Qualified Dental Nurse

NHS; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Qualified Dental Nurse to work part-time at Springbank Dental Clinic in Cheltenham. This role includes providing chairside assistance and managing dental triage for patients. Ideal candidates will have GDC registration and relevant qualifications. The position offers a fixed-term contract of 12 months, with salary ranging from £27,485 to £30,162 per annum (pro rata). This is a fantastic opportunity to further your career in a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• GDC registration or awaiting GDC registration number required.
• National Certificate for Dental Nurses or NVQ equivalent mandatory.
• Undertake statutory and mandatory training.

Responsibilities

• Provide telephone assessments of patients with dental symptoms.
• Use dental equipment for performance checks.
• Maintain patient records on dental software.

Skills

GDC registration

Dental software experience

Computer skills

Dental triage experience

Education

National Qualification in Dental Nursing

Registration with General Dental Council

Job description

Qualified Dental Nurse

The closing date is 06 January 2026

This role is offered on a fixed term basis for 12 months. The hours are part‑time, 12 hours per month.

Internal applicants who wish to be considered for a secondment opportunity should discuss with their line manager the suitability of a possible secondment.

Are you a dynamic and enthusiastic Dental Nurse looking to work with routine and urgent care patients in a general dental practice setting?

This role offers the opportunity to provide chairside assistance and triage advice to patients at Springbank Dental Clinic (Out of Hours) in Cheltenham.

A varied caseload – every day brings new challenges.

Access to training to maintain your CPD and boost your clinical skills – CPD included.

A caring and calm environment where our dedicated team of dental professionals can offer the best possible care for patients.

Main duties of the job

Providing telephone assessments of patients with dental symptoms and providing management advice and onward referral as appropriate.

Using all dental equipment to conduct performance checks and identify maintenance issues.

Setting up and closing down the surgery following infection control guidelines.

Carrying out reception duties as required, including understanding patient charges and exemptions.

Carrying out stock control and maintaining stock in the surgeries.

Undertaking definitive clinical telephone assessments of patients with dental symptoms using SDCEP guidance.

The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.

About us

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services across 55 sites and within people’s homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with many opportunities to share their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was encouraging to learn that:

• 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
• 81% say that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.

This high‑level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations and a strong response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top‑quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

Job responsibilities

Assess and advise as appropriate through high‑level communication skills to meet the needs of the patient.

Refer patients as appropriate to dental services for ongoing treatment as indicated through the protocols and systems of the organisation.

Maintain appropriate records as required, accurately recording, checking or amending details on the dental software system.

Must haves

GDC registration (or newly qualified dental nurses awaiting GDC registration number).

National Certificate for Dental Nurses or NVQ equivalent.

To undertake all statutory and mandatory training and post holders must be able to undertake physical interventions. Fitness for physical intervention will be assessed by Occupational Health.

We provide a multi‑professional preceptorship programme that is aligned to the National Preceptorship Framework for Nursing and have been awarded the Interim quality mark from NHS England. The programme is provided to all newly qualified nurses, nursing associates, internationally educated practitioners, allied health professionals and return‑to‑practice practitioners. In addition to the programme we also offer all preceptees the opportunity to enroll and complete the Level 7 (Masters) 15‑credit validated module Preceptorship for Healthcare (AP7026).

Newly qualified social workers are offered the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment programme (ASYE) which is similar to a preceptorship programme.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship as per the Government’s UK VISA and Immigration Rules and Regulations. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

• National Qualification in Dental Nursing
• Registration with General Dental Council

LENGTH AND / OR NATURE OF EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience working as a Dental Nurse post qualification
• Computer and keyboard experience
• Experience of using dental software
• Experience of dental triage

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.

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Springbank Resource, Community Resource Centre, Springbank Way

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part‑time

Reference number

327‑25‑1040

Job locations

Springbank Resource, Community Resource Centre, Springbank Way