Triage Dental Nurse in Plymouth

Plymouth Community Dental Services (PCDS), subsidiary of Livewell Southwest, are a leading provider of specialist NHS dental care in Plymouth. We have a vacancy for up to 37.5 hours a week (part-time applications welcome) to work alongside our call handlers on the unscheduled care helpline to respond to dental patients by providing clinical assessment to those wanting to access unscheduled dental care appointments and advice over the phone. The service has a dedicated, compassionate and highly skilled team delivering specialist dental care to a wide range of patients, including some of the most vulnerable in our community.

During the working week, PCDS also provides the helpline for patients with no access to a regular dentist to contact for an unscheduled dental care appointment. This post will identify patients, based on clinical need, to book for the unscheduled dental care appointments in the city and/or provide advice where appropriate and liaise closely with other high street dental practices in the area. If you are a qualified dental nurse wanting to make a change to your career and support this high demand helpline service, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To respond to dental patient calls coming into the Plymouth helpline provided by PCDS in a professional and timely manner.
• To provide evidence based clinical assessment, prioritisation and advice over the telephone (or other communication channels where necessary) working within your GDC scope of practice.
• To identify patients who meet the criteria for an unscheduled dental care appointment and book them appropriately according to priority, whilst considering patient circumstances and preferences where feasible.
• To ensure that patients are given correct information relating to NHS patient charges including exemptions.
• To ensure that patients who do not meet criteria are provided with relevant information regarding self-care and/or finding a regular dentist using the NHS find a dentist website.
• To strive to improve performance and quality as needed, in line with PCDS clinical governance and performance review policies / procedures.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility. Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity. All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

We offer more than just a job; the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day. As one of the largest specialist NHS Dental Providers in the City, we care for patients who may not be able to access Dental treatment elsewhere. This includes children, those with special needs & requiring specialist oral surgery.

Our staff:

• Make a difference - providing care to patients with complex needs & contribute to improving oral health.
• Work in a supportive team - join a friendly, multidisciplinary work force that values teamwork, respect & compassion.
• Grow your career - benefit from ongoing training & development opportunities.
• Be part of innovation - contribute to teaching, service development & continuous improvement.
• Enjoy a healthy work life balance - we offer NHS terms & conditions, flexible working & a role with real purpose in a coastal city with an outstanding quality of life.

We offer:

• Access to the NHS pension (if you have paid into this within the last 12 months) or the Scottish Widows pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Provision of free uniform.
• Start with access to 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays pro rata (which increases after 5 years service).
• Access various provision to support your own wellbeing such as employer assistance programme (EAP) & range of online resources.
• Access to a host of employee benefits, such as a Blue Light Card and salary sacrifice options for home electronics, lease cars & the cycle to work scheme.

Job responsibilities

• To book into an appropriate and timely dental appointment, considering individual patient circumstances where relevant.
• Document accurate and contemporaneous records of the triage process and any advice given.
• Utilise translation services where language barriers are present or other relevant means of communication for non-hearing patients.
• Utilise communication skills to negotiate with and provide support to patients who are non-compliant with the assessment outcome.
• Assess clinical risk on behalf of dental patients as part of an initial telephone-based assessment.
• Undertake an assessment using PCDS triage tools against national unscheduled dental care guidelines together with professional judgement.
• Identify promptly any patients with emergency medical need and advise to contact NHS 111 or visit the Emergency Department as appropriate.
• Process calls whilst providing a professional, courteous and efficient telephone service consistent with professional practice.
• Triage calls based on clinical need effectively, giving appropriate self-care and worsening advice as necessary.
• Use critical thinking and effective communication skills to assess patient need, taking account of relevant cultural, social and economic factors in a respectful and non-judgemental manner.
• Identify and use evidence based to support and underpin clinical decision making.
• For patients not eligible for an unscheduled dental appointment, or where there is no appointment readily available, provide appropriate self-care advice as needed ensuring that patients have a safe and consistent outcome together with information on how to find a regular dentist if necessary.
• Prioritise contacting of patients based on clinical need.
• Booking dental appointments where required.
• Provide reliable clinical advice that is based on current evidence and best practice.
• Conclude the episode to the satisfaction of the patient or their representative.
• May be required to work chair side with a clinician on an ad hoc basis and adhere to all relevant clinical guidelines such as HTM 01-05.
• Accept responsibility and accountability for managing own workload, risk assessment and risk management, whilst also working effectively as a team member.
• Work as a member of the PCDS team to improve performance and quality.
• Participate in PCDS clinical governance and performance review procedures.
• At all times to carry out duties and responsibilities in line with PCDS and Livewell policies such as Confidentiality, Data Protection, Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety.
• This post involves working with children and vulnerable adults and will require an enhanced DBS check.
• Show evidence of effective decision making.
• Manage time and resources effectively and appropriately.
• To ensure that patients are given correct information relating to NHS patient charges including exemptions.
• Will be required to assist with audit and data survey of dental appointments booked via triage process.
• Communicate effectively with patients / their representatives and other agencies as required.
• Develop effective interpersonal relationships with others in the PCDS team.
• Demonstrate effective performance within a team environment.
• Develop own skills or competencies through education, training and development activities relating to current and future demands of the role or when requested to do so.
• Be prepared to work on a flexible basis as required to assist in service delivery.
• Provide a safe and effective triage service.
• Understand and observe professional and national guidelines on confidentiality.
• Use professional knowledge, skills and experience to the maximum benefit of the caller.
• Actively communicate with line manager, wider management team including Clinical Lead, plus other agencies as necessary, to assist service delivery.
• Attend mandatory / other relevant training courses and ensure ongoing awareness of relevant clinical or other service updates.
• Take responsibility and accountability for own professional development and performance, maintaining a portfolio in accordance with GDC registration requirements to demonstrate personal and professional development / achievements.
• Identify personal / professional developmental needs in line with service requirements and agree periodic objectives with line manager.
• Participate in regular performance review of progress / achievements and identify areas of need for professional development to meet service and personal objectives.
• To inform management of any factors affecting service delivery at the time that an issue is highlighted and take any necessary action as a result.
• To undertake any other duties, roles and responsibilities commensurate with the nature and grading of the post or as reasonably requested.

Person Specification

• Good assessment and decision-making skills.
• Patient focussed and enthusiastic.
• Calm and empathetic manner.
• Effective communication skills: verbal, written and non-verbal.
• Able to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Maintain a good working relationship with colleagues.
• Uphold professional standards.
• Able to manage time effectively.
• Able to work under pressure and prioritise workload.
• Kind and compassionate.
• Appreciation of cultural and ethnic diversity.
• Ability to appraise and reflect on own practice.
• Adaptable to change.

Qualifications

• NEBDN qualification / City & Guilds NVQ3 or equivalent in Dental Nursing.
• Current Dental Nurse GDC registration without restrictions.
• Basic Life Support.
• Evidence of CPD and have a current Personal Development Plan.
• Immediate Life Support trained.

Experience

• Experience of working in a primary or secondary care setting.
• Competent in recognising and dealing with urgent dental care needs.
• Computer and IT literate / Good PC skills.
• Evidence of providing NHS urgent care.
• Experience of working in the salaried community dental service.
• Experience of treating children and adults with additional needs.
• Experience of minor oral surgery.
• Previous use of Dentally software.
• Management or leadership experience.

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.