Dental Nurse AssessorNHS

Job summary

We are seeking a knowledgeable and motivated Dental Nurse Assessor to support and assess an apprentice dental nurse throughout their training journey.

This is an evolving role, and the postholder's expertise will be key to developing and implementing a robust apprenticeship training programme. The role will include mentoring the apprentice, assessing practical competence and underpinning knowledge, maintaining accurate learner records, and ensuring training meets awarding body and regulatory requirements.

The postholder will also be expected to work clinically as part of the dental team while their Dental Nurse competencies are completed and signed off, helping to maintain professional practice and support the delivery of high-quality patient care.

This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of one clinical day per week and up to two hybrid working days, where service requirements allow.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced dental professional who is passionate about education, quality, clinical excellence, and developing the next generation of dental nurses.

We welcome informal discussions about the role and encourage candidates to arrange a site visit to meet the team and learn more about our service.

Main duties of the job

• Assess and support apprentice dental nurses in the workplace through planned reviews.
• Monitor learner progress against qualification standards, apprenticeship requirements, and awarding body criteria.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and constructive feedback to help learners develop their clinical knowledge, practical skills, and professional behaviours.
• Carry out observations, reviews, and assessments, ensuring all evidence is valid, accurate, and completed within required timescales.
• Work clinically as part of the dental team, maintaining professional competence and supporting the delivery of safe, effective, high-quality patient care.
• Ensure all delivery and assessment activities comply with safeguarding, equality, health and safety, GDPR, and regulatory requirements.
• Keep up to date with developments in dental nursing practice, education, and apprenticeship standards.

Job description

• Plan and deliver a caseload of workplace-based assessments for Apprentice Dental Nurses undertaking the NEBDN National Diploma, in line with programme requirements and agreed assessment plans.
• Carry out direct observations in the clinical setting and assess knowledge, skills and behaviours against agreed criteria.
• Conduct weekly supervision sessions, deliver constructive feedback, and establish agreed action plans to facilitate learner development and ensure safe clinical practice.
• Review learner portfolios/evidence, set targets, and monitor progress to support achievement of the NEBDN National Diploma within required timescales.
• Maintain accurate, auditable records of learner contact, assessment activity, feedback and outcomes, including portfolio/evidence documentation, in line with Trust and NEBDN programme requirements.
• Liaise with internal clinical teams and the NEBDN training providers/Centre to ensure learners received appropriate support and that NEBDN programme requirements are met.
• Deliver or facilitate tutorials, workshops and skills updates for learners and/or the dental nursing team, as agreed with the Dental Nurse Team Manager.
• Support learners to develop clinical competence while promoting patient-centred care, infection prevention and control and safeguarding practice.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team