Dental Nurse

Integrated Care System; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An outstanding healthcare provider in Cambridge is seeking a qualified or newly qualified Dental Nurse. This role involves supporting dentists, managing patient care, and ensuring high-quality standards of service. Join a dedicated team that values patient care and offers opportunities for further training and development.

Benefits

Potential flexible working hours

Further training and progression opportunities

Excellent pension and leave benefits

Qualifications

• Must hold relevant dental nursing qualifications including GDC registration.
• Experience in NHS practice is essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.

Responsibilities

• Provide chair-side assistance to dentists with precision and care.
• Maintain infection control standards and patient safety.
• Assist in managing administrative tasks and patient data.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Adaptability

Education

National Certificate for Dental Nurses or equivalent

Level 3 NVQ Diploma for Dental Nurses (if unqualified)

GCSE, English and maths grade C/4 and above

Post registration Qualification in Radiography

Post registration Qualification in Dental Sedation

Job description

Go back Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Dental Nurse

The closing date is 16 July 2025

Are you a qualified or newly qualified Dental Nurse?

Are you a soon to be newly qualified Dental Nurse? or a qualified Dental Nurse

Looking for a challenging role, and to work with Dentists at the top of their game in the NHS?

In role where each day brings new opportunities to help patients either in an emergency, or from vulnerable groups?

And want the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and qualifications?

Then this is the role for you..............

You will be:

• Calm, patient, and caring keen to support vulnerable groups in obtaining dental treatment
• Have experience of dealing with, or the aptitude to deal with challenging situations at times
• Able to provide treatments in a professional manner
• Able to work additional hours if offered

We offer:

• Potential flexible working hours
• The opportunity to with a Trust recognised as Outstanding by the CQC
• Further training and progression within an extremely experienced team
• The chance to be innovative and be part of a team where new ideas are encouraged
• Excellent benefits inc Pension, generous leave, sick pay, and further qualifications

The role is based in Cambridge, with free parking.

"Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 10th July 2025"

Main duties of the job

Chair-side assistance for the dentist. Speed and accuracy will be required during all procedures with little or no margin for error. Preparation of filling / Impression materials, anticipating requirements of the clinician and patient. Observing and supporting the patient during treatment. You are there to always chaperone the dentist and be prepared to act as a witness.

Follow Trust/Local infection control procedures to ensure high standards of patient safety.

You must have a broad knowledge of health and safety issues is required e.g., COSHH, RIDDOR, sharps injuries.

Assist the dentist during the taking of x-rays, participate in quality assurance.

If appropriate, advise the patient/parent/carer on principals of oral hygiene as directed by the dental officer.

Follow medicine management procedures in line with Trust policy.

About us

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The duties of the Dental Nurse are designed to maintain clinical and professional standards within the practice by working productively within a team.

We offer comprehensive treatment for vulnerable groups subject to their meeting the service eligibility criteria which includes children with social, behavioural and emotional problems, adults with physical and learning disabilities or complex medical problems and disadvantaged groups such as those whose disabilities mean that they need to be seen in a domiciliary setting. This may involve the additional use of sedation or general anaesthesia when appropriate.

We also provide an Emergency Service, IV sedation and a Minor Oral Surgery service in some of our locations.

Some of these patients may exhibit challenging behaviour.

Dental HealthCare operates from several locations across Cambridge, Peterborough and Suffolk. On occasions the post holder may at times be expected to cover sickness/holiday at another location within a reasonable distance from your base.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Planning and Organisation

