Dental Nurse

Are you a dental nurse looking for a new challenge? Do you want to make a contribution to the NHS and the provision of dental care in your local community?

This role is a 12 month fixed-term, maternity cover post. (October 2024 - October 2025)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic dental nurse to join the Primary Care Dental Services (PCDS). Our highly experienced team provides oral health care for patients with special health care needs at sites across Bristol, Bath and Weston.

The role also involves some added administrative duties such as supporting the reception area when required.

The ability to work across the different community dental practices as required is essential. Some experience of working with our patient groups is desirable but not essential.

Main duties of the job

As part of the team, you will be responsible for providing clinical chairside support for colleagues with a varied skill mix. Some of main responsibilities include processing dental instruments, daily testing and documentation of decontamination processes and equipment.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• National certificate in Dental Nursing or NVQ level 3 Dental Nursing qualification
• Valid GDC registration

Desirable criteria

• Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics
• Completion of enhanced dental nurse courses such as fluoride application

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Able to work effectively with others as part of a team
• Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload
• Competent in operating a computer
• Good communication skills
• Ability to prioritise
• Ability to carry out routine/repetitive activities
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
• Dexterity – ability to handle/manoeuvre equipment/instruments across a wide range of sizes, weights and environments
• Manual handling – ability to manoeuvre trolleys and instrumentation boxes in line with trust policy

Aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels
• Enthusiastic, highly motivated, and able to inspire others
• Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self-management, and drive for improvement
• Analytical
• Able to use own initiative
• Personal Resilience
• Flexibility e.g. changing rota duties
• Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Team Player
• Innovative

knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of a range of dental nursing work procedures and practices

Desirable criteria

• Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of a variety of settings i.e., hospital, community clinic, NHS/Private Practice

What do we offer to you?

Apart from getting work within a friendly and supportive team:

• Training and development opportunities
• Highly rewarding job working with patients with additional needs
• Industry leading pension scheme
• Access to an ample Wellbeing offer