Job Summary
To provide dental nursing support to clinicians. The dental nurse will be expected to work with minimum supervision, using their own initiative, and carry out duties in such a way as to make a direct and positive contribution to the practice and so aid the dental staff to maximise the use of their time.
Key Responsibilities
- Reception of patients.
- Recording of treatment including charting form the dentist’s instructions and other associated clerical work.
- Preparation of filling materials, impression materials, instruments and equipment.
- Cleaning away used instruments and materials and keeping the surgery clean and tidy.
- First aid treatments for collapse e.g. coronary attack, fainting, bleeding tooth socket, epilepsy etc.
- Assisting at preparation for investigation, e.g. x-ray procedures, blood tests and bacteriological tests.
- Triage of patients attending for emergency treatment.
- Providing patients with pre and post-operative instructions and information prior to safely discharging the patient following, for example, minor oral surgery, and ensuring the instructions are understood.
- Care and minor maintenance of equipment such as high-speed drills.
- Assisting dental staff with surgical procedures when necessary including barrier care.
- Assisting in the training of trainee dental nurses.
- Maintaining stock levels in surgery and checking expiry dates. Re-ordering stocks when required.
Equality and Diversity
It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand the practice equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under current equality legislation including the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the equality Act 2006 and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and to:
- Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognise the importance of people’s rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures and good practice.
- Valuing people as individuals and treating every one with dignity and respect, consideration without prejudice, respecting diversity and recognising peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices in working with others and delivering appropriate services.
- Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality under practice policy.
- Be consciously aware of own behaviour and encourage the same behaviour in colleagues.
- Acknowledge others different perspectives and recognise the diverse needs and experiences of everyone they come into contact with.
Infection Control
All staff will adhere to infection control policies and procedures at all times and carry out role specific duties as per roles and responsibilities.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality/data protection regarding all personal information must be maintained at all times (both inside and outside working hours). All staff should ensure that they are familiar with and adhere to all practice privacy, confidentiality and security policies and procedures. Any breech of confidentiality will be taken seriously, and appropriate disciplinary action taken.
Freedom of Information
In accordance with the Freedom of information and other associated legislation, the practice may be required to make public recorded information available on request or do this as part of a publication scheme. Please note that your public role, your name or job role may be contained in a document that is published in accordance to such legislation.
Health & Safety
All employees have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to themselves or to others and to co-operate with the practice in meeting its statutory requirements.
Safeguarding children and Vulnerable Adults
All employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with the adherence to practice safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees, as is participating in related mandatory/statutory training.
I.T. Skills
All staff is expected to have or to have gain minimum basic level I.T skills to enable them to use the practice I.T systems. All staff should be familiar with relevant I.T systems and security policies and procedures.
Record Management
All Staff are personally responsible for record keeping. A record is anything that contains information in any medium e.g. paper, tapes, computer information, which has been created or gathered as a result of any practice activity. All individuals within the practice are responsible for any records they create or use. Please ensure that all records are retained in accordance with the Record Management policy and are stored in a manner that allows them to be easily located in the event of a freedom of information request.
Information Quality
All staff must ensure that complete and accurate data is collected to the highest standard at all times. Data collection should be supported by adequate documentation and processes should be regularly reviewed. Staff should ensure that processes conform to national standards and are fit for purpose. All staff should comply with the information quality policy.
Personal/Professional Development
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Communication
The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members.
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
- Recognize people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Contribution to the Implementation of Services
The post-holder will:
- Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.
- Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
- Participate in audit where appropriate.
Change of Job Description
The duties outlined above are not intended to be exhaustive and may change as the needs of the practice alter. The job description will be subject to periodic review and amendment in accordance with the needs of the practice.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £13.00-£16.00 per hour
Experience:
- SOE dental software: 1 year (preferred)
- dental nurse: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
Work Location: In person
