Candidates must possess a recognized dental nursing qualification and General Dental Council registration. The position offers professional development opportunities, including specialized training in areas such as sedation and radiography, alongside benefits like NHS pension schemes and staff discounts. The successful applicant will be responsible for chair-side assistance, preparing clinical environments, and engaging with patients through education and support, all while adhering to health and safety policies and fostering a community-focused approach to dental care.
We would welcome applications from dental nurses who would like a new challenge and a dental nursing role with a difference, helping in their local community. We are a community dental service with clinics based all over South East and South West London. We provide high level dental care to patients inside and outside of the dental surgery too; we go to schools, homeless centres, hospitals, patient's homes, care homes, right in the heart of the community. Providing dentistry, in places you wouldn't expect. You will be based in one clinic where you will be part of the larger community family. We are based across 9 London boroughs and you might be surprised to find a clinic close to you.
We are currently recruiting for dental nurses in Community Clinics in Kingston, Richmond, Wandsworth.
A recognised dental nurse qualification and registration with the General Dental Council is essential.
We offer:
Development Opportunities
- CPD and mandatory training
- Inhalation sedation training
- Post certificate opportunities in Special Care, Sedation and Radiography in house with Kings
- Regular appraisals
- Established career pathway and opportunities for progression
Financial well-being:
- salary sacrifice
- childcare vouchers
- NHS Pension scheme
- High cost area supplement
Physical well-being:
- NHS staff discounts
- on boarding and induction support
Mental health and well-being benefits:
- self-referral to occupational health
- counselling and mentoring
The successful candidate will need to be able to:
- perform chair-side dental nursing duties to a high standard,
- Assist in the event of a medical emergency
- Assist with patients who have special needs, including vulnerable children, people who are elderly, mentally and physically disabled, suffering from terminal illness, infectious risk, or mental health problems
- Prepare and participate in domiciliary care for elderly and patients who have difficulty in leaving their homes and school visits.
- Perform the decontamination and sterilisation of all instruments, testing the decontamination equipment on a daily and weekly basis
About us
JOB PURPOSE
Provide a high level of dental nursing care for all patients; including special needs adults and children, elderly, medically compromised or anxious patients. Explain dental procedures/treatment to patients or carers. Deliver a high standard of chair-side assistance supporting all grades of clinicians. Maintaining a high level of cross infection control. Responsible for the day-to-day running of a base dental clinic. Providing dental nursing cover across service.
Main Duties
- Dental Nursing Duties
1.1 Acting as relief dental nurse in community dental clinics across south London. However, you will be based usually within one health centre.
1.2 Preparing dental instruments, materials and equipment for each clinical session and ensuring the surgery is left tidy at the end of the day.
1.3 Receiving and preparing special needs patients, including children, adults and elderly people for treatment in the dental clinic under the direction of the dentist.
1.4 Assisting dental staff in the full range of dental treatment and procedures, ensuring that relevant information about the patient, including any change in his/her condition, is reported to the dentist.
1.5 Assisting with patients who have special needs, including vulnerable children, people who are elderly, mentally and physically disabled, suffering from terminal illness, infectious risk, or mental health problems. People with challenging behaviour or are anxious / phobic about receiving dental treatment.
1.6 Checking patients' fitness for discharge after extractions/sedation.
1.7 Preparation and participation in domiciliary care for elderly and patients who have difficulty in leaving their homes. Being aware of your surroundings and the property of the patient.
1.8 Preparation and participation in the treatment of patients in high security hospitals.
1.9 Having a full understanding of the current Department of Health decontamination guidelines and being responsible for the decontamination and sterilisation of all instruments, the safe disposal of sharps and any single use items. Testing the decontamination equipment on a daily and weekly basis and reporting faults to the appropriate person in line with local infection control guidelines.
1.10 Where appropriate, assisting with patients receiving treatment using conscious sedation or general anaesthetic. Providing pre and post operative care.
1.11 Re-assuring and informing the patient about further treatment and arranging appointments.
1.12 Giving patients, parents or carers oral hygiene instruction.
1.13 Assisting in dental screening and epidemiological fieldwork.
1.14 Working with hygiene and therapy students in community special care dentistry clinics.
1.15 Supervising student dental nurses on their placement in the community dental clinics.
1.16 Fully competent in the mixing of all dental materials.
Clinic Management
2.1 Adhering to the departments Infection Control Policy and Blood Borne Virus policy when treating all patients.
2.2 Processing and mounting of radiography. To clean, maintain and test processor according to agreed procedures.
2.3 Management of surgery clinical waste, dealing appropriately and safely with hazardous or toxic waste materials.
2.4 Being aware of language and cultural difficulties and dealing with these in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
2.5 Disinfecting and packaging dental laboratory work and arranging collection
2.6 Up-keeping the patient filing and recall system and ensuring records have been completed. Undertaking general reception duties.
2.7 Taking responsibility for ordering stock for the dental clinics. Ensuring a level of stock control is maintained. Carrying out end of year stock audit.
2.8 Ordering pharmacy items and emergency drugs for the dental clinics. Ensuring drugs are within expiry dates. Ensuring the emergency drugs kit is reviewed on a weekly basis.
2.9 Monitoring equipment used in the dental surgery, maintaining the upkeep of the equipment by following directions set out by the manufacturer or the Department. Reporting any faults to the dental engineer.
2.10 In the absence of a dentist reporting any problems or deficiencies to Line Manager.
Policy and Procedures
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients. Being aware of and adhering to Trust and Departmental Policy is essential. These policies include: Health and safety/risk assessment Infection Control and Blood Bourne Virus/HTMManual Handling Violence and Aggression Domiciliary Infection Control Lone Worker Policy Confidentiality Kings Behaviour standards COSHH. The post holder will be expected to live by the Kings Values; Understanding you, Inspiring confidence in our care, Working together, Always aiming higher, Making a difference in our community.
It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
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