Cork University Dental School & Hospital
Dental Nurse Tutor
Grade:
Dental Nurse Tutor
Reports to:
Deputy Head of School (Head of Academic Affairs) and Director of Nursing
Responsible to:
Director of Nursing and Deputy Head of School (Academic Affairs)
(The post holders report to the Deputy Head of School (Academic Affairs) on all matters relating to
teaching, examining and research and to the Director of Nursing for line management purposes and
such clinical matters as may be appropriate.
Overall Job Purpose
The Dental Nurse Tutors are responsible for the implementation, oversight and administration of the
Dental Nurse academic programme as laid down by University College Cork and the Dental School
and Hospital.
Responsibilities include the management, delivery and quality assurance of National Dental Nurse
Training Programme of Ireland.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
1. Administration
- Course and curriculum organisation, implementation, development and evaluation for
students and others participating in continuing education.
- Organisation of lectures, seminars and tutorials of the course modules
- Organisation of internal examinations
- Module Co-Ordinators for all Dental nursing programme modules
- Develop of full-time and part-time programmes within UCC and within outreach centres.
- Liaise with external examiners as necessary
- Liaise with external bodies as necessary
- Budgetary Management as appropriate
- Participation in appropriate committees
2. Teaching
- Teach all specialities of the dental nurse service and assigned subjects to groups of
students, hospital based and outreach centres
- Contribution to CUDSH CPD programme with a particular emphasis on CPD for dental
nurses
- Utilise a variety of teaching methods to meet the individual learning needs of dental
nurses.
- Evaluate academic progress of students, record findings and devise action plans where
necessary.
- Act as an examiner/assessor for Dental Nurse Examinations
- Promote a research ethos
3. Clinical
- Participate in clinical teaching in the clinical areas to student Dental Nurses and Dental
Nurses in continuing educational programmes
- Participate in audit, developing, implementing and evaluating quality in practice
development policy for Dental Nurses.
- Maintains clinical capability
4.
Professional Development
- Keep up-to-date on developments in the Dental Service and specialities and identify
training and educational needs for Dental Nurses.
- Take responsibility for their own professional development
- Participate in quality programmes, clinical audit and research
- Have a strong commitment to undergraduate and postgraduate Dental Nurse Education
and have an interest in pursuing further studies and research relevant to Dental Nurse
Education.
This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to
review and amendment in light of changing circumstances and may include other duties and
responsibilities as may be determined from time to time by the Deputy Head of School (Academic
Affairs) or the Director of Nursing
Person Specification:
Qualifications
 Applicants will hold the Leaving Cert with a minimum pass in 5 ordinary level subjects,
including English and Mathematics, or equivalent qualification.
 Hold a recognised Dental Nurse Qualification.
 Be registered with the Dental Council or relevant professional organisation
 Hold further Certificate/Higher Diploma/Degree relevant to the post.
Essential criteria
 Experience
 Have a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in dental nursing in a variety of
clinical settings in dentistry.
 Extensive previous dental nurse teaching.
Knowledge
 Knowledge of National Oral Healthcare Strategies and relevant legislation including Health &
Safety, Data protection and F.O.I.
 Knowledge of Dental Nurse Education in the Republic of Ireland.
Professional Knowledge
 In-depth Clinical Theoretical knowledge of Dental practice relating to the development
auxiliary dental professionals
Core Competencies





Demonstrate theoretical and concrete examples of
Leadership skills, Team working, ( multidisciplinary),
Clear and concise oral and written communication skills,
Ability to manage time during duty span and organise workload.
Clinical Teaching.
Special Competencies




Negotiation skills, conflict resolution, change management, decision making
Ability and motivation to work on his/her own initiative
Ability to motivate others
Must be expert in office applications. The University normally uses the Microsoft Office
Suite including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint Outlook (diary and e-mail).
Other requirements of the post
 Evidence of personal and professional development commitment
 Flexibility to respond to service needs and demands.
 Commitment to the delivery of high quality work
 Confident and friendly manner with patients, staff and co- workers
 Awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all Hospital activities
Desirable criteria
 Hold Adult Education Teachers Certificate and/or Teaching and Assessing Certificate/Clinical
Teachers Certificate
 Management Qualifications
 Awareness of local initiatives and service development for dental service
 Awareness of the role of research and audit in auxiliary dental professional practice
 Innovativeness
 Awareness of concepts of service planning.
It is a requirement of this post that duties be carried out without exposure of colleagues and
patients to the risk of contracting Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. The successful applicant will be
required to provide satisfactory evidence that he/she does not pose a risk to others in this regard.
The successful applicant will also be required to provide satisfactory evidence that he/she has no
criminal record that would preclude them working with children.
Each candidate must complete an application form for the post. Please indicate clearly on the
application form, the post for which you have applied.
Application forms and Candidate Information Pack is available by contacting Carol Horan
c.horan@ucc.ie or Claire O’Keeffe c.okeeffe@ucc.ie
Closing date: before 5pm on Friday 11th September, 2015.
Decisions made at short listing, presentation and interview will be based on the following criteria:
Person Specification
DENTAL NURSE TUTOR - CLINICAL
Factors
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
The Leaving Cert with a minimum pass in 5
ordinary level subjects, including English and
Mathematics, or equivalent qualification.
Adult Education Teachers
Certificate and/or Teaching
and Assessing
Certificate/Clinical Teachers
Certificate
A recognised Dental Nurse Qualification
Current registration with the Dental Council
or relevant professional organisation
A further Certificate/Higher Diploma/Degree
relevant to the post.
Experience
(Length & Type)
Have a minimum of 5 years post
qualification experience in dental nursing in
a variety of clinical settings in dentistry.
Management Qualifications
Previous experience in
teaching a Dental Nurse
Training programmes
Extensive previous teaching.
Organisational
Knowledge
Awareness of the primacy of the patient in
relation to all Hospital activities
Overall knowledge of the structure of the
University and the Dental School.
Professional
Knowledge
Knowledge of Dental Nurse Education in the
Republic of Ireland.
Knowledge of the public
health service.
Knowledge of National Oral Healthcare
Strategies and relevant legislation including
Health & Safety, Data protection and F.O.I.
Awareness of the role of
research and audit in auxiliary
dental practice
In-depth Clinical Theoretical knowledge of
dental practice relating to the development
of auxiliary dental professionals
Core
competencies
Awareness of local initiatives
and service development for
dental service
Demonstrate theoretical and concrete
examples of
Leadership skills, Team working,
(multidisciplinary),
Clear and concise oral and written
communication skills,
Ability to manage time during duty span and
organise workload.
Clinical Teaching.
Must be expert in office applications. The
University normally uses the Microsoft
Office Suite including Word, Excel, Access,
PowerPoint Outlook (diary and e-mail).
Special aptitudes
Negotiation skills, conflict resolution, change
management, decision making
Ability and motivation to work on his/her
own initiative
Ability to motivate self and others
Other
requirements of
the post
Evidence of personal and professional
development commitment
Flexibility to respond to service needs and
demands.
Commitment to the delivery of high quality
work
Confident and friendly manner with
patients, staff and co- workers
Awareness of the primacy of the patient in
relation to all Hospital activities
Corporate responsibility
Confidentiality
Circumstances
Free from any defect or disease which would
render the candidate unsuitable to hold
office
Be flexible and co-operative
and professional with the
needs of the post and the
Department, School and
University.