Trainee Dental Nurse

Job overview

As a Trainee Dental Nurse, you will undergo clinical and theoretical training. The training will lead to completion in the Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing (City & Guilds) and registration with the General Dental Council. This is a great opportunity to earn whilst you learn to develop your skills and knowledge in a hands-on role; whilst gaining the City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing which is a nationally recognised qualification. Your contract will be fixed term for 18 months . You will be employed for 36 hours per week. This is a salaried position and trainees are employed by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for up to a period of 18 months at Agenda for change Band 2 (plus inner London high cost living allowance).

Your working week will be Monday to Friday and you will be expected to work 7.25 hours per day between the hours of 8.30am – 4.45pm. You will provide chair-side support within the dental hospital across a range of departments and specialities, with duties carried out cross-site as needed. These will include:

- Children’s & Adults Dentistry

- Oral Surgery

- Orthodontics

- Community & Special Care

- Primary Dental Care

- Norwood Hall

- Waldron Community Centre

The Interview process will involve an in-person assessment to include Numeracy, Literacy and a Competency test.

Please note this role is not eligible for sponsorship, successful candidate will need to ensure they can secure/provide right to work.

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.

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 you will need to:

- Be over the age of 18 by the start date and not currently in full time education

- Be eligible to work in the United Kingdom

- Hold a GCSE qualification in English at a Level 5, Grade C, or equivalent

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

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.

For further details / informal visits contact:

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria

• GCSE English Language Level 5 and above or GCSE Grade C and above or equivalent

Desirable criteria

• Additional training/courses in BLS/First Aid, Safeguarding, Moving & Handling, Health & Safety or Infection Control

Knowledge and Experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting
• Experience of working or shadowing/observing in a clinical dental environment
• Experience of working within a team

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates in the application form a knowledge of the role of a dental nurse.
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail in written work

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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