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Job summary

Main area
Dental Services
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week (Essential days Monday, Thursday and Friday)
Job ref
387-S3108-ALX-A
Employer
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bristol Dental Hospital
Town
Bristol
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 per annum, pro rata for part time roles
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/08/2026 09:00

Employer heading

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Dental Nurse

Band 5

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.


 

Job overview

We are looking for a fully qualified Senior Dental Nurse to join the Dental team on Child Dental Health. We have a full time vacancy available 37.5 hours per week. Part time applicants will also be considered. Essential working days for part time would be Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.   You will be required to carry out a full range of dental nursing duties and provide senior-level dental nursing care for a wide range of patients undergoing Paediatric, Orthodontic and Cleft treatments. The successful candidate will also be required to support theatre sessions within the speciality on Trust site.

Main duties of the job

A key aspect of your role will be to supervise, train and clinically assess student dental nurses undertaking NVQ Level 3 /NEBDN dental nursing qualification, acting as a role model and mentor. You will contribute to the development of practice/procedure within your designated service to improve quality, safety and patient experience. Additionally, you will participate in clinical and environmental audits (i.e., infection control), and undertake a link nurse role. In the absence of the Dental Nurse Manager, you will provide day-to day management of your designated dental service and be able to work flexibly across other dental services, including those delivered in satellite centres within the community.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. (BFT) has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. (BFT) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Enhanced knowledge of a range of dental nursing procedures (E)
  • • Experience of assisting with a diverse range of patients (E)
Desirable criteria
  • • Experience of a variety of settings i.e., hospital, community clinic, NHS/Private Practice (D)
  • • Experience of being part of a quality improvement project and understanding the underpinning principles (D)

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • • Able to work effectively with others as part of a team (E)
  • • Ability to work under instruction and show initiative by prioritising and organising workload (E)
  • • Competent in operating a computer (E)
  • • Good communication and interpersonal skills (E)
  • • Ability to carry out routine/repetitive activities (E)
  • • Ability to prioritise (E)
  • • Ability to stand for long periods of time (E)
  • • Dexterity – ability to handle/manoeuvre equipment/instruments across a wide range of sizes, weights and environments (E)
  • • Manual handling – ability to manoeuvre trolleys and instrumentation boxes in line with trust policy (E)
  • • Able to work autonomously (E)

Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • • Enthusiastic, highly motivated, and able to inspire others (E)
  • • Ability to manage self and exhibit skills, including self-awareness, self- management, and drive for improvement (E)
  • • Analytical (E)
  • • Personal resilience (E)
  • • Flexibility (E)
  • • Able to use own initiative (E)
  • • Able to work under pressure to meet deadlines (E)
  • • Team player (E)
  • • Innovative (E)

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • • National Diploma in Dental Nursing (or equivalent Level 3 Dental Nursing qualification) (E) •
  • • Valid GDC registration (E)
  • • Post registration qualification in Conscious Sedation, Special Care Dentistry, Oral Health Education, Dental Radiography, Implantology or Orthodontics (E)
Desirable criteria
  • • Completion of enhanced dental nurse courses such as fluoride application (D)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDDisability Confident - two yearsVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Pastoral CareStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldPride In Veterans

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Nina Sharp
Job title
Dental Nurse Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01173424346
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