About this role
Job summary
We're looking for a hardworking, reliable, and compassionate Dental Nursewho take pride in delivering excellent care. If you thrive both independently and as part of a supportive team, are highly organised, and able to use your initiative, we'd love to hear from you.
Based at Worthing - BN11 1RY - Mon-Fri 8.30am to 16:30
As part of our Special Care Dental Service, you'll help provide specialist dental treatment for patients referred by General Dental Practitioners, GPs, and other health and social care professionals. Running Monday to Friday across the county, plus opportunities to support domiciliary visits, general anaesthetics and sedation sessions,.
This is your chance to join a friendly and dedicated NHS team where your skills, commitment, and compassion will be truly valued.
Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.
Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK
Health and Care Worker visa: If you'll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK
Main duties of the job
a) Maintain high professional standards and participate in mandatory and continuing professional development in line with General Dental Council (GDC) requirements and Trust expectations.b) Work collaboratively with Dentists, Dental Therapists, Doctors, Nurses, Care Staff and other healthcare professionals across clinics, hospitals and community settings to support effective patient care.c) Maintain accurate patient records and documentation, both electronic and paper-based, in accordance with Trust policies, professional standards and data protection requirements.d) Adhere to Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and Special Care Dentistry policies, procedures and guidelines, ensuring safe, effective and patient-centred practice at all times.e) Provide dental nursing and administrative support across clinic sites within the county and regional area, including short-notice and extended cover where required to maintain service continuity.f) Participate in supervisions, appraisals, quality assurance, audit and clinical governance activities in line with Trust policyg) Support the smooth day-to-day running of clinics through effective communication, organisation and teamwork, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description Job responsibilities
a) Prepare and maintain the clinical environment for patient care, ensuring compliance with infection prevention and control, decontamination, health and safety and Trust procedures.
b) Provide chairside support during a range of dental procedures, including sedation, general anaesthetic and domiciliary sessions, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and compassionate care before, during and after treatment.
c) Prepare, handle and maintain dental instruments, materials, equipment and emergency supplies in accordance with manufacturer guidance, national standards and local procedures, reporting faults or concerns appropriately.
d) Carry out quality assurance and safety checks relating to radiography, decontamination, emergency drugs, equipment and clinical environments, maintaining accurate records as required.
e) Provide patients, carers and families with appropriate oral health promotion, post-operative care advice, reassurance and support, recognising individual communication and care needs.
f) Support the efficient running of the service through administrative and reception duties, including appointment management, correspondence, record keeping, arranging transport/interpreters and use of dental IT systems.
g) Maintain stock control and support the safe handling, storage and disposal of clinical materials, medicines, laboratory work and waste in accordance with Trust policies and legal requirements.
h) Participate in medical emergency procedures, audit activity and ongoing service improvement.
Please see the job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Work History Essential
Applies trust values in day to day practice
Desirable
Personal motivation Evidence of caring
Skills & Knowledge Essential
Good understanding of decontamination, infection prevention and control procedures Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with patients, carers and colleagues, both verbally and in writing Good IT skills, including accurate data entry and maintaining patient records
Desirable
Reception/Admin Duties Knowledge Dental Software
Qualifications Essential
NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing or equivalent qualification General Dental Council (GDC) registration
Desirable
Key skills in english and maths
Experience Essential
Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD), including relevant courses, training and/or in-service learning Working knowledge of dental patient management software and Windows-based IT systems
Desirable
Experience in community dental services, or community-based healthcare
Other Essential
Reliable, professional and flexible approach to meeting service needs Ability to travel between sites using the most efficient and cost-effective means
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address Worthing Special Care dental centre
12/14 Liverpool Gardens
Worthing
BN11 1RY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)