Dental Staff Nurse

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Have you got the skills and experience to work in one of London's leading teaching hospitals?

The Dental directorate at Guy's and St Thomas' are seeking qualified Dental Nurses to work across various dental departments on both hospital sites. We have a number of permanent full time, or part time contracts.

Applicants should hold a recognised Dental Nurse qualification. To be considered a qualified Dental Nurse; you should have achieved one of the following:

• The National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) Certificate
• The NVQ Level 3 in Oral Healthcare: Dental Nursing
• A Certificate of Proficiency in Dental Nursing awarded by a recognised Dental Hospital Certificate of Higher Education in Dental Nursing offered by the School of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry
• Registered to the GDC

If you have initiative, are committed to developing your career in dental nursing, eager to take up a challenge, like the variety of different specialties and would enjoy working in a hospital environment, then please apply.

Interview date: 06/02/2025

Main duties of the job

The post holder (Dental Staff Nurse) will work as a member of the dental department and will be expected to undertake a wide range of dental nursing duties on both sites and across all specialities moving departments when required.

The post holder will also take part in assisting with the teaching of undergraduate dental students and dental nursing apprentices.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best-known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

The Dental Institute comprises three components:

• The Dental Hospital of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• The Dental Hospital of King's NHS Foundation Trust
• King's College London Dental Institute

The Institute represents a significant management challenge as its activities cross both the NHS and the University sector. The Dental Institute is accountable to each of its parent Trusts and the post holder, in conjunction with the Clinical Director, is expected to ensure that the clinical services delivered (by both staff and students) meet NHS standards of practice, and specific Trust standards.

The Dental Institute is based on both the Guy's and St Thomas campuses; both sites offer modern facilities for the care of patients, teaching and research. The Dental Institute is committed to becoming the major university hospital in the UK and to staying in the forefront of patient care, teaching and research. The Dental Hospital and Institute aim to provide excellence in the delivery of oral and dental care, training and education.

Job responsibilities

• To communicate and co-ordinate effectively with appropriate clinicians, staff, professional bodies and external agencies.
• Liaise with Dental, Pathology, and Haematology laboratories regarding work/reports for patients.
• Communicate with other healthcare groups and work in collaboration with them regarding the patients continuing care.
• To provide oral health advice to all patients on a one-to-one basis, taking into consideration possible communication barriers with regard to culture, lingual, ethnic or special needs.
• To recognise and implement the use of appropriate communication aids to patients and carers.
• To participate in relevant Oral Health promotions.
• Provide via telecommunication systems advice and reassurance regarding patients with emergency dental problems.
• To provide clinical teaching where appropriate for undergraduates and Professions Complimentary to Dentistry.
• To assist in the supervision and training of student Dental Nurses by explanation, demonstration and the passing of information.

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

• To have individual responsibility for the preparation and organisation of a dental unit where clinical procedures will be undertaken. Ensure the dental unit is prepared and ready at the start of all clinical sessions.
• Monitor the patients physical signs prior, during and post treatment.
• Achieve and maintain high standards of cleanliness and infection control in line with current codes of practice.
• Provide assistance and support throughout the patients treatment. Anticipating the clinicians needs and any possible complications which may arise including assistance in the management of medical and dental emergencies.
• Act upon dentists clinical requests whilst providing chair side assistance.
• Be responsible for the security of equipment and materials in clinical areas.
• To provide clinical support and advice to the dental team, i.e. dentist, postgraduate and undergraduate students and Professionals Complimentary to Dentistry as required.
• To identify each patients medical and dental nursing needs, before, during and post treatment of the patient.
• Advise, triage and prioritise dental emergency patients to ensure they receive the most appropriate care.
• To work independently and have responsibility for own actions when delivering dental nursing care.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications/ Education

• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development.

Value and behaviour

• Value and behaviour.

Skills

• Good dental nursing skills to enable working without supervision.
• Able to work in a team and support junior members.
• Able to prioritise.
• Information Technology.
• Assessors Award.

Experience

• Experience of working with a wide range of dental procedures.
• Experience in chosen speciality.

Additional Information

• Act in a friendly, reliable, enthusiastic, caring approach to patients and staff.
• Flexible approach to day-to-day changes.
• Commitment to develop skills and undertake further training.
• Regular attendance and punctuality.
• Able to use initiative.

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.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

£31,944 to £34,937 a year p.a inc HCA (pro rata for part time)