I started my career with Smile Together as a peripatetic dental nurse based in Truro, travelling between all our clinics. From the beginning, I was keen to learn and take on new challenges. I progressed to become a special care nurse, a role I had already been doing a bit of and was really interested in. During this time, I completed my GA training, radiography qualifications, oral health education certification, and even a special care qualification, all funded by Smile Together.
Last year, Smile Together advertised senior dental nurse roles internally, and I was successful for the Truro post. Now, I’ve just started my new role as Patient Flow Manager, which really ties together everything I’ve learned over the years. I manage our referral services and waitlists, manage the call handling team, and ensure the patient journey runs as smoothly as possible.
I’ve always loved making a difference in the community and I led the first iteration of our Smiles at Sea initiative, treating fishermen who rarely get to see a dentist due to the demands of their work at the harbourside. This campaign earned me the Dental Nurse of the Year award in 2021, which was a real highlight.
Even now, although I moved into management role, I still pick up out-of-hours nursing shifts and support the GA team at the hospital. That patient interaction is really important to me – at the end of the day, everything we do is centered around our patients.
I’ve been fortunate to have so much support for training and development. Smile Together has funded my professional qualifications, my aspiring manager course, and ongoing leadership training to support my new role. I really believe in taking opportunities as they come, and that’s what I’ve done – throwing myself into every challenge.
As Patient Flow Manager, I get to look after my own team and ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s rewarding to work towards a shared goal – providing the best care for our patients. I’ve also represented colleagues as an elected member of the Shareholder Impact Board (SIB), which was such a powerful experience. You really see the impact of having a voice in shaping the company, from implementing the dental nurse pay system to attending employee ownership conferences and national dental shows showcasing our careers.
If you’re thinking of joining Smile Together, I’d say: Expect the unexpected – you never know what’s going to happen, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. We’re changing people’s lives every day, especially here in Cornwall where access to dentistry can be limited. Smile Together has supported me from day one, and if you’re ambitious, willing to learn, and care about making a difference, you’ll thrive here.
I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had – from learning new skills to taking on leadership roles. Smile Together has really developed my career, and I love seeing the difference we make for patients every day.
