apprentice dental nurse

Dental Limited; Heywood; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local dental practice in Heywood is looking for an Apprentice Dental Nurse to join their team. This role involves assisting dental professionals, providing patient care, and learning on-the-job skills in a supportive environment. The apprenticeship offers a salary of £11,778 for the first year with the potential for progression into advanced roles in dental hygiene or management.

Qualifications

• Willingness to learn on the job with hands-on experience.
• Strong communication skills to interact with patients and colleagues.
• Ability to maintain accurate patient records.

Responsibilities

• Assist other dental health professionals during treatment.
• Provide chairside support and manage patient care.
• Maintain the clinical environment and manage infection control.

Skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Customer care

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Non-judgemental attitude

Patience

Education

Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an apprentice dental nurse to join our friendly dental practice. We would love you to join us as an apprentice dental nurse and start your exciting career in dental nursing. The successful candidate will be assisting other dental health professionals, providing chairside support and a high level of patient care.

Responsibilities

• Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy, recognising the diversity of anatomy across the patient population.
• Evaluate the health risks of prescribed, non-prescribed and recreational drug use and misuse on oral and general health.
• Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and Biomaterials, their limitations and selection, with emphasis on those used in dentistry.
• Identify the signs of abuse, neglect or emotional trauma, explain local and national systems that safeguard the welfare of children and adults.
• Identify the signs of normal and abnormal facial growth, physical, mental and dental development milestones and explain their significance.
• Assess patients' levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations in respect of dental care and oral health.
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures.
• Undertake orthodontic assessment.
• Obtain valid consent from patients explaining all the relevant factors and taking into account the legal requirements where appropriate within scope of practice.
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history.
• Accurately record dental charting as carried out by other appropriate registrants.
• Accurately record an oral health assessment.
• Prepare records, images, equipment and materials for clinical assessment.
• Process and manage dental radiographs and images.
• Manage patient anxiety appropriately, effectively, and safely.
• Monitor, support and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques.
• Identify changes in the patient's reported oral health status and take appropriate action.
• Make arrangements for follow-up care as prescribed by the operator.
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment.
• Prepare, mix and handle dental materials.
• Identify and explain the risks within and around the clinical environment and manage these in a safe and effective manner.
• Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures according to current guidelines.
• Prepare and maintain the clinical environment including the instruments and equipment.
• Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies.
• Provide patients/carers with comprehensive, personalised preventive advice, instruction, and intervention in a manner which is accessible, promotes self-care and motivates patients/carers to comply with advice and take responsibility to maintain and improve oral health.
• Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions ensuring involvement of appropriate dental team members.
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively, tailoring to context, by spoken, written and electronic means with all patients, including patients whose first language is not English, using representatives or interpreters where necessary.
• Communicate effectively by spoken, written and electronic means with the public and with colleagues from dental and other healthcare professions in relation to the direct care of individual patients, oral health promotion and raising concerns when problems arise.
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records in accordance with legal requirements and best practice.
• Demonstrate care, compassion, empathy and respect in all professional interactions with patients, their representatives, the public and colleagues.
• Demonstrate effective teamwork and contribute to the delivery of dental care for patients.
• Where appropriate, manage, refer or delegate work according to the scope of practice of members of the dental team, in line with competence and professional practice.
• Take a patient-centred approach to working with the dental and wider healthcare team.
• Raise concerns where appropriate about your own or others' health, behaviour or professional performance.
• Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care and act in accordance with current best practice guidelines.
• Act within the legal frameworks which inform personal behaviour, the delivery of healthcare and the protection and promotion of the health of individual patients.
• Act with integrity and maintain the trust of colleagues, patients, and the public.
• Demonstrate personal accountability to patients, the regulator, the team and wider community.
• Work in partnership with colleagues to promote the safety and wellbeing of the patient and dental team.
• Where appropriate, lead, manage and take professional responsibility for the actions of colleagues and other members of the team involved in patient care.
• Support patients to negotiate barriers to accessing oral healthcare, including those from marginalised populations and with protected characteristics.
• Treat patients, the public and colleagues with dignity and respect, without discrimination.
• Support patients to make informed decisions about their care and promote self-care.
• Demonstrate cultural competence and respect for diversity.
• Provide the best possible outcome for patients by applying knowledge and skills in their care.
• Speak up to protect others from harm.
• Evaluate and apply evidence-based prevention at community and population levels and consider environmental impacts of treatment methods.

What you will do and study

• Share information about additional relevant qualifications and industry experience; the apprenticeship can reflect prior knowledge.
• IT skills, attention to detail, organisation, customer care, problem solving, presentation, administrative skills, logical thinking, teamwork, non-judgemental attitude and patience.
• £11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on age; National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices. Training course: Dental nurse (GDC 2023) (level 3).
• Hours: Monday-Friday, between 9.00am - 5.00pm; 30 hours a week. Start date: Friday 24 October 2025. Duration: 1 year. Positions available: 1.
• Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job with hands-on experience, and gain new skills alongside experienced staff.
• What you will do at work:
  • Prepare and maintain the clinical environment, equipment and materials for dental procedures.
  • Keep accurate and current patient records on the system.
  • Work to current best practices for dental nurses, assisting as needed.
  • The Level 3 Dental Nurse Apprenticeship offers employment within a dental practice with an accompanying assessment and skills development programme.
  • Develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to operate competently in all aspects of clinical responsibilities and gain the qualification to apply for GDC registration as a dental nurse.
• You will study: Cross-infection, Anatomy, Radiography, Oral hygiene, Orthodontics, Restoration, Legislation, First aid, Health and safety.
• You will complete on- and off-the-job training with support throughout.
• Additional opportunities: long-term employment, progression to roles such as dental hygiene, dental therapy, or dental cosmetics with further training; potential to advance to team leader or practice manager with experience.