Triage Dental Nurse

Plymouth Community Dental Services (PCDS), subsidiary of Livewell Southwest are a leading provider of specialist NHS dental care in Plymouth.

We have a vacancy for up to 37.5 hours a week (part-time applications welcome) to work alongside our call handlers on the unscheduled care helpline to respond to dental patients by providing clinical assessment to those wanting to access unscheduled dental care appointments and advice over the phone.

The service has a dedicated, compassionate and highly skilled team delivering specialist dental care to a wide range of patients, including some of the most vulnerable in our community. During the working week, PCDS also provides the helpline for patients with no access to a regular dentist to contact for an unscheduled dental care appointment.

This post will identify patients, based on clinical need, to book for the unscheduled dental care appointments in the city and/or provide advice where appropriate and liaise closely with other high street dental practices in the area.

If you are a qualified dental nurse wanting to make a change to your career and support this high demand helpline service, we would be delighted to hear from you.

To respond to dental patient calls coming into the Plymouth helpline provided by PCDS in a professional and timely manner.

To provide evidence based clinical assessment, prioritisation and advice over the telephone (or other communication channels where necessary) working within your GDC scope of practice.

To identify patients who meet the criteria for an unscheduled dental care appointment and book them appropriately according to priority, whilst considering patient circumstances and preferences where feasible.

To ensure that patients are given correct information relating to NHS patient charges including exemptions.

To ensure that patients who do not meet criteria are provided with relevant information regarding self-care and/or finding a regular dentist using the NHS find a dentist website.

To strive to improve performance and quality as needed, in line with PCDS clinical governance and performance review policies / procedures.

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 staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

We offer more than a just a job; the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day. As one of the largest specialist NHS Dental Providers in the City, we care for patients who may not be able to access Dental treatment elsewhere. This includes children, those with special needs & requiring specialist oral surgery.

Our staff:

Make a difference- providing care to patients with complex needs & contribute to improving oral health.

Work in a supportive team- join a friendly, multidisciplinary work force that values teamwork, respect & compassion.

Grow your career- benefit from ongoing training & development opportunities.

Be part of innovation- contribute to teaching, service development & continuous improvement.

Enjoy a healthy work life balance- we offer NHS terms & conditions, flexible working & a role with real purpose in a coastal city with an outstanding quality of life.

We offer:

Access to the NHS pension (if you have paid into this within the last 12 months) or the Scottish Widows pension scheme with generous employer contributions

Provision of free uniform

Start with access to 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays pro rata (which increases after 5 years service)

Access various provision to support your own wellbeing such as employer assistance programme (EAP) & range of online resources.

Access to a host of employee benefits, such as a Blue Light Card and salary sacrifice options for home electronics, lease cars & the cycle to work scheme

To book into an appropriate and timely dental appointment, considering individual patient circumstances where relevant.

Document accurate and contemporaneous records of the triage process and any advice given.

Utilise translation services where language barriers are present or other relevant means of communication for non-hearing patients.

Utilise communication skills to negotiate with and provide support to patients who are non-compliant with the assessment outcome.

Assess clinical risk on behalf of dental patients as part of an initial telephone-based assessment.

Undertake an assessment using PCDS triage tools against national unscheduled dental care guidelines together with professional judgement.

Identify promptly any patients with emergency medical need and advise to contact NHS 111or visit the Emergency Department as appropriate.

Process calls whilst providing a professional,…