Trainee Dental Nurse

Job overview

This 18-month fixed-term Trainee Dental Nurse position offers the opportunity to earn while training towards the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing and registration with the General Dental Council (GDC). Trainees will gain both clinical and theoretical experience while developing practical skills in a hospital setting.

The role is full-time at 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday, working 7.25 hours daily between 8:30am and 4:45pm. Trainees will be employed at Agenda for Change Band 2 salary, including Inner London weighting.

The successful candidate will provide chair-side support across multiple dental departments and sites, including:

• Children’s & Adult Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
• Orthodontics
• Community & Special Care
• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Theatre
• Primary Dental Care
• Norwood Hall
• Waldron Community Centre
• Queen Mary’s Sidcup

The recruitment process has two stages. Stage 1 is a mandatory 90-minute Microsoft Teams group session designed to provide information about the programme while assessing communication and listening skills. Candidates who attend and are shortlisted will progress to Stage 2, which includes an in-person interview along with literacy, competency, and skills-based assessments.

*Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, and applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Main duties of the job

Once you have achieved your qualification you will be able to apply to the statutory register held by the General Dental Council (GDC).

Part of your training requires attendance at our outreach clinic in West Norwood, Akerman Road Lambeth and Queen Mary’s Sidcup.

Information about the qualification can be found on the City & Guilds website.

Further information about the training centre can be found here.

To be eligible for this role, applicants must:

• Be 17 or above by the start date and not currently enrolled in full-time education.
• Have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
• Hold a GCSE qualification in English at Grade 5/C or above or possess an NVQ Level 3 qualification (or equivalent).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities of a Trainee Dental Nurse

• Attend all teaching sessions, tutorials and portfolio development sessions to ensure that you receive maximum benefit from the training provided.
• Co-operate with your trainers and assessors in the completion of portfolios, assessment record, projects and assignments which are designed to help you learn and show your competence as a dental nurse.
• Attend all personal review sessions to enable you to discuss your progress and identify any developmental needs, so that you can continue to improve.
• Provide support to other dental nurse trainees.
• Make effective use of the resources provided by the Centre.
• Maintain and present all documentary evidence in a well organised manner.
• Adhere to training agreement/contract, which is reviewed periodically.
• Act in a professional manner during work hours.
• Meet with the external visitors on quality assurance inspections.
• Trainees are expected to undertake coursework, assignments, and independent revision outside of their scheduled working hours to reinforce their training and development.
• To assist managers in ensuring that there is adequate service provision and staff to assist with pandemic incidents in line with the Pandemic People Management Policy. This may include redeployment to other clinical areas within the trust.

Trainee Dental Nurses will be under the supervision of qualified dental nurses whilst gaining experience in the departments of the institute.

Dental nursing duties will include:

• Receive and prepare patients, ensuring a sensitive approach in the provision of patient centred care. Fostering people’s equality, diversity and rights.
• Provide chairside nursing care and close support during all dental procedures to include preparing instruments and equipment, aspirating, irrigating, retracting and protecting dental soft tissue.
• Anticipate the operator’s requirements and demonstrate good practice in efficient and effective care, maintaining confidentiality.
• Undertake safely and effectively decontamination, disinfection and sterilisation of instruments and equipment ready for use. Prevent cross infection or damage to instruments and equipment.
• Undertake day to day cleaning, restocking and maintenance of dental instruments, dental handpieces and equipment ensuring that they work effectively. Reporting any items, which need repair to the Senior Dental Nurse.
• Record accurately as directed by the operator, the conditions of the oral cavity and the necessary treatment on the appropriate chart, laboratory radiographic form.  Ensuring ease of reference through legibility and confidentiality.
• Mix the correct quantity of impression material, cement, cavity lining, permanent and temporary restorative materials, according to the manufacturer’s instructions ensuring that they are used to best effect and ensure correct levels of stock are maintained.
• Assist the operator when offering information to individuals on protection of their Oral Health (and support them in doing so).
• Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques to the patient (under the direction and supervision of the operator) instructing them to adopt an effective health care programme to prevent the occurrence of dental disease.
• Contribute to the controlling of an efficient appointment diary ensuring accurate information is recorded and transfer to relevant patient management systems.  Communicating effectively to patients on the telephone.
• Testing clinical equipment as directed by the Senior Dental Nurse and reporting faults. Record testing data on the relevant log sheets.
• Promote effective communication and relationships, to contribute to the team approach.
• Process specific x-ray images and have basic understanding of the working of radiography equipment.
• Assist members of the dental team during clinical procedures, rotating through the various clinical departments on all the sites within the institute.
• Liaise with Dental, Technical, Nursing and Clerical Staff to provide a reliable team approach in the provision of total patient care.