Job overview
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a Qualified Dental Nurse to take on a Senior Dental Nurse leadership role within our Community Dental Service. This post will support the Adult Special Care team in delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients with complex needs.
Responsibilities will include supporting the triage of adult special care referrals, contributing to the development of patient pathways, coordinating administrative processes, and supporting service development and innovation within this area. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the coordination of general anaesthetic and intravenous sedation pathways for adult special care patients.
The successful candidate will join a highly experienced and supportive team, offering mentorship and guidance to enable professional development and growth within the role.
Applicants must maintain high standards of clinical care and demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development. This role includes responsibility for the management and mentorship of other staff members within the team. Previous management experience and knowledge of adult special care dentistry would be desirable, though not essential, as training and development will be provided to support skill development.
Closing date: 1st March 2026
Shortlisting: 2nd March 2026
Interviews: 20th March 2026
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have access to appropriate training and development opportunities to enable them to fulfil the duties outlined in the job description.
Some travel across the district is required to successfully undertake the range of duties associated with this role. Applicants must therefore have the ability to travel as required to meet the needs of the service.
As Senior Dental Nurse you will:
1. Support and assist the clinical team to ensure a high standard of care to adult special care dental patients; who. are unable to accept routine dental care because of some physical, intellectual, medical, emotional, sensory, mental or social impairment, or a combination of these factors
2. Oversee that all administrative tasks are carried out to ensure the efficient operational delivery of the clinical sessions and hospital lists. This includes an overview of the clinical appointment books and waiting lists within the service.
3. Offer leadership and guidance within specialist area.
4. Provide leadership to the dental nurse and administrative team, this is to include human resource management and development of the team.
Working for our organisation
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people’s views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust’s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Registered with the General Dental Council.
6. National Certificate of the Examining Board for Dental Nurses or equivalent
7. Post qualification in a specialist area, Special Care Dentistry, Conscious Sedation, Radiography, Fluoride Varnish, Oral Health or relevant management/leadership qualification or able to demonstrate a good level of experience post qualification experience, in the area of special care dentistry
Desirable criteria
8. IT skills
Experience/Skills
Essential criteria
9. A good level of experience post qualification
10. Demonstrate a commitment to CPD
Desirable criteria
11. Handling patient charges
12. Experience of working with special care groups
13. Experience of working with internal and external stakeholders
14. Report writing skills
15. Management skills
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.
In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.
Bradford District Care Trust is an award-winning Trust that provides a range of innovative services that have been recognised as best practice nationally. As a provider of care for people of all ages who have mental and/or community health needs we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service, close to where people live and as much as possible tailored to an individual’s needs.
The Trust’s purpose is to create connected communities and help people to feel as healthy as they can be at every point in their lives and our vision is to connect people to the best quality care, when and where they need it and be a national role model as an employer and provide our staff with the best place to work.
Bradford has been awarded the coveted status of UK City of Culture 2025. The year is set to deliver more than 1000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations. Its themes will be rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford and will reveal the magic of the district that is held in its people, its ambition, and above all, its potential.
We would welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and in particular Bradford District Care Trust is keen to reflect the population we serve, we are currently underrepresented in terms of black and minority ethnic staff. Applications are encouraged from these groups, but it must be stressed that selection will be solely on merit and in accordance with the Trust recruitment policy.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.