Responsibility for the efficient and smooth day to day running of the surgery involving good dexterity skills and accuracy during procedures for the mixing of materials and the handling of fine instruments.Use judgmental and analytical skills to anticipate the needs of clinicians and patients. Be prepared for any eventuality e.g., changes in planned treatment, medical emergencies, and act promptly to deal with theseMaintenance of stock levels, re-ordering as necessaryHave a good knowledge of all dental equipment, its uses and its basic maintenance e.g., chair and suction units, sterilizers, handpieces, etc.Have sound knowledge of the decontamination and sterilisation procedures in line with HTM01-05Provide administrative and nursing support when requested for organising and delivering epidemiology survey.Carry out extended duties within your scope of practice.Reception cover/administrative duties when required.Interpreting as necessary the needs of both patients and clinicians enabling situations to be dealt with promptly and efficiently.Administrative management of day surgery general anaesthetic lists, including booking appointments and ensuring all necessary paperwork is complete. Liaise with day surgery staff, problem solving. Attend and ensure the smooth running of the list, setting up and clearing away and assisting the dentist.Most of our patients require a lot of emotional support to persuade them to accept treatment. It must be recognised that anxiety can often be displayed as aggression.Knowledge of computer use is essential for input of patient data, treatment planning, payment transactions and other services.Collection of charges as appropriateCashing up/banking, recording all necessary detailsCollating petty cashOn occasions, work independently managing the department administration and giving appropriate advice when necessary.Always maintain patient confidentialityContribute to the Trusts internal communication strategies ensuring effective two-way communication and engagement within the organisation.Contribute to the Trusts external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of the Trusts services.Adhere to all Trust/local policies and procedures.

Communication

Liaise and communicate with patients, carers, healthcare professionals, laboratory personnel, other departments, management teams etc.Liaising with external organisations hospitals, laboratories, contractors when requiredKnowledge of computer use is essential for input of patient data, treatment planning, payment transactions and other services.Pro-active in collecting patient feedback after each patient interaction.Always maintain patient confidentialityContribute to the Trusts internal communication strategies ensuring effective two-way communication and engagement within the organisation.Contribute to the Trusts external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of the Trusts services.

Budgetary Responsibility

Ordering of stationery, materials and equipment, maintaining in-house stock control within own capabilities.Handles cash from sale of oral hygiene products and patient income.

People Management

Supports colleagues, trainees, and agency staff to ensure that they are able to carry out their day-to-day duties.Supports local induction and training for new and existing staff members.Act as a buddy for new members of the team and support less experienced members of the team, including coaching/mentoring.Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process and clinical and/or management supervision.

Clinical and Practice Governance

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and CCS policy.Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.It is a condition of your employment that you will register with GDC when qualified, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Other Requirements

Other duties that may be determined by the Team Lead/Practice Manager or management team.

General

Safeguarding people responsibility

Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect is a collective responsibility.

There is an expectation that all staff develop and maintain their role relevant safeguarding people competencies and comply with local safeguarding partnerships practice. Alongside this employee who are registrants are reminded of their professional duty of care.

Safeguarding means protecting a citizens health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is an integral part of providing high-quality health care.

Those most in need of protection include:

Children and young peopleAdults at risk, such as those receiving care in their own home, people with physical, sensory and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities

The post holder must at all times carry out his/her duties with regard to Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Equal Opportunities Policy.

To be aware of the responsibilities of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.

All post holders must adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality and be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.

This job description is intended only as a guide to the range of duties involved. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable in order to respond to other duties that may be required from time to time and the changes and developments within the Trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Post holder must hold the National Certificate for Dental Nurses/ or the equivalent.
• Unqualified Dental nurses must be actively studying a Level 3 NVQ Diploma for Dental Nurses
• GCSE, English and maths grade C/4 and above.
• Post registration Qualification in Radiography
• Post registration Qualification in Dental Sedation
• The post holder must be registered or soon to be registered with the General Dental Council.

Experinece

• To be able to deal with difficult situations/patients under pressure within a very busy service.
• Experienced in Minor Oral Surgery procedures
• Post Holder must have sound knowledge and experience of working within an NHS Practice /Service

Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills.
• Effectively prioritises and co-ordinates own work.
• Advanced keyboard skills, ability to communicate through IT systems using packages such as Word, excel and Dentally clinical system.
• Work flexibly as part of a team.

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.

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

£26,530 to £29,114 a yearper anum, pro-rata