Your Work Role

My Work Role at Vine Williamson & Hall Dental Practice
Jessica Bunting

Bi.
My contract of employment firstly states my full name and home address. It covers job location, my normal place of work in the building will be in the dentist surgery. It then goes on to state the date of commencement, this is the date I started working for the company even if in a different role. My contact will also tell me a probationary period; this confirms the length of time I will be on probation. Job title, I am employed as an Apprentice Trainee Dental Nurse. Pay and hours of work are then mentioned, it tells me when my salary will be paid, whether that be daily, weekly or monthly. My basic hours of work are then written clearly, my lunch break and days/ half days off are then written underneath. Overtime, if I have to work or choose to work overtime for a certain reason I can then be granted the equivalent time off at normal pay rates. Holidays, describes my holiday entitlement, when the year date commences and ends, how to book and when it needs to be agreed (6 weeks before). It then goes on to mention sickness, injury and absence, stating who I need to contact (Practice Manager), when I need to contact (no later than 8.30am) and when I hope to return to work. Requests for domestic emergencies and medical treatment are to be made to my practice manager. Health and safety, any accident that occurs in the workplace are to be entered in the accident book held in the reception office. A health and safety policy book can also be found behind reception. If I were to hand my notice my contract tells me how long I am entitled to before termination of employment. Should I have any query, grievance or complain regarding my employment and work place I should raise the matter with my practice manager (Beverly Mitchelson). Finally, if there were any changes to be made within the terms and conditions of my employment I should be informed within one month of the change taken effect by written notification.

Bii.
My pay slip information includes:

- My personal information: Name and address will be shown.
- Company name- Vine, Williamson & Hall is written on the right hand side.
- National insurance number: This is used to make sure all of my contributions are recorded properly.
- Tax code: My tax code tells my employer how much tax-free pay I should get.
- Pay by: Giro
- Date- The date I got paid.
- The tax period- Represents the tax period for that payslip, I am paid monthly so for example April = 01 March = 12.
- Basic pay- Shows the rate I get paid (hourly wage), the units (numbers of hours worked), the amount for this period (monthly wage) and the amount earned overall.
- Deductions- This could be tax or national insurance deductions, or any amount that I could be contributing to a workplace pension
- Net pay- At the bottom of the page in bold print the net pay is shown, this is the total amount, deductions included that I am receiving.

Biii.
I would need to tell my employer if I changed my name or changed my home address. I may also need to tell my employer if I had a long term sickness.

Biv.

Stage 1
Submission of grievance

If I were to raise a grievance at work I should firstly discuss the problem initially and informally with the practice manager (Beverly Mitchelson). She would then attempt to resolve the issue, consulting if necessary the other members of management, but remembering to keep confidentiality if wanted.

If the grievance included the immediate supervisor I should then turn to the next person (senior nurse) or the owners of the practice.

Stage 2

If I’m not satisfied with the reply from the practice manager or my practice manager has not replied within three working days I am entitled to request a meeting with the owners of the practice (Andrew Vive, John Williamson and Damien Hall)

They are then able to carry out a further investigation to establish the facts of my complaint

In the meeting I can be accompanied by a fellow member of staff of my choice or a trade union representative.

Stage 3

I then have the right to appeal if I don’t agree with the outcome of the meeting. I should then formally write to my employer stating that I don’t agree, giving the reasons why and ask if there is anything else you or them are able to do.

Another meeting is then arranged, which I will also be able to have a colleague or trade union representative with me.

The employers will then provide a final outcome of the grievance.

Bv. Explain the agreed ways of working with your employer in relation to the following areas: 1. Data protection
Vine, Williamson and Hall complies with the 1998 Data Protection Act. We need to keep information about our patients so we can provide them with safe and appropriate dental care, and also to provide care under the NHS arrangements. The security of the information we collect is held in the practice’s computer system and in a manual filing system. The information is not accessible to the public and only authorized members of staff are aloud to have access.

2. Grievance
3. Conflict management

4. Anti- discriminatory practice V, W & H family dental practice recognizes that discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability or religion is harmful and in many cases, illegal. Our policy is just the same as a Code of Conduct and it is how everyone in the practice - partners, associates and employees are expected to behave. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies to both men and women, for example; it is illegal to refuse employment to a women because she is with child or bearing age and ‘judged’ likely to have children. A candidate should be treated on merit, despite of their sex. Race Relations Act 1976. As like sex discrimination, race discrimination can be direct or indirect, an example of indirect discrimination could be where an employer requires high language standards from employees. Religious discrimination falls under the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989. This is where a person is treated less favorably because of their religious beliefs, for example, promoting a less able person over a Jewish person using the reason that the Jewish person would not work on Saturdays. As a practice we treat everybody equally whether they are patients, employers or employees.

5. Health and safety
Vine, Williamson and Hall dental practice is committed to giving the highest priority to health, safety and the environment.
While working we are provided with the correct, safe clothing and equipment. Clinical staff are provided special protective footwear that has a non-slip sole. This is to give added slip resistance when floors are wet. All new clinical staff receives training in all aspects of the practice such as COSHH procedures. A COSHH file is kept in the practice with information on all of the products used in the surgeries to enable us to have full knowledge when needed. We are also told about violence and aggression in the workplace. Although there has never been a problem with this issue, reception is fitted with a personal attack button and generally lone working is not permitted. New staff are also trained in the disposal of waste, so everybody working knows the difference between clinical, and non clinical waste. Equipment such as amalgam mixers are tested regularly for mercury contamination and records are made if problems occur before testing. All employers and employees have a responsibility to act in a safe manner. Everyone must have regard to their own safety and the safety of those around them.

6. Confidentiality

7. Whistleblowing

Bvi.

There are many things I do as a dental nurse that contributes to the overall service provided to the patients and families coming to our practice. As soon as they enter the surgery I always make sure I am aware of the treatment they will be receiving, whether that is just an examination or an extraction. I will always make sure the patient and whoever they are accompanied by feel comfortable and safe and ensure they are getting the best possible care and leaving satisfied. I communicate effectively and maintain a high level of cleanliness when they enter the surgery and even in my own personal appearance. And most of all I make sure that everything that happens and is said in the practice is confidential.

Bvii A.

When working in a dentist it is extremely important that you don’t cut corners when doing any of your work, always make sure you’re doing your job to the best standard you can achieve. Cleanliness is key. Making sure everything is kept up to date, for example: sterilizing bags always need to be kept up date, making sure each bag is stamped with a 1 year expiry date, and also making sure any bags out of date are re opened and re sterilized. Collect feedback from you’re patients whether that be verbally in the surgery after treatment or through a forum or questionnaire so you know what the practice, and yourself are good at and what needs improving. Friendliness and helpfulness are big parts in a good dental practice, always making sure the customers feel at ease when entering the building. Getting pleasure out of helping somebody and not regarding you’re role as just a mere job.