Head Dental Nurse

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Portman Dental Care is hiring a Lead Dental Nurse for The Dental Academy in Daresbury, a full‑time 40‑hour role with Monday to Friday hours and two Saturdays per month, salary from £14.50 per hour, free on site parking, and a private practice environment with nurse led clinics and protected admin time. You will lead a nine‑nurse team alongside the Clinical Lead, provide chairside support across implants, oral surgery and restorative dentistry, and ensure governance and compliance with GDC, CQC and HTM 01-05. Requirements include a recognised dental nursing qualification, active GDC registration, prior lead or senior experience, and a caring, collaborative leadership style. Apply with CV and quick answers; tailor your CV to show leadership, governance and patient care impact, and be ready to discuss recruitment, onboarding and staff development. Benefits include CPD costs covered, wellbeing support, a bonus scheme, extra leave, and life assurance.

Job Description

Are you a Lead Dental Nurse or Dental Nurse looking for an exciting new opportunity? 

Are you ready to step into a leadership role in a friendly and modern setting? If so, we’ve got a vacancy at our welcoming practice, The Dental Academy in Daresbury.  

The essentials:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5pm or 9am - 5.30pm. 2 Saturdays per month 8.45am - 1pm
• Time given back in the week for Saturday hours worked.
• Competitive hourly rate from: £14.50 per hour in line with experience 
• Free parking on site
• Fully private practice offering a range of treatments 
• Opportunity to work independently within our nurse-led clinics, and fully within your scope of practice 
• Protected admin time alongside clinical hours

 
Working alongside the Clinical Lead, you’ll lead a team of 9 nurses to deliver the highest standards of patient care in a safe and compliant environment. This role will involve, but not be limited to: 

Clinical Duties

• Provide chairside assistance across a wide range of treatments, including dental implant procedures, oral surgery, and restorative dentistry
• Prepare and maintain clinical areas 
• Ensure all instruments and equipment are properly maintained
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records
• Provide a high level of patient care

Leadership & Management

• Supervise, mentor, and support the dental nursing team including Trainees
• Lead by example to deliver excellent standards of patient care
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of new dental nurses
• Promote a positive, collaborative team culture

Clinical Collaboration

• Work closely with the Practice Clinical Lead to support clinical standards, governance, and service development
• Assist in implementing new clinical protocols and best practices
• Support continuous improvement in patient care and treatment delivery

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with all GDC, CQC, and HTM 01-05 regulations
• Oversee infection prevention and control procedures
• Maintain and monitor stock levels
• Take responsibility for audits, policies, and standard operating procedures

Administrative Duties

• Support the Practice Manager with day-to-day operational tasks
• Maintain accurate documentation for compliance and audit purposes
• Assist in the smooth running of clinics

About you 

We’d love to receive your application to our Lead Dental Nurse vacancy if you have the following skills and experience: 

• A recognised Dental Nursing qualification and active GDC registration 
• Previous experience in a similar lead or senior dental nurse role 
• A caring and empathetic approach, with strong communication and leadership skills 
• A team player who thrives on supporting others and delivering excellent patient care

What do you get in return? 

In addition to a competitive salary, our benefits package also includes: 

• GDC, Indemnity and CPD costs fully covered 
• Clear career pathway and development opportunities: including CPD events, intra-oral scanning training, funded formal qualifications, and support to progress in line with your aspirations 
• Wellbeing Support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and GP service plus an in-house Mental Health First Aider programme 
• Additional Reward: bonus scheme based on practice performance 
• Extra Leave: Birthday off and option to buy 3 more days 
• Family Support: Enhanced maternity/paternity leave 
• Financial Security: Life assurance and pension scheme 

Who are we? 

PortmanDentex is a leading dental group where your skills and ambitions make a real difference. We support over 370 practices across the UK and Ireland. We’re united by a passion for great dentistry, putting patients first and helping each other grow both at work and beyond. 

Application process 

When you click apply, we’ll just need your CV and contact details, plus answers to a few quick questions — and that’s it! You’ll hear back from us as soon as we can, whatever the outcome. 

Ready to join us? Click apply to take the next step in your Dental Nursing career. 

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Additional Information

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplace. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, disability, age, or nationality.