Dental Nurse - Developmental role

Are you a qualified dental nurse, but wanting to develop?

Have you commenced with, or interested in undertaking a qualification in conscious sedation?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time development dental nurse position within Plymouth Community Dental Service. The post holder will either be in the process of or be willing to undertake NEBDN conscious sedation training at the next possible convenience.

This post will primarily work with urgent care and routine child patients, support sessions under general anesthesia at UHP, as well as opportunities to work with dentists undertaking conscious sedation as part of this training role.

On successful completion of the sedation qualification within 12 months of commencement and no performance concerns, this post will then convert to a permanent Band 5 Special Care Dental Nurse position within the service.

Applications are welcomed from experienced & qualified registered dental nurses to join our community dental service, delivering a high level of general & specialized dental services to patients from Plymouth & the surrounding area.

If you have the necessary qualifications, experience & enthusiasm to join our dedicated team, we would like to hear from you.

For an informal discussion please contact Katie Nicholls - Dental Nurse Manager on 01752 434657.

Main duties of the job

The post holder works with Dental Operators, mainly with patients in pain who require emergency care and routine children. This will also include supporting general anaesthetic sessions at UHP.

The post holder will assist all dental operators in all chair side assisting and clinical procedures, to support and care for patients and manage a surgery and complete all the relevant clinical and administrative tasks.

This is a developmental position which will support the post holder to undertake full dental nurse sedation training at the earliest convenience. On successful completion of this training within the 12-month timeframe and fulfilling all probation requirements, this post will then convert into a Band 5 Special Care Dental Nurse.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information regarding eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7-day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritize employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

1. Works with the dental operator providing emergency/routine child patient care including clinical procedures and chairside assisting.
2. Supports the needs of patients, carers, and clinicians and is able to deal with them promptly and efficiently.
3. Works with all dental equipment including sharp and fine instruments.
4. Provides advice for patients/carers/families about dental procedures including pre and post-operative advice, management of complications, and pain control.
5. Prepares the clinical environment prior to clinical sessions and closes down at the end of clinical sessions, following the service cross infection and decontamination protocols.
6. Checks surgery equipment and reports any faults.
7. Records clinical observations.
8. Ensures routine and emergency equipment is checked and available i.e. oxygen cylinders and masks, defibrillator.
9. Decontaminates equipment, instruments following cross infection procedures.
10. Prepares the surgery for the patient using knowledge and experience to select the appropriate equipment, materials, and instruments.
11. Develops x-rays using digital equipment.
12. After relevant training may be required to take x-rays.
13. Required to work at different locations to meet the needs of the Service, when required, including General Anaesthesia sessions at UHP.
14. Continue with or commence full dental nurse sedation training. To support this training, the post holder under supervision will work with dentists treating patients under conscious sedation.
15. Triage of urgent care patients to assess the urgency of treatment and determine the correct booking and then book appointments including outlying clinics.
16. Undertakes specific duties delegated by Dental Operators and Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd Managers.
17. Follows policies determined by others, including NHS England, the British Dental Association (including the Cross Infection guidelines), the General Dental Council, COSHH, RIDDOR, and HASAWA, DOM HTM 01-05.

Training and Knowledge

• Registered as a Dental Nurse with the GDC.
• Undertake full dental nurse sedation training and complete within 12 months of commencement. This will include some study at home.
• Thorough knowledge of dental procedures gained through a minimum of 2 years post-qualification training and experience.
• Thorough knowledge of routine dental procedures and equipment gained through in-house training and experience including specialized areas such as general anaesthetics.
• Experienced in treating patients from diverse cultural backgrounds i.e. those who require interpretation services.
• Knowledge of Basic Life Support techniques following training and regular updates, provided by Livewell Southwest.
• Trained in recognizing medical emergencies and assists in dealing with them.
• Trained by Livewell Southwest in all Mandatory Training topics, including Manual Handling, Breakaway, Health and Safety.
• Clinical work is carried out without direct supervision using initiative and knowledge of procedures gained through experience and training. The guidance of a dental operator or clinical manager is sought for non-routine clinical procedures.
• Administrative duties are carried out without direct supervision using knowledge of procedures and referring to a manager for non-routine procedures.

Person Specification

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years dental nursing experience.
• Assist with the induction of new staff.
• Trains and supports new staff.
• Experience of working in the salaried, community, or personal dental services within the NHS.
• Experience of working as a member of a team.

Qualifications

• Dental Nurse NEBDN Qualification/City & Guilds NVQ3 or equivalent.
• Registered as a Dental Nurse with the GDC working at Band 4 KSF level dimensions.
• Commenced, or willing to commence NEBDN conscious sedation training.
• GCSE Grade A-C (or equivalent) English and maths.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of the equipment and materials used in dental and surgical procedures.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.
• Knowledge of Cross Infection control measures.
• Carries out clinical and administrative work without direct supervision.
• Promotes best practice and a high level of patient care for the Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd.
• Competent in recognizing and dealing with medical emergencies.
• Make decisions as to best practice.
• Carries out performance checks and daily maintenance on dental equipment.
• Fluent in spoken and written English language.
• Good organizational skills.
• Good keyboard and ICT skills.
• Calm reassuring manner.
• Good interpersonal skills to ensure effective communication with staff at all grades and ability to support patients of all social backgrounds and all outside agencies.
• To always act in a professional manner.
• Controls stock levels of dental consumables and materials.
• Organizes tasks and activities to make optimum use of clinical time.
• Works and communicates with all members of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of using Dentally software package.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Up to date Basic life support training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working.

Reference number

B9832-2024-D20-2

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road, Mount Gould, Plymouth, PL4 7PY

The Dental Access Centre, Baring Street, Plymouth, PL4 8NF