A wonderful opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Principal Dental Nurse to join our team at Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. You will be responsible for a highly motivated team of Dental Nurses within the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. You will provide clinical expertise to ensure an effective and efficient service is provided for our patients.
The Principal Dental Nurse is responsible for leading and managing the dental nursing service, ensuring high standards of patient care, safety, and clinical governance. The role involves providing clinical leadership, supporting and developing staff, and overseeing day-to-day operations within the department.
The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver effective care for patients with orthodontic, restorative, and maxillofacial needs. Key duties include supervising staff performance, managing resources and budgets, maintaining infection control standards, and contributing to service improvement initiatives. The role also requires active involvement in training, audit, and quality assurance processes, while acting as a professional role model.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide leadership to the Dental Nurse team on a daily basis, inspiring them with strong leadership, excellent clinical skills and a visible and exemplary commitment to patient‑centred care.
Key duties include acting as a clinical role model by providing hands‑on support such as chairside assistance and scrub duties, ensuring safe and effective patient care. The role involves supervising staff, managing rotas, performance, and professional development, as well as handling HR responsibilities including recruitment, appraisals, and disciplinary processes.
They also contribute to service planning, budget management, and quality improvement initiatives.
About us
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
* As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
* We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
* We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
* We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
* As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
* Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
* A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
* Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
* Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
* Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Person Specification
3.EXPERIENCE
* Significant Experience and knowledge of wide range of dental procedures.
* Experience of working in Orthodontics/OMFS/Oral Surgery & Oral Medicine or Community Dentistry
* Experience of line management of Dental Nurses and students
* Experience of budget management and procurement.
* Evidence of knowledge and experience of HR processes and policies.
* Evidence of service improvement.
Knowledge and skills
* Knowledge of range of dental nursing procedures acquired through training and experience.
* Participation or involvement in continuing professional development including appraisal.
* Knowledge of current emerging NHS strategy and policy.
* Ability to identify how to manage risks and to support others to manage risk.
* Excellent communication skills and demonstrable ability in high level of customer care.
* Excellent Leadership and organisational skills.
* Ability to work all shifts across sites.
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
* NEBDN Certificate of Dental Nursing or NVQ 3 Dental Nursing Certificate.
* GDC recognised Post Qualification Certificate
* GDC registration
* Management Qualification CMI L5 or above
* Teaching, Coaching or Mentoring Qualification
* Intermediate Life Support course (ILS)
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.
£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working
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