Senior Dental Nurse (XR05)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

A large healthcare provider in Leeds seeks a part-time Senior Dental Nurse to lead a dental team in a teaching environment. The role involves supervising dental nurses, ensuring quality patient care, and providing chair-side assistance. Ideal candidates will have a dental nursing qualification, GDC registration, and experience in team management. This position offers development opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Annual leave entitlement of 27 days plus Bank Holidays

NHS Pension Scheme

Development opportunities

Support for Parents and Carers

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Experience as a Dental Nurse with supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of chairside assisting and clinical governance.
• Understanding of infection prevention and health & safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage dental nurses in the teaching unit.
• Coordinate service delivery and administrative support.
• Oversee patient appointments and manage departmental budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

Recognised dental nurse qualification

Current Dental Nurse registration with GDC

Maths and English GCSE (A-C / 4-9)

Job description

Anexciting opportunity has arisen to recruit part time (15 per week, Thu &Fri, job share), Band 5, Senior Dental Nurse to join the current Leeds DentalInstitute team working in the Bradford Outreach Dental Teaching Unit atWestbourne Green.

Thispart-time role offers the chance to work in a 7 dental chair teaching clinic,supporting both patient care and the development of future dentalprofessionals.

Asa Senior Dental Nurse, you will provide leadership within the clinic,ensuring safe, effective, and high-quality care. You will supervise andinspire apprentice dental nurses, dental undergraduates, and hygiene andtherapy students, while overseeing staff rotas, clinic organisation, andcompliance with Trust and University standards. Working as part of asupportive multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in drivinginnovation and positive change.

Weare seeking a qualified Dental Nurse with current GDC registration and provensupervisory experience. Additional post-qualification certificates (e.g.radiography) are desirable. Above all, you will be organised, adaptable, andcommitted to patient-centred care, teamwork, and service improvement.

Inreturn, we offer excellent professional development opportunities, supportivecolleagues, and a range of staff benefits.

Main duties of the job

TheSenior Dental Nurse is responsible for leading and managing both qualifiedand apprentice dental nurses within the teaching unit. The post holderensures staffing ratios are maintained, clinics run efficiently, and highstandards of patient care are consistently delivered. The role involvescoordinating service delivery and administrative support, providingchair-side assistance to the multidisciplinary team, and supporting dentalundergraduates, hygiene and therapy students, and apprentices in their clinicaleducation and development.

Keyresponsibilities include planning and managing patient appointments,overseeing stock control, managing departmental budgets, and ensuringequipment maintenance and reporting. The Senior Dental Nurse also handlesinitial patient complaints, contributes to new policies and workingpractices, and supports staff induction and ongoing professional development.

Therole requires excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonalskills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within amultidisciplinary environment. This position is pivotal in ensuringoperational efficiency, smooth clinic workflow, high-quality patient care,and the mentoring of future dental professionals. The Senior Dental Nurseacts as a role model for clinical excellence, leadership, and teamdevelopment.

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 providing 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 in oneof the largest NHS trusts in the UK will bring.

Rewardsand benefits

Generousannual leave entitlement with 27 days plus Bank Holidays for staff who arenew to the NHS

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 schemes

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

Grade:Band 5

Hours:15 per week (Thu & Fri, job share)

Reportsto: Lead Dental Nurse & Head of Dental Nursing

TheSenior Dental Nurse will directly manage the day to day running of the dentalteaching unit, ensuring the efficient and effective provision of support topractising clinical staff and students. You will supervise and support bothApprentice Dental Nurses and Qualified Dental Nurses, fostering professionaldevelopment and maintaining high standards of care.

Youwill participate in the clinical care of patients, providing chair-sideassistance to clinicians, dental students and hygiene and therapy students inboth general and complex dental treatments. This includes managing patientcare and wellbeing until discharge, including patients requiring out-of-hourstransport, and overseeing patient flow and chair usage to ensure comfort anddignity at all times. You will also be responsible for preparing andmaintaining clinical areas, ensuring high standards of cleanliness andadherence to hospital Infection Prevention & Control policies.

Therole includes assisting with the induction, teaching and supervision oflearners and other staff, supporting the development of practical skills,clinical knowledge, and professional behaviours. You will communicateeffectively with the multidisciplinary team including staff from the Schoolof Dentistry at the University of Leeds, to promote continuity of care andcollaborative working, ensuring that patient-centred care remains a priority.

Youwill maintain a high standard of professionalism, respecting patientconfidentiality and dignity, and take responsibility for your own personaldevelopment, including completing all mandatory training. You will alsocontribute to quality improvement initiatives, participate in audits, andensure compliance with all Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust policies,including Infection Prevention, Health and Safety, and clinical governanceprocedures.

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

Person Specification

Experience

• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of chairside assisting, including materials and equipment used.
• Substantial experience as a Dental Nurse.
• Experience of managing clinical resources and patient flow effectively.
• Management or supervisory experience, including supporting and training team members.
• Experience working across dental specialties (e.g. Oral Surgery, Restorative & Paediatric Dentistry).
• Experience in stock control and ordering.
• Experience in budget management.
• Knowledge or involvement in clinical audits.
• Computer literacy and use of clinical systems.
• Understanding of Clinical Governance.

Additional Requirements

• Awareness of infection prevention and control procedures
• Awareness of decontamination procedures
• Awareness of information governance procedures
• Awareness of Health & Safety procedures
• Please provide any additional information you feel is relevant to your application for this Senior Dental Nurse role

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a recognised dental nurse qualification (e.g., National Certificate for Dental Nurses, NVQ Level 3 in Dental Nursing, or Hospital Certificate).
• Current Dental Nurse registration with the General Dental Council.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Maths and English GCSE (A-C / 4-9) or equivalent.

Skills & Behaviours

• Experience supporting team training and development.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service demands.

Skills & behaviours

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong problem-solving skills, able to respond quickly and efficiently to challenges.
• Demonstrable leadership skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to the needs of the service.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Commitment to delivering high standards of care and professionalism.
• IT skills relevant to clinical and administrative duties.

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.