Community Dental Nurse

Job Summary The NHS is changing. More emphasis on community-based care means there's never been a better time to join us. We are looking for an enthusiastic and adaptable Dental Nurse to join our professional team in Ashford. We're a close team but we're never exclusive, if you can bring a professional approach and fresh ideas we would love to hear from you. Main Duties Could you use your skills and experience to support the NHS to deliver great patient care? Great patient care needs great people to support clinical teams. That's where you come in. We're always looking for enthusiastic, responsive, and adaptable people to join our outstanding trust. This role is an important one as you'll be using your knowledge, experience and expertise to provide dental support to our hard‑working NHS teams. We put patients first and we expect all of our colleagues to do the same, so although NHS experience isn't a requirement for this role you'll need to share our passion for delivering excellent patient care and keep that passion at the forefront of your professional activity at all times. The challenges come thick and fast in this role but you'll know that your input is contributing to the excellent experience our patients and service users have every day. Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom. About Us Rated "outstanding" by the CQC, we've got a passion for delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. To do this we need outstanding people who share our values compassionate Aspirational Responsive Excellent. We know a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion leads to better patient care and a happier workforce. We pride ourselves in being diverse and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms. This isn't visible to anyone involved with shortlisting or interviewing you, except when you choose to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme due to disability. Short listers will see two ticks alongside your application to ensure they apply the principles of the scheme to your submission. The data we collect helps us to ensure we are attracting diversity in our applicants, that all our colleagues have equitable access to career opportunities and supports us on our journey to being a Great Place to Work. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want you to be able to work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Talk to us about a flexible working arrangement that won't involve sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We’ll support you to work flexibly in a way that will suits us both. See where you can go with KCHFT career pathways. Details Date posted: 04 December 2025 Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 4 Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata, per annum Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Part‑time Reference number: 846‑7638585‑TS Job locations: Rainbow Centre, Ashford, TN23 4RR Job Responsibilities Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Nursing vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses. As a community trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. As such you will be asked to confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role to be able to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment, if you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team viakentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further. The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate. Still have questions? The recruiting manager would love to hear from you, their contact details can be found in the job advert. We can get a lot of applications for some roles so to be in with the best chance of being shortlisted please make sure you apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest in the job. At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non‑clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve. Find out more about the community difference here. Good luck We cant wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity. Person Specification Qualifications NEBDN Certificate in Dental Nursing/NVQ 3 City and Guilds in Oral Health or recognised equivalent GDC Registered Functional Skills at level 2 Literacy and Numeracy Desirable Post Qualification in RA/IV Sedation Radiography Experience A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience Experience with Microsoft Packages and Dental software Proven ability to work within a team Desirable Experience working in Community, Special care and Paediatric Dentistry Knowledge Knowledge of up to date practice Understanding of and commitment to upholding clinical standards. Understand the role and remit of Band 4 Awareness of professional issues and developments in the NHS /Primary care NICE, and Clinical Governance Skills & Abilities Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to use tact, diplomacy and empathy Ability to organise own work, cope with change and use own initiative when required. Desirable To prove up to date continuous professional development. Personal Attributes Ability to motivate others, and ensure best practice Ability to work under pressure. 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: Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Address: Rainbow Centre, Ashford, TN23 4RR Employer’s website: https://www.kentcht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) #J-18808-Ljbffr