Livewell Southwest

Dental Nurse

The closing date is 17 July 2025

Job summary

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

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.

This post will primarily be under taking general dental care for urgent care and routine paediatrics.

PCDS provides a high level of general and specialised dental services to Plymouth and the surrounding district and are looking for candidates who are caring, passionate and enthusiastic in providing high quality care.

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

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 Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job Share(s) Considered

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Main duties of the job

The post holder works with Dental Operators, working mainly with patients in pain who require emergency care and routine children. At times, the post holder may be required to work with dental operators undertaking assessments or non-sedation treatment for special care or oral surgery patients.

On occasion this post holder may be required to provide nurse cover at UHP GA clinics in Freedom Theatres.

The postholder 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.

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.

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

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

Reference number

B9832-2526-020

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


The Dental Access Centre

Baring Street

Plymouth

PL4 8NF


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
  • Organizes 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
  • Organizes 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Employer's website

https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Employer's website

https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Dental Nurse Manager

Mrs Katie Nicholls

katienicholls1@nhs.net

01752434657

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

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

Reference number

B9832-2526-020

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


The Dental Access Centre

Baring Street

Plymouth

PL4 8NF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)