

PHSA and BC Cancer are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

 

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

 

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:  

 

 

 

 

You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.

 

 

 

 

The internal job posting expires on March 3, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

 

 

 

 

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days. 

 

 

 

 

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.