Specialised Dental Nurse

Job overview

At present, University Hospitals of North Midlands is unable to offer visa sponsorship for Band 2 to Band 4 roles, as these positions do not meet the minimum salary and skill thresholds required under UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations.

Important information for applicants: To ensure clarity of accountability, scope of practice and professional responsibilities, the Trust does not normally appoint individuals holding active NMC or HCPC registration into Band 2 Clinical/AHP Support Worker, Band 3 Senior Clinical/AHP Support Worker or Band 4 AHP Support Worker/Technician roles. Registered nurses and Allied Health Professionals interested in joining UHNM are encouraged to explore our registered professional opportunities, which are advertised regularly across the Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 4 dental nurse to further their dental career joining a friendly, highly skilled team in a multi disciplinary setting. The successful applicant will nurse in all disciplines within the department, Oral Maxillofacial, Orthodontics & Restorative. To be flexible to work across both Trust sites where necessary. Applicant should be highly motivated with a passion for personal and team development. The delivery of a high standard of patient care and team work in line with our trust values will be expected.

Main duties of the job

• Pre and post clinic set up - cleaning/instrument & equipment preparation/paperwork
• Support clinic manager and team with daily running of the department
• Liaise with other departments/laboratory/GDP/GP
• Report all issues to Clinic Manager/Matron
• Provision of high standard of pre and post op care
• Provision of high standard of nursing skills
• Manage complex medical and physical conditions of patients
• Professional development, and Trust training maintained
• Support and promote health education to patients
• Precise and timely records of patient care
• Excellent communication with patients and staff
• Safeguarding Children and Adults
• Awareness and observe Trust policies
• Attend training

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Report departmental issues Attend regular staff meetings Develop good communications. Fair and clear relationships with staff cross the multi-disciplinary team Communicate with all grades of staff regarding patient care. To provide and receive complex or sensitive information relating to planned or received treatment Liaise between clinician, technician, patient and external agencies to arrange appropriate appointments Effectively communicate with patients and relatives. Deliver information in a way that is easily understood e.g. delivering pre and postoperative instructions and advice. This is essential where there are barriers to communication e.g. patients whose first language is not English, nervous, aggressive or poorly patients, patients with language or learning difficulties or disabilities. In these cases, further liaison with the translation services, parents or carers are imperative Provide reassurance and show empathy to patients in situations which are frequently stressful

Motivate patients to ensure compliance with complex and frequently lengthy courses of treatment Explain dental procedures to patients and answer any queries the patients may have regarding their treatment Receive information regarding patient’s conditions always ensuring confidentiality

Participate in the development and maintenance of programmes of care in line with Policies and Procedures Provide a continuing high standard of nursing care through direct clinical practice in relation to the groups of patients cared for by the department The post holder must hold the national certificate in dental nursing or equivalent NVQ3 in dental nursing and be registered with the GDC In line with Trust policies further training in conflict and resolution, fire safety, basic life support, Safeguarding, Oliver McGowan, manual handling, infection control, health and safety, risk assessment and COSHH is undertaken Achieve the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) requirements of the post Be prepared to undertake any formal or informal training required to fulfil the needs of the post, this includes self study

Act as a resource to other areas providing education and advice relevant to the speciality as required Keep abreast of clinical development Take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence Participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan To actively participate in the education, training and assessing of all members of the nursing team, visiting students, patients and their carers Under the supervision of the Clinic Manager assist in the development of enhanced/advanced nursing specific to the speciality, developing own clinical skills as necessary

Analytical & Judgemental Skills Anticipate the needs of members of staff and prepare all surgeries and instruments appropriately for complex dental procedures Monitored patients' throughout their visit, observed for any changes, and respond to medical emergencies Analyse the working area regarding the security of the equipment stored there and assess if extra precautions are needed Use their own judgment regarding health and safety to assess the working area and report any hazards immediately Diagnose equipment faults and liaise with engineering staff to ensure that repairs are undertaken quickly. Contingency arrangements must be made immediately to ensure that patient treatment can proceed as planned Understand the principles and importance of quality control and quality assurance and the use of appropriate measures

Planning & Organisational Skills

Manage own day-to-day activities such as planning and organising clinics, joint appointments with other departments and hospitals Plan and organising multi-disciplinary activities with other professions and agencies Manage busy clinics, liaise with patients and staff and communicate any delays Liaise with the laboratory regarding timescales for appliances to be completed. Arrange patient appointments accordingly Plan in advance to ensure all results, medical records and instruments required are available for each session Maintain adequate supplies, ensuring their efficient and effective use Check clinics at the beginning of each session so that stock levels of materials and equipment are maintained Ensure all equipment is in safe working order and regularly checked and maintained

Physical Skills

Manipulate a wide range of dental materials Handle, transfer, assemble and dismantle all types of dental equipment during patients’ treatment. This may be in a close support environment, which will require long periods sitting or standing in a confined position while assisting at chair-side Prepare surgical instrument kits and equipment using an aseptic technique Develop physical skills over a period of time and through relevant experience e.g. the use of some fine tools and dental equipment On occasions assist surgeons in theatre for general anaesthetic patients. Demands lengthy times of concentration, standing and static and precise instrument placements Advanced skills are required for sensory hand eye coordination when assisting during fourhanded dentistry as this involves the safe exchange and handling of dental instruments Be required to manoeuvre patients in confined spaces using wheelchairs, trolleys and hoists

Responsibility for Patient Care

Clinical verbal advice to patients, carers/relatives, i.e. pre/post-operative instructions. These require personalisation for each patient's unique situation/condition Continuous monitoring of patients throughout their dental treatment, and afterwards where appropriate, e.g. difficult procedures Care and reassurance to the patients during treatment, ensuring they are comfortable and informed throughout Manage medical and physical conditions of patients if kept in the department for an unexpected length of time Clinical advice to patients/carers/relatives either in person or, over the telephone . They will also be available to answer patient's questions regarding their treatment/care plan. Educating patient/carers, for example in oral health and teaching and offering advice regarding patient specific symptoms i.e. management of TMJ Responsible for organising patient appointments, where necessary liaise with wards and other departments to ensure good quality patient care. Ensure patients are safely and appropriately discharged and the clinical areas are secured, including the safe storage of emergency drugs Work at both Trust sites where necessary to provide a continued and improved service provision to patient Adhere to all Trust policies e.g. cross infection control, risk assessments, health and safety, data security & protection COSHH, reporting accidents/incidents etc. The post holder may be asked to contribute to hospital polices when necessary Observe the hospital Control of Infection policy and follow strict guidelines regarding sterilisation of instruments and equipment. Dealing with decontamination, waste and spillages correctly according to C.O.S.H.H regulations Understand the need to ensure physical, and radiation protection of all individuals in the immediate work environment at all times. Following IRMER, IRR regulations Follow agreed Trust policies and attend training sessions as required regarding manual handling fire safety, safeguarding, basic life support etc Provide written information for patients and carers in line with Trust policies In conjunction with the clinic manager and clinical team work to ensure that guidelines of clinical practice and standards of care are developed, implemented and audited to maintain the highest standard Participate in and contribute to the effective implementation of clinic risk management within all clinic areas

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.