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Job summary

Main area
Dental
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 15 hours per week (Monday and Tuesday (may be some flexibility to be discussed at interview))
Job ref
382-FICC59-25
Employer
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Victoria Centre
Town
Morecambe
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Per annum (pro rata)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/12/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Dental Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 4

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance.  Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored. 

 


Job overview

The post holder will be required to fulfil a comprehensive range of dental nursing duties within the Specialist Dental Services 

The appointed Dental Nurse will be based at the Dental Access Centre in the Queen Victoria Centre, the role is to support the whole team. You may be expected to provide cover at other clinical bases such as the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and Dental Education Centre that deliver our services when necessary to maintain efficient services. 

Main duties of the job

Dental Nurse Duties Summary:

  • Chairside Support: Assist and chaperone the dentist during procedures, including those involving general anaesthesia and sedation.
  • Clinical Preparation: Prepare materials, instruments, and equipment for treatments.
  • Radiography: Safely process and store x-ray films in compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Professional Standards: Maintain dental nursing registration, complete CPD, and attend relevant courses.
  • Inventory Management: Monitor and manage stock of dental materials and consumables.
  • Equipment Care: Perform routine maintenance on dental units and tools.
  • Infection Control: Sterilise instruments, clean clinical areas, and dispose of waste per guidelines.
  • Safety Checks: Conduct daily autoclave tests and monthly emergency kit inspections.
  • Ethical Practice: Follow GDC Code of Ethics and respond to child protection concerns per Trust policy.
  • Health Promotion: Support dental health initiatives and education.
  • Professional Development: Engage in appraisals and personal development planning.
  • Clinical Audit: Participate in audits through data collection and action plan implementation.

Working for our organisation

We’re inviting dedicated dental nurses to join our community-based dental service, where you'll play a vital role in delivering high-quality care to patients with complex needs. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in procedures carried out under sedation and general anaesthetic, within a supportive and clinically stimulating environment. We’re committed to your professional growth and offer excellent opportunities for development and training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Assist and chaperone the dentist at the chairside during operative procedures including general anaesthesia and sedation situations.

·       Preparation of filling materials, impression materials, instruments, equipment and dressings etc.

·       Ensure safe, careful processing of x-ray films and their storage with patient records, in line with health and safety regulations.

·       Maintain all requirements related to the profession of dental nursing including CPD, registration and attendance at appropriate courses whether mandatory or elective.

·       Stock control of dental materials and other consumables.

·       Care and minor maintenance of dental unit, chair, handpieces and other equipment.

·       Decontamination / sterilisation of instruments, cleaning of work surfaces in the clinical area and safe disposal of clinical waste in accordance with departmental cross infection control guidelines.

·       Daily testing of bench top autoclave. Monthly checks of resuscitation drug kit and emergency oxygen.

·       Adhere to the General Dental Councils Code of Ethics for all professions complimentary to dentistry.

·       Be aware of and respond accordingly to the Trust policy where child protection issues are suspected.

·       Contribute to health promotion around dental issues and support initiatives in health promotion.

·       Participate in the annual appraisal process and the development and implementation of activities identified on the personal development plan.

·       Contribute to the clinical audit activities within the department through data collection and the implementation of action plans.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSEs with grade C and above in English and Maths, or equivalent qualification
  • National Certificate in Dental Nursing or NVQ Level 3 Dental Nursing qualification
  • Valid GDC registration
Desirable criteria
  • Post Qualification in Sedation/Special Care/Oral Health/Paediatrics/Radiography

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential criteria
  • Duties and responsibilities of a Registered Dental Nurse
  • Knowledge of legislation related to Infection Control and Decontamination.
  • Awareness of Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Policies
  • Awareness of safeguarding issues
  • Awareness of Data Protection and Information Governance
  • Knowledge of range of NHS Community dental services
  • Up to date with legislation and current procedures relating to dentistry/Clinical Governance

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Recent experience of working as a dental nurse
  • Experience of working in a Community Dental Service and/or General Dental Practice

Skills and Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Effective communication with patients, the Dental Team and other health professionals
  • Good organizational and planning skills to ensure effective provision of service
  • High degree of manual dexterity, co-ordination and awareness of the use and maintenance of specialized equipment
  • Commitment to a high standard of patient care
  • Acceptance of responsibility and accountability for own work
  • Recognises the limits of own authority within the role
  • Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
  • Ability to work as an effective member of a team
  • Excellent computer skills
  • Good time management
  • Willingness to engage in CPD and regular updating and extension of skills

Physical Factors

Essential criteria
  • Ability to withstand stressful situations/environments
  • Ability to adjust to change
  • Ability to travel between dental sites in a timely manner
  • Flexibility to meet the needs of the service

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employer

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
Francesca Thomson
Job title
Clinical Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01524 406722
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