Community Dental Nurse

Go back King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Nurse The closing date is 21 November 2025 We would welcome applications from dental nurses who would like a new challenge and a dental nursing role with a difference, helping in their local community. We are a community dental service with clinics based all over South East and South West London. We provide high level dental care to patients inside and outside of the dental surgery too; we go to schools, homeless centres, hospitals, patients’ homes, care homes, right in the heart of the community. Providing dentistry, in places you wouldn’t expect. You will be based in one clinic where you will be part of the larger community family. We are based across 9 London boroughs and you might be surprised to find a clinic close to you. We are currently recruiting for a part time dental nurse to work across Merton, Sutton and Croydon. A recognised dental nurse qualification and registration with the General Dental Council is essential. What we offer CPD and mandatory training Inhalation sedation training Post certificate opportunities in Special Care, Sedation and Radiography in house with Kings Established career pathway and opportunities for progression Financial wellbeing Salary sacrifice High cost area supplement Physical wellbeing On boarding and induction support Mental health and wellbeing benefits Self-referral to occupational health Counselling and mentoring Main duties of the job Perform chairside dental nursing duties to a high standard Assist in the event of a medical emergency Assist with patients who have special needs, including vulnerable children, people who are elderly, mentally and physically disabled, suffering from terminal illness, infectious risk, or mental health problems Prepare and participate in domiciliary care for elderly and patients who have difficulty in leaving their homes and school visits. Perform the decontamination and sterilisation of all instruments, testing the decontamination equipment on a daily and weekly basis About us King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level. 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 responsibilities Job purpose Provide a high level of dental nursing care for all patients; including special needs adults and children, elderly, medically compromised or anxious patients. Explain dental procedures/treatment to patients or carers. Deliver a high standard of chairside assistance supporting all grades of clinicians. Maintaining a high level of cross infection control. Responsible for the day-to-day running of a base dental clinic. Providing dental nursing cover across service. Main Duties Acting as relief dental nurse in community dental clinics across south London. However, you will be based usually within one health centre. Preparing dental instruments, materials and equipment for each clinical session and ensuring the surgery is left tidy at the end of the day. Receiving and preparing special needs patients, including children, adults and elderly people for treatment in the dental clinic under the direction of the dentist. Assisting dental staff 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. Assisting with patients who have special needs, including vulnerable children, people who are elderly, mentally and physically disabled, suffering from terminal illness, infectious risk, or mental health problems. People with challenging behaviour or are anxious / phobic about receiving dental treatment. 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 high security hospitals. Having a full understanding of the current Department of Health decontamination guidelines and being responsible for the decontamination and sterilisation of all instruments, the safe disposal of sharps and any single use items. Testing the decontamination equipment on a daily and weekly basis and reporting faults to the appropriate person in line with local infection control guidelines. Where appropriate, assisting with patients receiving treatment using conscious sedation or general anaesthetic. Providing pre and post operative care. Re-assuring and informing the patient about further treatment and arranging appointments. Giving patients, parents or carers oral hygiene instruction. Assisting in dental screening and epidemiological fieldwork. Working with hygiene and therapy students in community special care dentistry clinics. Supervising student dental nurses on their placement in the community dental clinics. Fully competent in the mixing of all dental materials. Clinic Management Adhering to the departments Infection Control Policy and Blood Borne Virus policy when treating all patients. 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. Being aware of language and cultural difficulties and dealing with these in a sensitive and appropriate manner. Disinfecting and packaging dental laboratory work and arranging collection Up-keeping the patient filing and recall system and ensuring records have been completed. Undertaking general reception duties. Taking responsibility for ordering stock for the dental clinics. Ensuring a level of stock control is maintained. Carrying out end of year stock audit. Ordering pharmacy items and emergency drugs for the dental clinics. Ensuring drugs are within expiry dates. Ensuring the emergency drugs kit is reviewed on a weekly basis. Monitoring equipment used in the dental surgery, maintaining the upkeep of the equipment by following directions set out by the manufacturer or the Department. Reporting any faults to the dental engineer. In the absence of a dentist reporting any problems or deficiencies to Line Manager. Policy and Procedures The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients. Being aware of and adhering to Trust and Departmental Policy is essential. These policies include: Health and safety/risk assessment Infection Control and Blood Bourne Virus/HTM01-05 Manual Handling Violence and Aggression Domiciliary Infection Control Lone Worker Policy Confidentiality Kings Behaviour standards COSHH. The post holder will be expected to live by the Kings Values; Understanding you, Inspiring confidence in our care, Working together, Always aiming higher, Making a difference in our community. Person Specification Qualifications Registration with General Dental Council Commitment to Continuing Professional Development Competence or qualification in Inhalation Sedation Experience Excellent understanding of infection control and decontamination procedures Experience of working with neuro-divergent patients and/or patients with learning disabilities/difficulties Proficient in the use of Dentally software for patient record 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. Address Community Health Centres in Merton, Sutton and Croydon Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number 213-Division-A-7595252 Job locations Community Health Centres in Merton, Sutton and Croydon #J-18808-Ljbffr