Overview
To organise and work alongside other Dental Nurses and as directed by the Principal Dental Nurse. This includes overseeing the efficient running of clinics and supporting where required within community site clinics, domiciliary visits, Mobile Dental Unit, and theatre lists. To work with autonomy, and manage team members whilst fostering a courteous, positive, and professional manner.
To provide high standards of dental nursing care, and chairside assistance throughout the department. Chairside assistance involves working with patients with complex dental and medical needs, assisting with conscious sedation (if a suitable qualification is held), specialised procedures, maintaining and completing environmental and instrument decontamination processes, preparation of equipment for procedures and providing pre-operative and post-operative care.
Only candidates with current GDC registration can be considered for this position.
Provide support to the Principal Dental Nurse and deputise in their absence. Manage a group of Dental Nurses within your designated area. Carry out duties of other senior nurses during any absence. Be able to train, update and assess trainee and qualified Dental Nurses at specified dental clinics. To ensure the provision of an efficient and effective service. To facilitate the development of Dental Nurses’ knowledge in all aspects of dentistry. Supervise a range of work activities appropriate to trainee and qualified Dental Nurses across sites and mobile dental units as is necessary for the smooth running of the Dental Service. Maintain effective communication with the public and staff on a full range of issues, some potentially complex. Ensure Continuing Professional Development is current, up to date and maintained.
The post holder will be required to work within the specialist clinical disciplines of Special Care Dental. To organise the efficient running of clinics in Special Care Dental. Provide chair side nursing assistance in Special Care Dental procedures. Assisting clinicians with specialised procedures, preparing and decontaminating instruments, handling instruments, providing patients with pre and post-operative care. To be accountable for own professional actions under General Dental Council guidelines, codes of practice. Ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisational and departmental objectives.
About the Trust
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services. We are proud of the diversity of staff and communities we serve. We are building a workforce that values learning, diversity of thinking and lived experience to deliver compassionate care. We have been rated as “Good” by CQC and have received awards including The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020. The Trust supports flexible working arrangements and will consider flexible requests.
Experience & Qualifications
- Must have valid GDC registration
- Must have clinical experience, post-registration experience
- Must have experience leading on a service requirement
Clinical Duties
- Undertake chair side duties for the smooth running of the Dental Services, including a substantial clinical commitment within your area of responsibility as directed by the Principal Dental Nurse
- Maintain and extend up-to-date knowledge of dental procedures and identify personal development needs
- Assist the Dental surgeon with specialised programmes of care (surgical and non-surgical interventions)
- Prepare clinics and instrumentation for specialised procedures without direct supervision
- Undertake daily duties with the Principal Dental Nurse available for advice as necessary
- Anticipate events during treatments and prepare instruments and materials to ensure safe and effective practice
Quality & Governance
- Contribute to Clinical Governance activities and comply with standards set for the Dental Services as part of the Trust’s Quality Assurance
- Develop and implement the Trust’s Clinical Audit programme, Clinical Risk Strategy, Research and Development within the Governance Framework
- Facilitate the Dental Nurse Audit Group meetings
- Work with the Principal Dental Nurse on quality standards, clinical governance, audit and risk management; direct Dental Nurses to maintain standards and report incidents
Administrative & Technical Responsibilities
- Prepare daily clinics with instrumentation, materials, equipment, laboratory work, radiographs and scans for a seamless service
- Maintain clinic records; collate, file and store patient study models and photographs
- Provide clinical advice to patients in person or by telephone
- Write and develop local clinical practices and procedures for Special Care Dental
- Develop information leaflets; coordinate care packages with departmental technical staff
- Monitor stock levels and liaise with the Principal Dental Nurse for authorisation
- Disassemble and clean specialised dental units; perform basic maintenance and fault finding on equipment
Procurement
- Monitor stock across clinics, ensuring budgets are adhered to
- Act as first point of contact between stock suppliers and dental staff; obtain costs for new materials and equipment
- Source unusual requests, provide costs and communicate with the Principal Dental Nurse
- Handle creditor payments to ensure invoices are raised and paid on time; raise stock orders for non-stock bills (e.g., laboratory fees, uniforms)
Research & Development
- Participate in departmental audit relevant to own work (e.g., hand washing)
- Attend courses and conferences for personal development
Communication & Relationships
- Be a positive role model to the nursing staff
- Be patient-focused, support the Senior Management Team, take responsibility, seek to improve services, and promote positive teamwork
- Maintain positive mental attitude; liaise with a wide range of specialties outside the Trust
- Communicate with patients and carers who may have barriers to understanding
- Enhance the patient experience during care and treatment
Physical, Mental & Emotional Demands
- Handle emotional and stressful situations; reassure and provide simple care instructions
- Support anxious, upset, nervous or confused patients, including children
- Deal with verbally aggressive individuals and handle small components during procedures
- Prepare dental materials and instrumentation; work with speed, accuracy and multi-task during high clinical activity
- Change priorities quickly to manage urgent situations
Education & Training
- Demonstrate work of a Dental Nurse to Dental Nurse Students
- Assist in training and development of new staff; facilitate regular training sessions as requested by the Principal Dental Nurse
Extended Duties
- Extended duties as specified in “Special Care Dental Band 5 Dental Nurse Duties”; duties may vary and be allocated as directed
This advert closes on Thursday 26 Mar 2026
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