Special Care Dental Nurse

Integrated Care System; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a multidisciplinary team of a leading community dental service in Plymouth as a Special Care Dental Nurse. This role involves providing care to patients with special needs, assisting during dental procedures under sedation, and supporting a passionate team in delivering high-quality dental care. You'll leverage your skills in a flexible work environment with opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Protected CPD time

Training pathways and leadership programs

Funding for qualifications

Qualifications

• Registered Dental Nurse with the GDC.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in Dental Sedation and special care settings.
• Thorough knowledge of dental procedures, BLS and ILS certification required.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with conscious sedation during procedures and post-operative care.
• Monitoring patients and assisting in medical emergencies.
• Preparing clinical environments and sterilizing equipment.

Skills

Empathy

Good communication

Organisational skills

Calm demeanor

Education

NEBDN Qualification in Dental Nursing

NEBDN qualification in Dental Sedation Nursing

GCSE Grade A-C in English and Maths

Tools

Software of Excellence dental package

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a SpecialCare Dental Nurse to join the specialist led, multidisciplinary team ofPlymouth Community Dental Services, part of Livewell Southwest.

Applications are welcomed from experienced and suitablyqualified registered dental nurses with a post certificate qualification inDental Sedation and that have an up to date record of experience in assistingduring surgery of patients in receiving conscious sedation.

PCDS provides a high level of general and specialised dentalservices to Plymouth and the surrounding district and are looking forcandidates who are caring, passionate and enthusiastic in providing highquality care.

If you have the necessary qualifications,experience and enthusiasm to join our dedicated team, we would like to hearfrom you.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Main duties of the job

Work with dental operator providingpatient care inc. clinical procedures &chair side assisting & the useof inhalation/intravenous sedation.

Assist & be empathetic with patients/carers, inc. those who have special needs & dealing with them promptly & efficiently.

Works with all dental equipment includingsharp/fine instruments.

Provide advice to patients/carers about dental procedures including pre/post-operative advice, management ofcomplications & pain control.

Prepare the clinical environment priorto/end of clinical sessions, following cross infection & decontamination protocols

Check surgery equipment & report anyfaults

Assist with the decontamination /sterilisation of equipment & instruments & other responsibilities in the decontamination suite following cross infectionprocedures according to local/national guidelines

Prepares the surgery for the patientusing knowledge & experience to select the appropriate equipment/materials/instruments

Assists dental officer on domiciliaryvisits, epidemiology surveys & school screening when required

Assist in the event of a medicalemergency

Work at different locations to meet theneeds of the Service, when required inc. GA sessions at UHP

Undertakes specific duties delegated by DentalOperators & Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd Managers.

Follows organisation policies & those determinedby others, inc. NHS BDA.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Post holder workswith special care dentists treating patients with special needs mostlyhaving treatment under conscious sedation. Post holder also providesDental Sedation Nursing support to all Dentists carrying out Dental Sedation,including Oral Surgery.

Post holderhas GDC registration and holds the NEBDN certificate in conscious sedationand thereby acts as the second appropriately trained person working withthe dentist in line with the British Dental association patient safetyguidelines

Post holderrequires knowledge of complex medical, physical and mental health problems,which has been gained through a minimum of 2 years experience

Post holderwill be required to monitor sedated patients during both treatment andrecovery, and needs to recognise and assist with medical emergencies.

Post holderwill discharge patients with the dentists agreement, and be responsible forgiving relevant post operative instructions and care

To assistall operators in all chair side assisting. To support and care for patientsduringprocedures using conscious sedation.

Follows all sedationrelated local policies and SOPs, including the correct preparation ofequipment and attends local drawing up drugs trainingwith sedation lead.

Recordsclinical observations on patients sedation record

Carries outperformance checks and daily maintenance on specialist equipment i.e. PulseOximeter, Oxygen cylinders, Scavenger unit and Relative analgesiamachine to sure the equipment is ready for use and if faulty to remove from useand report to the relevant technician.

Prepares thesurgery environment using knowledge and experience to select theappropriate equipment, materials and instruments, using specialist knowledgebased on patients medical, physical and emotional needs.

Works aspart of a multi-disciplinary team in Freedom day case units assisting operator treating patients under general anaesthesia.Providing technical and clinical support for patients undergoing these procedures.Providing post operative care plans for these patients

Triage of urgentcare patients to assess the urgency of treatment and determine thecorrect booking and then book appointments includingoutlying clinics.

Registered, as a Dental Nurse, with the GDC.

Thoroughknowledge of dental procedures gained through a minimum of 2 yearspost-qualification training and experience.

Thoroughknowledge of routine dental procedures and equipment gained through in-house trainingand experience including specialised areas such as general anaesthetics.

Experienced intreating patients from diverse cultural backgrounds i.e. those who requireinterpretation services.

Knowledge ofBasic Life Support techniques and certificate of training and willingness tocomplete ILS training/certification and regular updates, provided by LivewellSouthwest

Trained in recognisingmedical emergencies and assists in dealing with them.

Trained by PCDS /Livewell in all Mandatory Training topics, including Manual Handling, Breakaway,Health and Safety when required.

Clinical work iscarried out without direct supervision using initiative and knowledge ofprocedures gained through experience and training. The guidance of a dental operator or clinicalmanager is sought for non-routine clinical procedures.

Administrativeduties are carried out without direct supervision using knowledge of proceduresand referring to a Manager for non-routine procedures.

Holdsthe NEBDN certificate in conscious sedation

Thoroughknowledge of specialist dental procedures gained through a minimum of 2 yearspost qualification, training and experience

Will be required to carry out additional duties andresponsibilities.

Communicateswith patients within specialist groups on specialist dental topics. Judgement,reassurance and motivation, are necessary to ensure instructions are given topatients in a manner which they can understand.

Please see full Job Description within the supporting information section.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NEBDN Qualification/City & Guilds NVQ3 or equivalent in Dental Nursing
• NEBDN qualification in Dental Sedation Nursing
• Registered as a Dental Nurse with the GDC
• GCSE Grade A-C (or equivalent) English and maths

Experience

• Experience of working as a member of a team
• Experience of working in a sedation setting
• Assists with the induction of new staff
• Trains and supports new and less qualified staff.
• Experience of working in the salaried, community or personal dental services within the NHS.
• Experience of working within Special Care Dentistry, paediatric and/or Oral Surgery.
• Experience in undertaking extra duties to support your team and/or service

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of the equipment and materials used in dental, surgical and sedation procedures.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety regulations.
• Knowledge of Cross Infection control measures.
• Carries out clinical and administrative work without direct supervision.
• Promotes best practice and a high level of patient care for the Plymouth Community Dental Services Ltd.
• Fluent in spoken and written English language.
• Good organisational skills
• Good keyboard and ICT skills
• Calm reassuring manner
• Good interpersonal skills to ensure effective communication with staff at all grades and ability to support patients of all social backgrounds and all outside agencies
• Organises tasks and activities to make optimum use of clinical time.
• Works and communicates with all members of a multi-disciplinary team.
• To act in a professional manner at all times.
• Competent in recognising and dealing with medical emergencies
• Make decisions as to best practice.
• Carries out performance checks and daily maintenance on dental equipment.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
• Up to date in Basic life support training
• Up to date in Intermediate Life Support training
• Computer literate including use of Software of Excellence dental package, such as SOEL Health and Dentally

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.

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working

Reference number

B9832-2025-D22-3

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

PL4 7PY

The Dental Access Centre

Baring Street

Plymouth

PL4 8NF