Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide operational assistance to the Sector Dental Nurse Team Manager
The post holder will be responsible for providing local supervision of clinical sites and nursing teams within their designated area.
Provide local line management/supervision delegated by Sector Dental Nurse Manager to dental nursing team & admin support staff (Bands 5 2).
Carry out dental nursing role, which includes providing care for children and adults with special needs, including socially excluded/ vulnerable groups, and clerical work to meet the needs of the Service.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Managerial/Leadership
Assist and support the Sector Dental Nurse Manager to ensure an efficient and effective high quality service at local level throughout their designated Sector
Assist the Sector Dental Nurse Manager in ensuring staffing levels and skill mix within the team are adequate
Accept delegated responsibilities from the Sector Dental Nurse Manager Dental Nurse Manager including staff appraisal and personal development planning
Coordination and production of clinical staff timetables/schedules/rosters, by providing staff/clinic information on request to Sector Dental Nurse Manager
Assist in the coordination and monitoring annual leave for all dental staff
- Delegated responsibility for managing the performance of dental nurses/admin support at local level within their designated Sector e.g. Appraisals, Personal Development review, Sickness Absence review/management, Return to work interviews. Reporting back to Sector Senior Dental Nurse Manager
Responsible as local Senior Team Leader for dental nurses and admin support staff
Monitor and report the attendance of all dental staff and produce/complete any necessary forms, reports etc.
- Provide accurate data on request for performance monitoring reports, and waiting list management
Oversee maintenance of all clinics equipment, initiate repairs as necessary and liaise with suppliers within budget and using the contracts set in place
Handling cash/cheques from patients. Maintain accurate records of monies banked.
Ensuring the highest standards are maintained in the clinics and other sites where dental care is delivered. Keeping up to date with modern practice and encouraging innovation.
Support the Sector Dental Nurse Manager in managing the clinic resources, ensuring the most cost effective delivery of service within defined budgetary constraints and targets
Delegated responsibilities for maintenance of stock control/ordering.
Research, cost and purchase of dental supplies on a frequent basis for daily service delivery needs
To deputise/represent for the Sector Dental Nurse Manager if and when necessary e.g. Annual Leave/Sickness Absence, multi-disciplinary meetings/forums
Clinical
Maintain GDC registration and keep professional CPD up to date
Fulfil the role of a lead dental nurse providing clinical support in specialist dental care delivery e.g. General Anaesthetic, Conscious Sedation and any other clinical procedures that have no margin for error and require good hand eye coordination. The clinical work requires the post holder to work with children and adults with special needs, including socially excluded/ vulnerable groups.
To act as a role model to dental nursing team, highlighting and disseminating good practice
Monitoring of patients using specific equipment during specialist treatment e.g. Sedation, General Anaesthesia
Preparation of dental surgery and other sites for use, and decontamination at the end of the session. Maintaining the highest level of infection prevention and control, following the Trusts Infection Prevention and Control policy, Department of Health HTM01-05 Decontamination in Primary Dental Care, and any other standard operating procedures
Have competent and relevant knowledge/experience to handle routine equipment for treatment of patients e.g. endodontic/surgical equipment, sedation equipment
Manipulation of complex items of clinical equipment prior to and during treatment e.g. preparation of dental materials, dressings, instruments and load syringes etc
Preparation and maintenance of dental equipment and instruments
Preparation of dental materials for use in the dental surgery, following COSHH regulations
Decontamination and sterilisation of dental equipment and instruments. Ensuring that equipment and instruments are handled in accordance to HTM01-05 requirements.
Carry out daily safety checks/ tests on dental equipment e.g. Monitoring and recording of autoclave and washer disinfector function
Processing of radiographs, under guidance of Local Rules and IRMER. Maintenance of x-ray developing processes. Disposal of spent x-ray solutions in the correct method, when appropriate, following COSHH regulations and the Trust policy.
Assessment of the needs of individual patients and offer appropriate advice. Prioritise emergencies.
Provision of oral health information and advice to patients, parents and carers when required. Oral hygiene instruction e.g. tooth brushing instruction to patients and parents/carers, dosage advice regarding fluoride supplements.
Provision of advice regarding pain management, pre and post-operative instructions relating to extractions, sedation and G.A instructions, and care of orthodontic appliance
Ensure a safe working environment for self, colleagues, and patients following the Trusts policy and procedures
Ensuring the safe transport of equipment and instruments when driving/ travelling between clinics/ other sites following the Trusts policies
Strict adherence to health/safety rules to minimise clinical and non - clinical risk
Policy and Service Development Role
Implement policies and standard operating procedures within designated Sector.
Facilitate service improvement and identify good practice locally and nationally, and ensure this is shared and implemented as appropriate within own Sector.
Participate in the opportunities for seeking patient / client feedback to inform continuous service improvement (i.e., setting up comments box, circulating client questionnaires/feedback forms).
Training and Education
To assist the Sector Dental Nurse Manager in ensuring compliance of all staff to mandatory training in accordance with the Trusts policy.
Maintain an extensive knowledge and understanding of the dental equipment on sites and the ability to problem solve and develop contingency plans as appropriate.
Support the clinical team by ensuring compliance of the highest possible standards of Infection Control, decontamination and Health & Safety procedures to ensure compliance by all staff.
Provision and participation in the training of staff.
Provide induction training programmes to new starters.
Participation in mandatory training sessions for Basic Life Support & CPR (which includes training in the use of heart defibrillators), Infection Prevention & Control, Manual Handling & Risk Assessment, Fire, Health & Safety etc.
Clinical Governance, Research and Audit
Take active lead roles in service area e.g. Clinical Governance, Clinical Networks, Infection prevention & control.
To facilitate regular peer review meetings, initiate audits as required and deliver training as appropriate to the dental nursing team and monitor the quality assurance programme.
Participate in clinical governance, audit, regular training sessions, and staff meetings.
Communication
To work proactively and effectively, and communicate with Sector Dental Nurse Manager in aspects of service delivery, standards and initiatives. To initiate dialogue with them regarding relevant issues, relating to patients/clients and/or service delivery or provision, and to use effective communication and negotiating skills to achieve positive outcomes.
To assist the Sector Dental Nurse Manager in establishing and implementing an effective communication system throughout the clinics, enabling staff participation in Community Dental network business.
Persuasive skills will be required when encouraging staff to adopt specific procedures and protocols. Motivational skills will be required when encouraging team working and development.
