Senior Dental Nurse

Senior Dental Nurse

Position available at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. Closing date: 07 July 2026.

The post holder will work as a skilled dental nurse within Head & Neck, Maxillofacial, and ENT outpatient services, delivering high-quality, patient‑centred care. They will support clinical procedures, undertake independent wound care and dressings, and ensure the smooth running of clinics.

Job Responsibilities

• Able to demonstrate significant proficiency in a wide range of dentistry work.
• Demonstrate an understanding of evidence‑based practice in dental nursing. Contribute to corporate objectives, acting within local, Trust and statutory guidelines and policies always.
• Maintain a high standard of patient care and confidentiality within our clinics while managing patients with complex social and medical histories.
• Liaise with the band 6s and clinic manager to ensure acceptable training needs are supported for junior staff within the service.
• Check all equipment is in working order, document as such and report faults to the relevant repairs departments as well as senior management to ensure remedial action is taken.
• Ensure that all requisite materials are available e.g., impression materials, filling materials, dressings dental drills etc. prior to the start of clinic.
• Organise own workload to give timely and appropriate care and be able to recognise issues in a timely manner and when to alert relevant personnel.
• To be aware of the department’s routines and develop an understanding of the multidisciplinary team and its input into patient management.
• To take responsibility for coordinating designated areas within the department when necessary and in the absence of senior staff undertake floor control, escalating concerns as required.
• To participate in team meetings/patient safety huddles to develop and improve practice in the department and be involved in promoting new ideas.
• Demonstrate the ability to safely handle biopsies in accordance with current universal infection control precaution guidelines and the health and safety policy and demonstrates adherence to COSHH recommendations when handling specimens.
• Participate in IRMER audits to maintain radiation safety.
• Assist in providing appropriate information to patients e.g., regarding clinic delays etc. and after receipt of bad news, following an unexpected event.
• Lay-out, clear and reset dental equipment between patients and ensure that infection prevention and effective control practices are central to all clinical work.
• Prepare models and take x-rays appropriately following regulations.
• Ensure that all equipment, medication, and technology used with the service are of a high quality and maintained, cleaned, stored appropriately taking into consideration GDC guidelines.
• Assist with organisation of cross‑departmental/organisational activities to support patient care pathways and research and maintain clear and concise notes in clinical records and ensure relevant documentations are available.
• To undertake complex monitoring (i.e. BP, BMI, INR) when required, manage equipment and assist to perform procedures including wound care etc. relevant to all specialties within the department.
• Utilise and ensure others utilise information and IT systems to secure accurate and timely patient outcome, workforce, and resource data i.e., IPM, soliton, CRRS, EPR etc.
• Manage expected and unexpected clinical events requiring high but unpredictable levels of physical effort according to patient dependency/clinical need, referring to a senior member of staff as necessary.
• Identify own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education as required by GDC.
• Mentor and support new and junior staff as required for competencies and personal development.
• Support the training and development of staff, including delivery of teaching sessions and competency development, i.e., basic oral health presentations, equipment training and link role cascade trainers refresher training.
• Participate in an annual individual performance review process where objectives will be agreed, performance monitored, and personal development needs discussed.
• Contribute to departmental inductions for all new staff of varying grades and support to develop specific competency packages.
• To be able to use Datix efficiently and appropriately to report incidents and accidents in line with the Trust’s incident and reporting procedure and undertake clinical audit and research as required.
• Deputise in the absence of senior dental nurse, provide support to the team and escalating issues to appropriate managers.
• To report all complaints, incidents, and accidents in line with the Trust’s incident and reporting procedure, and participate in clinical audit and research as required.
• Promote and monitor adherence to Health and Safety and to maintain the safety management of systems and policies designed to protect healthcare staff and service users from known hazards and work with junior staff to ensure compliant with current universal infection control precaution guidelines and the health and safety policy and demonstrates adherence to COSHH recommendations when handling specimens.

Person Specification

Qualifications

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Experience

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Knowledge

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Skills

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Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

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Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS TrustUniversity Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

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