Dental NurseNHS

Job summary

Are you a compassionate Dental Nurse who thrives on making a real difference to people's lives? This is an exciting opportunity to join our Community Dental Service in Somerset, supporting children and adults with additional needs, complex medical conditions, and those who are unable to access routine dental services on the high street.

Based primarily at our Yeovil Dental Access Centre, with occasional travel to our Bridgwater and Taunton clinics, you'll work as part of a dedicated and supportive team committed to delivering outstanding patient-centred care. Every day brings something different, from helping anxious patients feel at ease to supporting specialist treatments that have a significant impact on health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

This is a rewarding role where your clinical skills, empathy, and professionalism will help ensure some of our most vulnerable patients receive the care they need in a safe, welcoming environment. You'll also have opportunities to develop your knowledge across specialist areas of community dentistry, expanding your skills and experience within a highly valued service.

Main duties of the job

As a Dental Nurse within our Community Dental Service, you will:

• Support dentists and dental therapists in delivering high-quality dental care to children and adults with additional needs and complex health conditions.
• Help create a calm, reassuring environment for patients, families, and carers, particularly when patients may feel anxious or distressed.
• Prepare and maintain clinical areas, instruments, equipment, and materials to the highest standards of infection prevention and control.
• Assist with a range of treatments and, following appropriate training, support specialist areas including sedation, general anaesthetic, and community-based care.
• Play an important role in responding to medical emergencies and ensuring patient safety at all times.
• Support the smooth running of clinics through patient administration, appointment management, accurate record keeping, and liaison with other healthcare professionals.
• Contribute to stock management, clinic organisation, and the ongoing delivery of an efficient, patient-focused service.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider dental team to continually improve patient care and service quality.

Job description

This role offers the chance to be part of a service that genuinely changes lives. You'll work closely with experienced clinicians to provide dental care for patients whose individual circumstances require additional understanding, flexibility, and specialist support.

You'll be an integral member of a friendly multidisciplinary team, using your communication skills and compassionate approach to build trust with patients, carers, and colleagues. Your ability to adapt to different situations and respond calmly to challenges will help ensure every patient receives safe, effective, and dignified care.

In addition to supporting clinical treatment, you'll contribute to maintaining excellent standards of infection control, clinical governance, and patient safety. You'll also have the opportunity to develop your expertise through ongoing training and professional development, helping you grow your skills across a variety of community dental settings.

We're looking for a qualified, GDC-registered Dental Nurse who is passionate about patient care, enjoys working collaboratively, and is committed to delivering the highest standards of service. If you're looking for a role where you can develop your career while making a genuine difference to people who rely on specialist community dentistry, we'd love to hear from you.

If you would like to learn more about the role or arrange an informal visit, please contact Sonja Mapstone on 07771 742161 or at [email protected], who would be delighted to hear from you. In the meantime, our recruitment video provides a great insight into working within our Community Dental Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q62-Vf0osQ

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.