Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse to join our friendly three-surgery practice in East Grinstead on a part-time basis, working 20 hours per week including Saturdays.

This is an excellent opportunity for a GDC-registered Dental Nurse with sedation experience who is ready to take on additional responsibility within a supportive and close-knit team. You will provide hands-on chairside support, assist with sedation procedures and help maintain high standards of patient care, clinical compliance and infection control.

As Lead Nurse, you'll also support and guide the wider nursing team, promote best practice and contribute to the smooth running of the practice. Based in a converted house with all surgeries conveniently located on the ground floor, Oakmead offers a welcoming and supportive environment where you can develop your leadership skills while continuing to provide excellent patient care.

Main duties of the job

As Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse, you will provide high-quality chairside support to clinicians across a range of treatments, with a particular focus on sedation procedures. You will play a key role in ensuring patients receive safe, compassionate and reassuring care throughout their treatment journey.

You will prepare surgeries and clinical equipment, provide effective chairside assistance, support sedation procedures and maintain accurate clinical records. You will also be responsible for maintaining high standards of decontamination, infection prevention and control, ensuring all relevant practice policies and procedures are followed.

As Lead Nurse, you will provide support and guidance to the wider nursing team, helping colleagues maintain excellent clinical standards and promoting a positive culture of teamwork and continuous improvement. You will work closely with clinicians and the practice team to ensure the clinical environment is organised, efficient and well supported.

You will contribute to maintaining compliance with relevant regulations, health and safety requirements and practice standards, while supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the practice. You will also act as a positive role model within the team, using your experience to share knowledge, encourage best practice and support the ongoing development of colleagues.

Above all, you will be committed to delivering an exceptional patient experience, ensuring patients feel comfortable, informed and well cared for throughout their visit.

About us

Here at Envisage Dental, we celebrate collaboration and transparency. We are proud to be an inclusive equal opportunity workplace. We have created a workforce that is reflective of our diverse patient and practice communities, that promotes positivity, and we believe this is critical to our success.

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

As part of our commitment to closing the Gender Pay Gap and ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates, we do not request or consider salary history at any stage of our recruitment process. Our compensation decisions are based on the requirements of the role, relevant skills and experience, and our commitment to fair and equitable pay.

Job responsibilities

Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse

Oakmead Dental Practice | East Grinstead, West Sussex | Permanent | Part-Time – 20 Hours per Week

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse to join our friendly team at Oakmead Dental Practice in East Grinstead.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Dental Nurse with sedation experience who is ready to take the next step in their career. You'll combine hands-on clinical nursing with a senior role, supporting the wider nursing team and helping to maintain excellent standards of patient care and clinical practice.

Working closely with our clinicians and nursing team, you'll provide high-quality chairside support, assist with sedation procedures and help ensure the smooth and efficient running of the clinical environment.

Working pattern: 20 hours per week, including Saturdays. Saturday working is essential for this role.

About Oakmead Dental Practice

Oakmead is a welcoming three-surgery dental practice based in a small town in West Sussex, conveniently located close to the local train station, making us easily accessible by public transport.

Our practice is a converted house, with all three surgeries located on the ground floor, creating a comfortable and accessible environment for both our patients and colleagues.

We pride ourselves on creating a friendly and supportive atmosphere where patients and colleagues feel valued. Our team works collaboratively to provide high-quality patient care, while supporting each other to develop and maintain high clinical standards.

About the Role

As Lead Dental Nurse / Sedation Nurse, you'll provide high-quality chairside support across a range of treatments, with a particular focus on sedation nursing. You'll play an important role in supporting clinicians and ensuring patients receive safe, reassuring and compassionate care throughout their treatment.

As part of your Lead Nurse responsibilities, you'll support and guide the nursing team, promote best practice and help maintain consistently high clinical standards across the practice. You'll contribute to the smooth running of the surgery environment and work closely with colleagues to ensure the team is organised, supported and working effectively.

Your responsibilities will include preparing surgeries and equipment, providing chairside assistance, supporting sedation procedures, maintaining accurate clinical records and ensuring high standards of decontamination and infection prevention and control.

You'll also help ensure the practice remains compliant with relevant policies, procedures and regulatory requirements, while contributing to a positive culture of teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.

About You

We're looking for someone who is:

• GDC Registered as a Dental Nurse.
• Experienced in dental nursing with previous sedation experience.
• Confident providing chairside support and working alongside a range of clinicians.
• Organised, proactive and able to work independently.
• A supportive team player who enjoys helping and developing colleagues.
• Professional, approachable and passionate about patient care.
• Committed to maintaining high clinical, compliance and infection control standards.
• Confident communicating with both patients and colleagues.
• Able to commit to working Saturdays as part of their regular working pattern.

Previous experience in a Lead Dental Nurse or senior nursing position would be advantageous, although we would also welcome applications from experienced Dental Nurses who are ready to take the next step in their career.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.
• Supportive, friendly and collaborative team environment.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Modern practice with high-quality equipment and facilities.
• Employee referral scheme.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Paid birthday leave.
• Uniform provided.

Why Join Us?

This is a great opportunity to join a practice where you can make a real difference. As Lead Nurse, you'll have the opportunity to use your clinical experience while taking on additional responsibility for supporting the nursing team and maintaining high standards across the practice.

You'll be joining a close-knit team within a welcoming three-surgery practice, where collaboration, patient care and professional development are valued.

If you're an experienced Dental Nurse with sedation experience looking for a part-time role where you can develop your leadership skills within a friendly and supportive environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to join the team at Oakmead Dental Practice.

Here at Envisage Dental, we celebrate collaboration and transparency. We are proud to be an inclusive equal opportunity workplace. We have created a workforce that is reflective of our diverse patient and practice communities, that promotes positivity, and we believe this is critical to our success.

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.

As part of our commitment to closing the Gender Pay Gap and ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates, we do not request or consider salary history at any stage of our recruitment process. Our compensation decisions are based on the requirements of the role, relevant skills and experience, and our commitment to fair and equitable pay.

ENVDN1

Person specification

The successful candidate will be organised, proactive and able to manage priorities effectively.

Essential

• GDC Registered Dental Nurse with previous experience working in a dental practice and confidence in sedation nursing. Strong clinical and chairside support skills, with a good understanding of infection prevention, decontamination, patient safety and clinical compliance. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional, approachable and patient-focused manner.
• The successful candidate will be organised, proactive and able to manage priorities effectively, while being confident working independently and as part of a wider team. They will be able to support and guide colleagues, promote high clinical standards and act as a positive role model within the nursing team.
• A genuine commitment to providing excellent patient care is essential, along with a calm and reassuring approach when supporting patients, particularly those undergoing sedation. The candidate must be reliable, flexible and able to commit to working Saturdays as part of the agreed 20-hour working week.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a Lead Dental Nurse or senior nursing position, with experience supporting, mentoring or developing other members of the dental nursing team. Experience working within a private dental practice and a strong understanding of CQC requirements, dental compliance and clinical governance would be advantageous.
• Additional qualifications or training in sedation nursing, radiography or other relevant clinical areas would be beneficial. Experience working with a range of clinicians and supporting different treatment modalities would also be desirable.
• A proactive approach to continuous professional development, with a genuine interest in developing both personal clinical skills and the wider team's knowledge and capabilities, would be an advantage.