We’re looking for a hardworking, reliable, and compassionate Dental Nurse who 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 Haywards Heath Health Centre - RH16 3BB- preferred working days Weds - Fri, flexibility maybe available for the right candidate
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
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 policy
g) Support the smooth day-to-day running of clinics through effective communication, organisation and teamwork, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
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?
- Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
- Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
- Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
- Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
- Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
- Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
- Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
- 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.
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.
