Senior Dental Nurse (XR05)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Senior Dental Nurse is available at Leeds Dental Institute, responsible for managing and mentoring a team of Apprentice Dental Nurses. This pivotal role combines clinical and managerial duties, ensuring high standards of care while fostering continuous professional development. The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic dental environment, committed to delivering exceptional patient care and supporting a large team within one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

NHS Pension Scheme

Development opportunities

Friendly and supportive colleagues

Employee assistance programme

Discount gym membership

Qualifications

• Must possess level 3 Dental Nurse qualification.
• Registered with the General Dental Council.
• Post qualification certificates in Radiography or Oral Health desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day activities of Apprentice Dental Nurses.
• Support clinical care and assist in managing patient flow.
• Conduct appraisals and handle recruitment for Apprentice Dental Nurses.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Education

National certificate for Dental Nurses

NVQ level 3 Dental Nurse

Dental Nurse registration with the General Dental Council

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a Senior Dental Nurse (responsible for approx. 45 Apprentice Dental Nurses) to join the current team in within the Leeds Dental Institute and outreach sites.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Registered Dental Nurse who is looking to broaden their responsibilities in a clinical and managerial role leading our team of Apprentice Dental Nurses supporting the delivery of patient care.

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

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

Further professional development is strongly encouraged. There will be opportunities for continuing professional development linked to a personal development plan.

Applicants must hold a level 3 Dental Nurse qualification or equivalent National/Hospital Certificate in Dental Nursing and be registered with the General Dental Council. A post qualification certificate or additional competencies are desirable.

The post is fulltime 37.5 hours. Job Share would be considered.

Working hours - Monday-Friday - 8.30am - 5pm.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Dental Nurse is responsible for day to day management of all Apprentice Dental Nurses within the clinical departments ensuring that staffing ratios are maintained.

Responsible for all annual appraisals of Apprentice Dental Nurses within the departments.

The post holder is expected to have excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills and must be able to work as part of a team or independently.

The post involves supporting and providing chair side assistance to the multidisciplinary dental team, including dental undergraduate and postgraduate students in busy clinical areas within various departments of the Leeds Dental Institute and outreach sites.

Assists with recruitment and selection of new staff taking part in interviews with Dental Nurse Manager.

Liaises with Tutors regarding Apprentice Dental Nurses and manages the clinical teaching of apprentices within the department.

Responsible for rotas to ensure that dental nurse / staff / apprentice ratios are maintained.

Handles complaints from patients/members of the public initially (both direct or phone) and reports back to management regarding written complaints received by Trust.

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

Supports the education and induction of the whole dental team.

For further information, please see the attached trust job description and person specification for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

About us

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

Leeds Dental Institute is a teaching hospital hosting over 80,000 patient episodes per year and provides training and education for all members of the Dental Team.

In 2018 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated our service as 'Outstanding'.

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

Rewards and benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement with 27 days plus Bank Holidays for new staff

NHS Pension Scheme

Development opportunities, including both professional and leadership development

Friendly, supportive and caring colleagues

Support for Parents and Carers

A variety of other staff resources and benefits including employee assistance programme, discount gym membership, car scheme

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details Date posted

06 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-LDI-087

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Job description Job responsibilities

Expected Shortlisting Date

30/06/2025

Planned Interview Date

07/07/2025

Role: Senior Dental Nurse Grade (responsible for Apprentice Dental Nurses): Band 5

Reports to: Lead Dental Nurse/Head of Dental Nursing

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

To directly manage the Apprentice Dental Nurses in the department and outreach sites to ensure the efficient and effective provision of dental nursing support to practising clinical staff.

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

Takes part in clinical care of patients in the department, assisting the dental team in clinic or surgery working as required, manages care and wellbeing of patient until discharge (including out of hours transport patients).

Manages the flow of patients and chair usage according to workload and ensures patient comfort and consideration until discharge, using resources as available of both staff and equipment.

Manages the preparation of clinical areas ensuring high standards of cleanliness within the department and working to hospital Infection Control policy

Supervises and supports departmental Qualified Dental Nurses and Apprentice Dental Nurses.

Prepare for and assist (closely support) clinicians, dental students and postgraduate students with care, treatment and management of patients with general and complex dental treatment.

Communicate with members of the multi-disciplinary team to facilitate continuity of care and promote effective team working.

Assist with the teaching and supervision of learners and other staff.

Respect the dignity and confidentiality of patients.

Maintain a high standard of work and professionalism.

Take responsibility for own personal development and complete all mandatory training required for the role.

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies including undertaking relevant audits.

The post holder must have knowledge of Infection Prevention and Health and Safety procedures.

For more information regarding the main responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Job description Job responsibilities

Expected Shortlisting Date

30/06/2025

Planned Interview Date

07/07/2025

Role: Senior Dental Nurse Grade (responsible for Apprentice Dental Nurses): Band 5

Reports to: Lead Dental Nurse/Head of Dental Nursing

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

To directly manage the Apprentice Dental Nurses in the department and outreach sites to ensure the efficient and effective provision of dental nursing support to practising clinical staff.

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

Takes part in clinical care of patients in the department, assisting the dental team in clinic or surgery working as required, manages care and wellbeing of patient until discharge (including out of hours transport patients).

Manages the flow of patients and chair usage according to workload and ensures patient comfort and consideration until discharge, using resources as available of both staff and equipment.

Manages the preparation of clinical areas ensuring high standards of cleanliness within the department and working to hospital Infection Control policy

Supervises and supports departmental Qualified Dental Nurses and Apprentice Dental Nurses.

Prepare for and assist (closely support) clinicians, dental students and postgraduate students with care, treatment and management of patients with general and complex dental treatment.

Communicate with members of the multi-disciplinary team to facilitate continuity of care and promote effective team working.

Assist with the teaching and supervision of learners and other staff.

Respect the dignity and confidentiality of patients.

Maintain a high standard of work and professionalism.

Take responsibility for own personal development and complete all mandatory training required for the role.

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies including undertaking relevant audits.

The post holder must have knowledge of Infection Prevention and Health and Safety procedures.

For more information regarding the main responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Person Specification Skills and Behaviours Essential

• 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
• Skills in patient advocacy
• IT skills

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate management skills to support team members and staff training
• Able to work flexibly

Other Criteria Essential

• 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 Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Post qualification certificate i.e. Radiography, Oral Health, Sedation

Experience Essential

• Knowledge of all dental procedures
• Substantial experience as a Dental Nurse
• Experience of managing clinical resource and flow of patients

Desirable

• 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
• Computer literate
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance

Person Specification Skills and Behaviours Essential

• 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
• Skills in patient advocacy
• IT skills

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate management skills to support team members and staff training
• Able to work flexibly

Other Criteria Essential

• 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 Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Post qualification certificate i.e. Radiography, Oral Health, Sedation

Experience Essential

• Knowledge of all dental procedures
• Substantial experience as a Dental Nurse
• Experience of managing clinical resource and flow of patients

Desirable

• 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
• Computer literate
• 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)