Senior Dental Nurse (XR05)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to become a Senior Dental Nurse at the Leeds Dental Institute, managing a team of Apprentice Dental Nurses. The role involves both clinical and managerial responsibilities, ensuring exceptional standards of care, with opportunities for professional development. Ideal candidates will possess a required level 3 qualification and be enthusiastic about enhancing patient care in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

NHS Pension Scheme

Development opportunities

Support for Parents and Carers

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Registered Dental Nurse qualification is required.
• Post qualification certificates or additional competencies are desirable.
• Substantial experience as a Dental Nurse is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of Apprentice Dental Nurses.
• Provide chair side assistance to the dental team.
• Maintain high standards of patient care.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal Skills

Organisational Skills

Communication

Education

National Certificate for Dental Nurses

NVQ level 3 Dental Nurse

Hospital Certificate

Maths and English GCSE A-C or 4-9 or equivalent

Job description

Anexciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a Senior Dental Nurse (responsiblefor approx. 45 Apprentice Dental Nurses) to join the current team in withinthe Leeds Dental Institute and outreach sites.

Weare seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Registered Dental Nurse who is lookingto broaden their responsibilities in a clinical and managerial role leadingour team of Apprentice Dental Nurses supporting the delivery of patient care.

Asa Senior Dental Nurse you will be required to act as a role model for thedental team and be responsible for delivering exceptional standards of safe,effective care; monitoring and maintaining care to ensure that itconsistently meets Trust standards.

SeniorDental Nurses work as a highly valued member of the dental team andapplicants should be enthusiastic, professional and well-motivated teamplayers whilst also being able to work on their own initiative.

Furtherprofessional development is strongly encouraged. There will be opportunitiesfor continuing professional development linked to a personal developmentplan.

Applicantsmust hold a level 3 Dental Nurse qualification or equivalentNational/Hospital Certificate in Dental Nursing and be registered with theGeneral Dental Council. A post qualification certificate or additionalcompetencies are desirable.

Thepost is fulltime 37.5 hours. Job Share would be considered.

Workinghours - Monday-Friday - 8.30am - 5pm.

Main duties of the job

TheSenior Dental Nurse is responsible for day to day management of allApprentice Dental Nurses within the clinical departments ensuring thatstaffing ratios are maintained.

Responsiblefor all annual appraisals of Apprentice Dental Nurses within the departments.

Thepost holder is expected to have excellent communication, organisational andinterpersonal skills and must be able to work as part of a team orindependently.

Thepost involves supporting and providing chair side assistance to themultidisciplinary dental team, including dental undergraduate andpostgraduate students in busy clinical areas within various departments ofthe Leeds Dental Institute and outreach sites.

Assistswith recruitment and selection of new staff taking part in interviews withDental Nurse Manager.

Liaiseswith Tutors regarding Apprentice Dental Nurses and manages the clinicalteaching of apprentices within the department.

Responsiblefor rotas to ensure that dental nurse / staff / apprentice ratios aremaintained.

Handlescomplaints from patients/members of the public initially (both direct orphone) and reports back to management regarding written complaints receivedby Trust.

Assistsin the implementing of new working practices and policies as they arise.

Supportsthe education and induction of the whole dental team.

Forfurther information, please see the attached trust job description and personspecification for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

About us

LeedsTeaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK andemploys more than 20,000 staff across seven hospitals on six sites.

LeedsDental Institute is a teaching hospital hosting over 80,000 patient episodesper year and provides training and education for all members of the DentalTeam.

In2018 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our service as 'Outstanding'.

Interestedindividuals can look forward to the challenges that a position working as aDental Nurse in one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK will bring.

Rewardsand benefits

Generousannual leave entitlement with 27 days plus Bank Holidays for new staff

NHSPension Scheme

Developmentopportunities, including both professional and leadership development

Friendly,supportive and caring colleagues

Supportfor Parents and Carers

Avariety of other staff resources and benefits including employee assistanceprogramme, discount gym membership, car scheme

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

Expected ShortlistingDate

30/06/2025

Planned InterviewDate

07/07/2025

Reportsto: Lead Dental Nurse/Head of Dental Nursing

JOBPURPOSE/SUMMARY

Todirectly manage the Apprentice Dental Nurses in the department and outreachsites to ensure the efficient and effective provision of dental nursingsupport to practising clinical staff.

Responsiblefor employment of Apprentice Dental Nurses including rota, attendance,appraisals and recruitment.

Takespart in clinical care of patients in the department, assisting the dentalteam in clinic or surgery working as required, manages care and wellbeing ofpatient until discharge (including out of hours transport patients).

Managesthe flow of patients and chair usage according to workload and ensurespatient comfort and consideration until discharge, using resources asavailable of both staff and equipment.

Managesthe preparation of clinical areas ensuring high standards of cleanlinesswithin the department and working to hospital Infection Control policy

Supervisesand supports departmental Qualified Dental Nurses and Apprentice DentalNurses.

Preparefor and assist (closely support) clinicians, dental students and postgraduatestudents with care, treatment and management of patients with general andcomplex dental treatment.

Communicatewith members of the multi-disciplinary team to facilitate continuity of careand promote effective team working.

Assistwith the teaching and supervision of learners and other staff.

Respectthe dignity and confidentiality of patients.

Maintaina high standard of work and professionalism.

Takeresponsibility for own personal development and complete all mandatorytraining required for the role.

Allstaff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain andimprove the quality of services provided to our patients and other serviceusers. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching HospitalsNHS Trust Policies including undertaking relevant audits.

Thepost holder must have knowledge of Infection Prevention and Health and Safetyprocedures.

Formore information regarding the main responsibilities of the role, pleaserefer to the attached Job Description.

Person Specification

Skills and Behaviours

• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Able to deal with problems quickly and efficiently
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Ability to work under pressure and be flexible to needs of the service
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Able to act professionally at all times
• Able to deliver an excellent standard of care
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Able to demonstrate management skills to support team members and staff training
• Able to work flexibly

Other Criteria

• Awareness of infection prevention and control procedures
• Awareness of decontamination procedures
• Awareness of information governance procedures
• Awareness of Health & Safety procedures
• Please add any other comments or evidence relevant to this post

Qualifications

• Must possess either: National certificate for Dental Nurses, NVQ level 3 Dental Nurse or Hospital Certificate
• Dental Nurse registration with the General Dental Council
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Maths and English GCSE A-C or 4-9 or equivalent

Experience

• Knowledge of all dental procedures
• Substantial experience as a Dental Nurse
• Experience of managing clinical resource and flow of patients
• Management/supervisory skills
• Knowledge of Infection Prevention / Health and Safety in the workplace
• Experience of working in a dental specialty i.e. Implants Sedation, Orthodontics, Oral Health
• Experience of ordering and stock control
• Experience of budget control
• Knowledge of clinical audit
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance

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.