Dental Nurse Apprentice

Northern Skills Group; Peterlee; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

A busy dental practice in Peterlee is hiring a dental nurse apprentice to support their team. The apprentice will partner with experienced staff, gaining hands-on training while completing a Level 3 Dental Nursing qualification. The role involves various duties from patient care to maintaining a sterile environment. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals seeking a rewarding career in dental nursing.

Qualifications

• GCSE in Maths and English (grade 4/C or above) is essential.
• Relevant qualifications and industry experience can be considered to adjust the apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

• Assist within the surgery and keep clinical areas clean and sterile.
• Provide chairside assistance and maintain accurate clinical records.
• Comply with health and safety procedures and guidelines.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Customer care skills

Presentation skills

Team working

Non judgmental

Patience

Education

GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent

Job description

Closes in 24 days (Tuesday 1 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

Castle Dene Surgery are seeking a hardworking, enthusiastic dental nurse apprentice to join their team. The successful candidate will gain a Level 3 Dental Nursing Apprenticeship. Duties will include assisting within surgery, accurately completing patient clinical records on computer system, plus more.

Wage

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Hours Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00am - 6:00pm. Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Tuesday 15 July 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Keep the clinical areas and all equipment and instruments clean, tidy and sterile as appropriate and according to the practice’s health and safety and infection control procedures and manufacturers' instructions
• Use all equipment and machinery in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and ensure that they are maintained regularly and in good working order
• Provide chairside assistance, ensuring that the correct equipment is available when the dentist requires it
• Ensure the care and welfare of patients
• Accurately complete patient clinical records as directed
• Handle all substances in accordance with health and safety policies for the practice
• Be familiar and comply with all health and safety rules and guidance, including PPE, COSHH, mercury handling, infection control, waste disposal
• Develop radiographs ensuring the right patient details are open
• Complete laboratory request forms, keep records of work sent, received and fitted
• Ensure adequate stocks of materials and other items within the surgery - update stock list as required
• Ensure computer/written records are accurately maintained and securely stored - according to practice policy
• Liaise with reception to ensure smooth patient communications and transfer of records
• Attend and participate in practice meetings
• Help on reception as and when needed
• Undergo training as may be required to develop skills and abilities
• Attend refresher and update training for medical emergencies and CPR - provided by the practice
• Act in accordance with the practice rules and code of conduct
• Take necessary steps to ensure GDC registration is maintained. This includes keeping up to date with CPD, meeting annual renewal deadlines and ensuring payment of GDC fees - ensure your file is kept up to date at all times

Where you'll work

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

• Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements
• Take responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work, recognising the limits of your competence and experience
• Comply with current best practice guidelines
• Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them by working in a patient-centred way
• Effectively manage own time and resources
• Monitor, support and reassure patients throughout all aspects of their treatment, ensuring patient-centred care
• Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively at all times and through all media
• Respect patients’ dignity and choices and act without discrimination
• Check that valid consent is obtained for all treatments and personal care delivery
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Work in the clinical environment in a safe and efficient manner
• Select and prepare the correct equipment, instruments and materials
• Carry out and record maintenance and testing of equipment in line with local policy, procedures and the scope of your own role
• Manage and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures complying with legislative, local and current best practice guidelines
• Mix, handle, store and dispose of materials in line with manufacturers recommendations
• Create and update accurate and current patient records, including social, medical and dental history, storing and archiving them securely and in line with legislation
• Carry out processing of radiographs in line with local procedures and rules
• Make effective decisions regarding the safety of patients when taking a radiograph
• Deliver appropriate and current evidence-based oral and general health advice
• Recognise and support action to deal with medical emergencies
• Respond to medical emergencies and be competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Take part in appraisal and ongoing review processes
• Take part in continuous professional development activities
• Reflect on how your daily practice complies with the General Dental Council requirements for continual improvement
• Comply with personal development planning as specified by the General Dental Council
• Participate in quality improvement activities as required
• Be collaborative and work as part of the team
• Adhere to legal and ethical responsibilities in line with General Dental Council requirements
• Take responsibility for the integrity of own actions and completed work, recognising the limits of your competence and experience
• Comply with current best practice guidelines
• Put patients’ interests first and act to protect them by working in a patient-centred way
• Effectively manage own time and resources
• Monitor, support and reassure patients throughout all aspects of their treatment, ensuring patient-centred care
• Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively at all times and through all media
• Respect patients’ dignity and choices and act without discrimination
• Check that valid consent is obtained for all treatments and personal care delivery
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Work in the clinical environment in a safe and efficient manner
• Select and prepare the correct equipment, instruments and materials
• Carry out and record maintenance and testing of equipment in line with local policy, procedures and the scope of your own role
• Manage and perform effective decontamination and infection control procedures complying with legislative, local and current best practice guidelines
• Mix, handle, store and dispose of materials in line with manufacturers recommendations
• Create and update accurate and current patient records, including social, medical and dental history, storing and archiving them securely and in line with legislation
• Carry out processing of radiographs in line with local procedures and rules
• Make effective decisions regarding the safety of patients when taking a radiograph
• Deliver appropriate and current evidence-based oral and general health advice
• Recognise and support action to deal with medical emergencies
• Respond to medical emergencies and be competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Take part in appraisal and ongoing review processes
• Take part in continuous professional development activities
• Reflect on how your daily practice complies with the General Dental Council requirements for continual improvement
• Comply with personal development planning as specified by the General Dental Council
• Participate in quality improvement activities as required
• Be collaborative and work as part of the team

Your training plan

• Day release at Sunderland Training Office
• Level 3 Dental Nursing (Integrated) Apprenticeship
• On-the-job training

Requirements

GCSE in:

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English or equivalent (grade 4/C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They canadjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Presentation skills
• Team working
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

This vacancy is to start immediately therefore you must be available to start before applying. The closing date, interview date and start date are subject to change. This vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received. Please ensure you apply early to avoid disappointment. Individuals are able to undertake an apprenticeship at a higher level than a qualification they currently hold, including any previously completed apprenticeships. Individuals can also undertake an apprenticeship at the same level, or lower level than a qualification they already hold as long as the new apprenticeship allows for new skills to be acquired and the content of the training is materially different from any previous qualification or apprenticeship. Northern Skills will check candidates' eligibility prior to any interviews. Please be aware that as Northern Skills provide a recruitment matching service, we will also consider you for roles which pay the Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage.

About this company

Very busy, friendly practice located in Peterlee town centre. We currently have 3 surgeries however will be renovating to add more in the near future. We have long standing staff and work hard to provide dental care to all in our community.

After this apprenticeship

Depending on the circumstances of the business upon completion of the apprenticeship programme there could be a potential position of employment available.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship isVAC1000323818.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Tuesday 1 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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