About this role
Job summary
King's College Hospital's Department of Community Special Care Dentistry is split into 3 geographical Lots and covers the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Merton Sutton and Croydon, Kingston and Richmond and Wandsworth. This role is for Merton, Croydon and Sutton; The main roles of our service are:
The monitoring of the dental health of all age groups in the population.
The provision of dental health education and preventive programmes.
The provision of facilities for a full range of treatment to patients who have experienced difficulty in obtaining treatment in the general dental service, or for whom there is evidence that they would not otherwise seek treatment from the general dental services. Including one or more of the following;
physical disability
complex medical condition
learning disability
severe mental health condition
Severe anxiety/phobia.
Children with complex dental needs
More info contact Nicola Humphrey via email: [email protected]
Main duties of the job
Receiving and preparing patients for their visit; at any setting, and for any appointment type including treatment under conscious sedation.
Assisting clinicians in the full range of dental treatment and procedures, ensuring that relevant information about the patient, including any change in his/her condition, is reported to the dentist.
Checking patients' fitness for discharge after extractions/sedation. Providing pre and post-operative care. Re-assuring and informing the patient about further treatment and arranging appointments. Preparation and participation in domiciliary care for elderly and patients who have difficulty in leaving their homes. Being aware of your surroundings and the property of the patient. Preparation and participation in the treatment of patients in the mobile dental unit in outreach settings and high security hospitals. Where appropriate, assisting with patients receiving treatment under general anaesthetic. Giving patients, parents or carers oral hygiene instruction and advice.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.
Our six strategic ambitions are deliveringhigh-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
We have also agreed four new organisational values - Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative - and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
Setting and closing down surgery, ensuring all quality control checks are carried out
Fully competent in the mixing of all dental materials
Processing and mounting of radiographs. To clean, maintain and test processor according to agreed procedures.
Management of surgery clinical waste, dealing appropriately and safely with hazardous or toxic waste materials
Disinfecting and packaging dental laboratory work and arranging collection
Monitoring, maintaining, testing and reporting faults on equipment and medical devices including decontamination equipment
Carrying out all decontamination processes and adhering to the departments Infection Control and decontamination policy. Including hand hygiene, uniform and blood borne virus policy.
Reporting any problems to line manager or service managers.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification Essential
Dental Nursing Qualification Registration with General Dental Council Commitment to Continuing Professional Development Knowledge of Health and Safety issues including medical emergencies
Desirable
Competence or qualification in Inhalation Sedation
Knweledge and Experience Essential
Ability to maintain own health, safety and security Excellent understanding of infection contract and decontamination procedures Dental Nursing Experience
Desirable
Experience of working with neuro-divergent patients and/or patients with learning disabilities/difficulties Proficient in the use of Dentally software for patient record
Skills and Competencies Essential
Excellent inter-personal and communication skills Ability to be sympathetic and sensitive to patient and staff needs Flexible and understanding attitude Work well in a multi-disciplinary team Excellent organisational skills with the ability to multitask
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)