Job summary
37.5 hours per week.
Fixed term up until Aug 2027.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Dental Nurse to join the specialist led, multidisciplinary team of Plymouth Community Dental Services, part of Livewell Southwest.
Applications are welcomed from experienced and suitably qualified registered dental nurses with a minimum of one year experience post qualification.
This post will primarily be under taking general dental care for urgent care and routine paediatrics.
PCDS is not only a place where patients receive exceptional
care but also a supportive and development focused place to work. We are committed
to nurturing our staff at every stage of their career. Whether through informal
training, clinical supervision or opportunities to be involved in service
improvement and teaching.
If you are ready to take the next step in a rewarding and
supportive career, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will mainly work with clinicians
treating patients attending for unscheduled dental care and routine children.
At times you may be required to support clinicians treating children under anaesthetic
at University Hospitals Plymouth (full training given prior).
The post holder will assist clinicians to undertake a full
range of dental treatments whilst supporting and caring for patients. You will need
to manage the surgery, completing all the relevant clinical and administrative
tasks.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to 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 prioritise 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 description
Job responsibilities
Works predominantly with a dental
operator providing emergency / routine child patient care including clinical
procedures and chair side assisting
Supports
the needs of patients, carers and clinicians and be able to deal with them
promptly and efficiently
Works
with all dental equipment including sharp and fine instruments
Provides
advice for patients/carers/families about dental procedures including pre and
post-operative advice, management of complications and pain control
Prepares
the clinical environment prior to clinical sessions and closes at the end of
clinical sessions, following the service cross infection and decontamination
protocols
Checks
surgery equipment and reports any faults
Records
clinical observations
Ensures
routine and emergency equipment is checked and available i.e. oxygen cylinders
and masks, defibrillator
De-contaminates
equipment, instruments following cross infection
procedures
Prepares
the surgery for the patient using knowledge and experience to select the
appropriate equipment, materials and instruments
Develops
x-rays using digital equipment
After
relevant training maybe required to take x-rays
Required
to work at different locations to meet the needs of the Service, when required
including general anaesthesia sessions at UHP
Triage of
urgent care patients to assess the urgency of treatment and determine the correct booking and then book appointments including outlying clinics
Undertakes
specific duties delegated by Dental Operators and Plymouth Community Dental
Services Ltd Managers
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
Thorough
knowledge of dental procedures gained through a minimum of 1 years
post-qualification training and experience
Thorough
knowledge of routine dental procedures and equipment gained through in-house
training and experience including specialised 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
recognising 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
Job description
Job responsibilities
Works predominantly with a dental
operator providing emergency / routine child patient care including clinical
procedures and chair side assisting
Supports
the needs of patients, carers and clinicians and be able to deal with them
promptly and efficiently
Works
with all dental equipment including sharp and fine instruments
Provides
advice for patients/carers/families about dental procedures including pre and
post-operative advice, management of complications and pain control
Prepares
the clinical environment prior to clinical sessions and closes at the end of
clinical sessions, following the service cross infection and decontamination
protocols
Checks
surgery equipment and reports any faults
Records
clinical observations
Ensures
routine and emergency equipment is checked and available i.e. oxygen cylinders
and masks, defibrillator
De-contaminates
equipment, instruments following cross infection
procedures
Prepares
the surgery for the patient using knowledge and experience to select the
appropriate equipment, materials and instruments
Develops
x-rays using digital equipment
After
relevant training maybe required to take x-rays
Required
to work at different locations to meet the needs of the Service, when required
including general anaesthesia sessions at UHP
Triage of
urgent care patients to assess the urgency of treatment and determine the correct booking and then book appointments including outlying clinics
Undertakes
specific duties delegated by Dental Operators and Plymouth Community Dental
Services Ltd Managers
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
Thorough
knowledge of dental procedures gained through a minimum of 1 years
post-qualification training and experience
Thorough
knowledge of routine dental procedures and equipment gained through in-house
training and experience including specialised 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
recognising 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
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- 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
- 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 organisational 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
- Organises tasks and activities to make optimum use of clinical time
- Works and communicates with all members of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Up to date Basic life support training
- Experience of using Dentally dental package
Experience
Essential
- Dental nursing experience.
- Assists with the induction of new staff.
- Trains and supports new and less qualified staff
Desirable
- Experience of working in the salaried, community or personal dental services within the NHS.
- Experience of working as a member of a team
- Assists with the induction of new staff.
- Trains and supports new and less qualified staff.
Qualifications
Essential
- NEBDN Qualification/City & Guilds NVQ3 or equivalent in Dental Nursing
- Registered as a Dental Nurse with the GDC with no restrictions
- GCSE Grade A-C (or equivalent) English and maths
Desirable
- Any additional Dental Nurse Qualifications
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- 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
- 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 organisational 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
- Organises tasks and activities to make optimum use of clinical time
- Works and communicates with all members of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
- Up to date Basic life support training
- Experience of using Dentally dental package
Experience
Essential
- Dental nursing experience.
- Assists with the induction of new staff.
- Trains and supports new and less qualified staff
Desirable
- Experience of working in the salaried, community or personal dental services within the NHS.
- Experience of working as a member of a team
- Assists with the induction of new staff.
- Trains and supports new and less qualified staff.
Qualifications
Essential
- NEBDN Qualification/City & Guilds NVQ3 or equivalent in Dental Nursing
- Registered as a Dental Nurse with the GDC with no restrictions
- GCSE Grade A-C (or equivalent) English and maths
Desirable
- Any additional Dental Nurse Qualifications
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
