Senior Dental Nurse

Job summary
The post holder will carry out a full range of dental nursing duties and provide senior-level dental nursing care for a wide range of patients. This will include special care and medically compromised patients, patients undergoing oral surgery, paediatrics, conscious sedation. Additionally, you will participate in clinical and environmental audits (i.e., infection control) and undertake a link nurse role. In the absence of the Dental Nurse Manager, you will provide day-to-day management of your designated dental service and be able to work flexibly across other dental services, including those delivered in satellite centres within the community.

This post will be based in Yate Health Centre.

There may also potentially be other Band 5 positions available within PCDS, which can be discussed at interview.

Main duties of the job
Communicate effectively and efficiently with relevant clinicians, staff, professional bodies, and external agencies, such as social services, school nurses or GP Practices.

Reassure nervous and new patients, identify where there may be communication difficulties, learning disabilities or autism, or other complex medical needs.

Demonstrate politeness, courtesy and sensitivity when providing care for patients, relatives, and colleagues.

Contribute to sharing good practice within the designated dental service and across the wider dental services as appropriate.

Promote a positive image of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Promote and maintain a good working relationship with work colleagues.

Exhibit professional behaviour and attitude in line with the Trust Code of Conduct.

Provide day to day management of the department and Dental Nurse team.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing staff absence
• Arrange repair of equipment
• Complete staff appraisals and 1:1s
• Manage annual leave requests
• Support staff on performance management
• Assist with managing patient complaints
• Lead team briefings
• Work chairside with a range of dental treatments

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:

• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for our People
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value for Public Purse

Our vision for five years from now:

• Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
• We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
• More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
• Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
• Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
• We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
• Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
• We will contribute to system financial balance

Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Please note that within this role you may be asked to occasionally provide cross site cover in PCDS sites across Bristol, Bath and Weston.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• National Diploma in Dental Nursing (or equivalent Level 3 Dental Nursing qualification)
• Valid GDC registration
• Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Ability to prioritise
• Able to work effectively with others as part of a team
• Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload

Experience
Essential

• Enhanced knowledge of a range of dental nursing procedures
• Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients
• Experience of being part of a quality improvement project and understanding the underpinning principles

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).