Dental Nurse

Main area Community Dentistry Grade NHS AfC:
Band 4 Contract Permanent.

Hours:

Full time – 37.5 hours per week. Salary: £34,186 – £37,389 per annum.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Receiving and preparing patients for their visit at any setting, and for any appointment type including treatment under conscious sedation.
• Assisting clinicians in the full range of dental treatment and procedures, ensuring that relevant information about the patient, including any change in his/her condition, is reported to the dentist.
• Checking patients’ fitness for discharge after extractions/sedation, and providing pre‑ and post‑operative care.
• Preparation and participation in domiciliary care for elderly and patients who have difficulty in leaving their homes, being aware of surroundings and patient property.
• Giving patients, parents or carers oral hygiene instruction and advice.
• Supporting patients with compassion and empathy throughout their dental journey.
• Processing and mounting of radiographs; cleaning, maintaining and testing processor according to agreed procedures.
• Managing surgical clinical waste, dealing appropriately and safely with hazardous or toxic waste materials.
• Disinfecting and packaging dental laboratory work and arranging collection.
• Monitoring, maintaining, testing and reporting faults on equipment and medical devices including decontamination equipment.

• Undertake general reception duties including arranging transport and appointments, dealing with complaints compassionately.
• Ordering and receipting stock for the clinic; maintaining appropriate stock controls.
• Ordering pharmacy items and emergency drugs for the dental clinics.
• Ensuring all pharmaceutical items and emergency drugs are within expiry dates, stored at appropriate temperatures and locations and reviewed weekly.

• Acting as relief dental nurse at other clinics on occasion.
• Being an active participant in audit, daily huddles, clinic meetings, staff meetings, performance review and training.
• Assisting in dental screening and epidemiological fieldwork in schools.
• Working with and supporting or supervising anyone visiting the clinic in a training capacity.
• Any other duties as directed, delegated or requested.

• Maintain statutory and mandatory training records including Basic Life Support, Fire, Manual Handling, Health & Safety, Infection control and Safeguarding.
• Maintain up‑to‑date and accurate records of all CPD training.
• Annually submit a CPD declaration to the General Dental Council; maintaining fitness to practice.
• Annually renew registration with the GDC and provide a copy of the certificate on request.
• Participate in ongoing performance review.

• Participate in audit.
• Adhere to department infection prevention control and decontamination policy and follow the uniform policy.

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive; it is expected that some duties will change over time and the description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

• Registration with General Dental Council.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety issues including medical emergencies.
• Competence or qualification in Inhalation Sedation.

• Excellent understanding of infection control and decontamination procedures.
• Experience of working with neuro‑divergent patients and/or patients with learning disabilities/difficulties.
• Proficient in the use of Dentally software for patient record.

• Ability to be sympathetic and sensitive to patient and staff needs.
• Work well in a multi‑disciplinary team.