Dental Nurse Apprentice

Working towards an advanced apprenticeship in dental nursing for a dental practitioner, the ideal candidate must have an interest in a career in dental nursing.

The role includes:

• Working alongside the dentist, taking instruction from them and responding in an appropriate manner
• Maintaining good infection control procedures and adhering to policies and protocols
• Ensuring cleanliness of surgery, equipment and instruments used and carrying out general housekeeping duties
• Dictate information from the dentist and recording patient information correctly
• Arrange appointments, answering calls and inputting data on the computer
• Assist with administration tasks and ensure records are kept up to date and to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Good communication skills and customer service awareness is needed to maintain a high level of service within the dental practice
• Dental nurses interact daily with patients and therefore you must be able to make patients feel welcome and offer reassurance to anxious patients endeavouring to make their experience as comfortable as possible

• Must demonstrate good communication and organisational skills

• Excellent timekeeping and attendance
• Hardworking and able to work quickly and efficiently whilst maintaining a professional manner at all times
• Work to a high level of accuracy and show attention to detail
• Trustworthy
• Friendly manner and be able to reassure others with a professional manner
• Maintain a positive attitude

• GCSE Grade A-C/9-4 in maths and English or equivalent qualifications (e.g. Functional Skills)

Once qualified, you can register as a Dental Nurse with the General Dental Council.

Progression routes are available and you can study further in dental related qualifications at Level 4: Radiography, Oral Health, Education and Sedation.

• Require Hep B inoculation
• Require DBS
• Very busy and fast pace
• Being exposed to bodily fluids and blood, saliva and vomit

Level 3 Dental Nurse apprenticeship standard, which includes:

• Level 2 functional skills in maths and English (if required)
• End-Point Assessment (EPA)

There will be 6-10 sessions that will require college attendance at our Walsall Campus during the training period.

Full-time apprentices will typically spend 15 months on-programme (before the gateway) working towards the occupational standard, with a minimum of 20% off the-job training. As this vacancy is not a full-time apprenticeship the duration has been extended.

The purpose of the End-Point Assessment (EPA) is to test that an apprentice is fully capable of doing their job before they receive their apprenticeship certificate. It also helps to demonstrate that what an apprentice has learned can be applied in the real world.

The focus is now on the outcome of an apprenticeship and apprentices have to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours that employers have identified they need.