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Job summary

Main area
Dental nursing
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 22.5 hours per week (3 days)
Job ref
813-342-1024-MH-B
Employer
Medway Community Healthcare CIC
Employer type
NHS
Site
Sevenoaks Hospital
Town
Sevenoaks
Salary
pro rata
Closing
01/01/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Medway Community Healthcare CIC logo

Dental Nurse

Band 4

Do you want to be part of an award winning and dynamic social enterprise that:

  • is renowned for providing high quality care and is ranked ‘Good’ by the CQC;
  • is a for-better-profit organisation, reinvesting any surplus back into our health and care services and our local community;
  • is friendly, ambitious, welcomes innovation and rewards excellence;
  • offers superior benefits; everything you get in the NHS and more;
  • and whose achievements reflect the passion, dedication and commitment demonstrated by our staff across all services?

Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant, community interest company that benefits the communities we serve. So if you want be a part of this, we would love to hear from you.

Job overview

  • Are you a skilled dental nurse with excellent interpersonal skills?Ìý
  • Do you enjoy working in a team, putting the patient at the heart of what you do?Ìý
  • Are you passionate about supporting patients with additional needs?

If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!


We need an experienced dental nurse to work with patients with additional needs as part of theÌý
community dental service. The right person will provide support for the dentist and colleagues in aÌý
clinic setting helping patients (children and adults) who find it difficult for various reasons, to buildÌý
up their confidence accepting treatment and building up a rapport with them.

  • This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patientÌýand staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
  • We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development, with opportunities for CPD along the way.Ìý
  • We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support provided by your clinical lead.Ìý
  • You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

So what are you waiting for?Ìý We can’t wait to hear from you, and look forward to receiving your application.

Ìý

previous applicants need not apply

Ìý

Main duties of the job

  • Work closely with the dentist ensuring the treatment plans are understood so that preparations can take place, following instruction by the dentist as necessary.
  • Help maintain patients’ comfort and dignity at all times and give basic advice and reassurance to patients and clients especially where there may be communication difficulties.
  • Provide compassion and support to the patient during and after treatments, making them feel at ease.
  • Liaise with the receptionist when treatments are more lengthy than anticipated.
  • Inform the lead nurse and or administration team of any issues that may arise and have a detrimental effect on service provision.
  • Liaise with the lead nurse to improve working procedures.
  • Attend all team meetings when necessary to discuss our existing procedures and future plans for service.Ìý

Ìý

Working for our organisation

So what else?

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly?ÌýÌýIn the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Informal visits can be arranged on request.

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.

·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Ìý

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  1. Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Communication and relationship skills

    ·ÌýÌý Provide compassion and support to the patient during and after treatments making them fell at ease.

    ·ÌýÌý Work closely with the duty dentist ensuring the treatment plans are understood so that preparation can take place, following instruction by the duty dentist.

    ·ÌýÌý Provide post-operative instructions to patients ensuring they understand GA fasting instructions, oral health promotion and care, advice on the wearing of dentures.

    ·ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýHelp maintain patient’s comfort and dignity at all times and give basic advice and reassurance to patients and clients especially where there may be communication difficulties.

    ·ÌýÌý Receiving and preparing patients for treatment, if necessary moving and handling of patients from wheelchairs to the dental chair by hoist in line with the moving and handling recommendations.

    • Liaise with the lead nurse to improve working procedures
    • Attend all team meetings when necessary to discuss existing procedures and future plans for the service.

    Ìý

  2. Ìý Knowledge, training and experience

    A qualified dental nurse should:

    • ÌýHold the NEBDN certificate in dental nursing/NVQ level 3 city & guilds in oral health care or recognized equivalent.

    ·ÌýÌý Ìý Maintain yearly general dental council registration.

    ·ÌýÌý ÌýÌýMaintain their clinical skills and knowledge base throughout their professional career.

    ·ÌýÌý ÌýÌýMaintain relevant statutory and mandatory training.

    ·ÌýÌý Have good interpersonal skills as it is frequently necessary to communicate with patients who have complex medical conditions and complex treatment plans.

    ·ÌýÌý Flexibility to work in all dental departments/clinics inclusive of dentaline when required.

    • Work within pre-defined guidelines.
    • Clinical supervision where the service deems necessary and or appropriate.
    • Participate in clinical audit and governance when necessary.
    • Work as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility in a changing environment.Ìý

    Ìý

    3.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Analytical and judgement skills

    The post hold should:

    ·ÌýÌý Have good analytical and judgemental skills so that prompt action can be taken in complex clinical and non-clinical procedures and situations.

    ·ÌýÌý Act on own initiative where required guided by service policies/protocols in the absence of another team member.

    • Must have the ability to take prompt action in a range of emergency clinical and non-clinical procedures and situations and equipment failure.
    • Must be able to anticipate individual patient emergency needs.

