Apprentice Dental Nurse - Forest Row

The apprenticeship in dental nursing is a 12-month government-funded course by City & Guilds, a Level 3 Extended Diploma. Alongside your learning, your job role within the practice will entail assisting dentists, sterilising & preparing equipment, reception duties and supporting patient experience.

Requirements

• GCSE in English (grade 4)
• GCSE in Maths (grade 4)
• Willingness to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Willingness to receive a Hepatitis B vaccine
• Communication skills
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Non-judgemental attitude
• Patience
• Patient care skills

Responsibilities

• Provide efficient and reliable chair-side support to the dental surgery.
• Sterilise and prepare equipment for dentists.
• Record and manage patient records.
• Support patients' wellbeing and dental experience.
• Clean dental areas, including chairs.
• Manage stock of equipment and supplies.
• Assist dentists and senior team members to provide effective patient care.
• Identify relevant and appropriate dental, oral, craniofacial, and general anatomy.
• Evaluate the health risks of drug use and misuse on oral and general health.
• Evaluate the scientific principles underpinning the use of materials and biomaterials.
• Identify signs of abuse, neglect, or emotional trauma and explain safeguarding systems.
• Identify signs of normal and abnormal facial growth and developmental milestones.
• Assess patients’ levels of anxiety, experience, and expectations.
• Contribute to relevant special investigations and diagnostic procedures.
• Undertake orthodontic assessment.
• Obtain valid consent from patients.
• Record an accurate and contemporaneous patient history.
• Accurately record dental charting and oral health assessments.
• Prepare records, images, equipment, and materials for clinical assessment.
• Process and manage dental radiographs and images.
• Manage patient anxiety appropriately, effectively, and safely.
• Monitor, support, and reassure patients through effective communication and behavioural techniques.
• Identify changes in a patient’s reported oral health status and take appropriate action.
• Make arrangements for follow-up care.
• Provide chairside support to the operator during treatment.
• Prepare, mix, and handle dental materials.
• Identify and explain risks within the clinical environment and manage them safely.
• Implement, perform, and manage effective decontamination and infection control procedures.
• Prepare and maintain the clinical environment, instruments, and equipment.
• Identify, assess, and manage medical emergencies.
• Provide patients/carers with preventive advice and instruction.
• Support the management of patients with acute oral conditions.
• Adopt an evidence-based approach to clinical practice.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, the public, and colleagues.
• Maintain contemporaneous, complete, and accurate patient records.
• Communicate with care, compassion, empathy, and respect.
• Give feedback effectively to team members.
• Respect the roles of other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrate effective team working.
• Contribute to team-based dental care.
• Manage, refer, or delegate work according to scope of practice.
• Take a patient-centred approach to working within the dental team.
• Raise concerns about health, behaviour, or professional performance.
• Comply with systems and processes to support safe patient care.
• Act in accordance with current best practice guidelines, clinical governance, and health and safety requirements.
• Act within legal frameworks.
• Act with integrity and maintain trust.
• Demonstrate personal accountability.
• Work in partnership with colleagues to promote patient and team wellbeing.
• Lead, manage, and take professional responsibility where appropriate.
• Support patients in accessing oral healthcare.
• Treat patients, the public, and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Support patients to make informed decisions about their care.
• Demonstrate cultural competence.
• Act as an advocate for patient needs.
• Speak up to protect others from harm.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based prevention.
• Address discriminatory language and behaviour.
• Evaluate the role of health promotion.
• Evaluate and apply evidence-based approaches to oral healthcare.
• Contribute positively to healthcare communities.
• Utilise feedback for professional development.
• Demonstrate personal development planning, recording of evidence, and reflective practice.
• Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies.
• Assess own capabilities and limitations and seek advice when needed.
• Recognise and manage personal assumptions, biases, and prejudices.
• Recognise and manage the impact of contextual factors on healthcare and patient safety.
• Demonstrate professional responsibility in self-development.
• Develop and maintain professional knowledge and competence.
• Demonstrate engagement with systems promoting wellbeing.
• Demonstrate appropriate continuous improvement activities.
• Recognise when and how to take action if wellbeing is compromised.
• Effectively manage own time and resources.
• Underpin all patient care with a preventive approach.