    Ìý

    4.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Planning and organisational skills

    The post holder should:

    • Prepare the dental surgery before the start of the day in line with the agreed protocols adhering to infection control policies and procedures.
    • Receive and prepare patients for treatment.
    • Processing and mounting of dental radiographs, dental radiographs are to be taken in accordance with Ionising radiation medical exposure regulations. (IRMER)
    • Ensure that all dental instruments are decontaminated appropriately in accordance to the service policies/protocols and in a timely manner.
    • Ensure that the surgery is decontaminated and cleaned and in a timely manner prior to the next patient’s treatment ensuring that the service policies and protocols are followed at all times.
    • Ensure at the end of day that the surgery is decontaminated and cleaned following service policies and protocols.
    • Ensure accuracy when recording and charting treatment plans within the R4 appointment system.
    • Preparing and monitoring laboratory work and making necessary plans when work is not ready.
    • Ensure that the service training needs are met by planning other commitments in order to attend.
    • Making and recording appointments which suit the patient and the organisational requirements.
    • Organising school screening when required and completing the returns prior to collation and analysis.
    • Ensuring that equipment and building deficiencies and breakages are reported.
    • Maintaining medical files in line with organisational requirements.
    • Maintaining a regular supply of essential materials and ordering to replenish when necessary.
    • Maintain a relevant record of costings.

    Ìý

    5.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Physical skills

    The post holder will be expected to:

    • Move and handle patients from wheelchairs to the dental chair, either by hoist in line with Moving and Handling recommendations set out by the organisation.
    • Walking to waiting area to receive and retrieve patients.

    ·ÌýÌý Ìý On occasions work with limited scope for movement during treatments, whilst sitting for long periods.

    • On occasions make repetitive movement during treatment.
    • Be required to twist and bend whilst treating patients in order to maintain a good line of sight throughout treatment.
    • On occasions lift pharmaceutical chests and deliveries of stock of whose weight will not exceed 4Kg.

    Ìý

    6.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibility for patient / client care

    The post holder should:

    • Ensure the patient is given the appropriate pharmacy advice leaflets, where applicable.
    • Check the patient has understood how to take the medication they have been prescribed before they leave the clinic, notifying the dentist when a patient has not understood this information in order that this information can be re-iterated to them by the dentist.
    • Dealing with treatment enquiries in the absence of a duty dentist.
    • Ensure the patient is given the appropriate advice leaflet following dental extractions and the patient understands the importance of following the instructions on the leaflet.
    • Observing the patient’s condition throughout treatment.

    Ìý

    7.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibility for policy and service development implementation

    ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The post holder will be:

    • Responsible for ensuring all policies, procedures and guidelines that are implemented within the service are adhered to within their own area of work.

    Ìý

    8.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

    The post holder will;

    ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Receive payments from patients and issuing receipts following the organisational standing financial instructions.

    ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ensure that reconciliation of payments are correct at the end of every day and documented following organisational standing financial Instructions.

    ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Prepare money for banking.

    ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Maintain a cash float.

    ·ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsible for ordering of dental materials and equipment when required following service guidelines.

    Ìý

    9.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

    • To help the service to integrate new team members ensuring protocols and procedures are adhered to at all times.

    .

    10.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibilities for information resources

    ·ÌýÌý The post holder will have no overall responsibility for information resources.

    Ìý

    11.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

    The post holder has limited responsibility for research and development in the following areas;

    ·Ìý Completion of radiograph audits following service policies and procedures.

    ·Ìý Paper audits are stored in accordance to service policies and procedures.

    Ìý

    12.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Freedom to act

    The post holder should:

    • Paper audits are stored in accordance to service policies and procedures.

    ·Ìý Work within the service guidelines and be governed by policies and procedures outlines by the organisation.

    Ìý

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Hold an awarded NEBDN Certificate in Dental Nursing/NVQ Level 3 City & Guilds in Oral Health Care or recognized equivalent.
  • Inclusion on the GDC Register
  • Evidence of Continuing Personal Development
Desirable criteria
  • Hold a valid Certificate in Basic Life Support.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in working in a busy Dental Team.
  • Experience working with various different dentists.
Desirable criteria
  • Working in an Emergency Dental environment.
  • Previous NHS Dental Experience

Special knowledge / expertise

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of Emergency Dental treatments
  • Demonstrate a good knowledge of the latest Department of Health Decontamination Memorandum
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in previous NHS policies and procedures

Disposition, adjustment, attit

Essential criteria
  • Ability to adapt to working with different members of the team.
  • Flexible approach to working sessions
  • Ability to work at short notice when necessary.
  • Ability to adapt to an ever changing Service.
  • Ability to work as part of a productive Dental team.

Practical / intellectual skill

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • Excellent organisational skills including ability to prioritise own workload
  • Ability to handle difficult situations and work under pressure.
  • Ability to work within defined guidelines
  • Maintain clinical skills throughout professional career

MCH values

Essential criteria
  • Caring and compassionate
  • Working in partnership
  • Delivering quality and value

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kerry Porter
Job title
Lead Nurse
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07789444992
Additional information

Kerry Porter,Ìý lead nurse for dental

e:Ìý[email protected]ÌýÌý
t: 07789444992