Sophie’s Journey from Dental Nurse to Clinic Manager | Envisage Dental
Sophie’s journey from cabin crew to Clinic Manager
Sophie Bassett wasn’t looking for a career in dentistry. In fact, she was helping her sister look for a job when she spotted a trainee dental nurse vacancy.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, you should apply for that, that sounds quite interesting.’ And she was like, ‘No, I couldn’t think of anything worse.’ And I thought, why don’t I just apply for it?”
At the time, Sophie was cabin crew for British Airways. After being unable to fly for several months and being told the problem could recur, she started thinking differently about what might come next.
She applied for the trainee dental nurse position, interviewed two days later and was offered the role the same day.
“I handed my notice in at British Airways and there we are. I literally just fell into it, almost.”
That was 2019.
Sophie qualified as a dental nurse in 2021. Today, she is Clinic Manager at Envisage Dental Whiteley.
Discovering there was more
The turning point came when Sophie found herself taking responsibility for a significant compliance project early in her dental career.
“I quite like a challenge. I thought, yeah, I’ll do it. And I worked really hard to get everything to where it was meant to be.”
The experience changed how she thought about her career.
“That’s where I realised actually there’s a lot more that I can do within dentistry. It doesn’t just have to stop at me being a nurse. There are a lot of paths I can go down.”
Not long after joining Envisage as a nurse, Sophie was approached about an opportunity elsewhere.
She declined it – but the conversation made her realise something.
“I was hungry for more.”
Rather than quietly waiting for an opportunity, Sophie told her Director of Clinic Support that she wanted to understand more about becoming a Clinic Manager and that she wanted to progress within Envisage.
Six months later, when the manager at her own practice retired, that conversation turned into an opportunity.
Becoming a leader
How did her first day as a Clinic Manager feel?
“Out of my depth, big time.”
Despite having spent time shadowing the previous manager, suddenly being responsible for the clinic felt very different.
“Part of me was like, what have I done? I was very overwhelmed. I’m one of those people where I can’t settle unless everything’s sorted and everything’s right.
“I had to realise you’re not going to sort all this in a day. You’re not going to settle in a day. It’s going to be a process. And I just had to trust myself that I could do it.”
Over time, Sophie built her confidence and completed an ILM Level 4 qualification, strengthening her knowledge in areas including budgeting and P&Ls.
But one of the hardest leadership lessons was much simpler.
Delegating.
“I am the world’s worst for thinking I can do everything myself. I used to feel like I don’t want to inconvenience people by asking them to do this. Whereas now I realise that’s not the case.”
Looking back at the leader she has become is one of the things she enjoys most.
“When I look back to when I first started as PM to now, I’m like, wow. I wish me back then could see me now. Because it all worked out.”
Different experience. Shared expertise.
Sophie believes her clinical background gives her a valuable perspective as a Clinic Manager.
“Compliance is drilled into your brain from day one of training to be a dental nurse. Having done a lot of compliance from a nurse’s point of view, it helps you as a manager understand what the nurses need, and the clinicians, and the whole clinical team, to make their days run smoother.”
But she is equally clear about what she learns from Clinic Managers whose careers began elsewhere.
“Some of the practice managers in my business unit who don’t have the clinical knowledge, their ops knowledge is insane. I go to them with so many things. Can you help me with this? Can you tell me about this?”
For Sophie, that's one of the advantages of being part of a wider group.
“Someone’s always got the answer.”
And that's something she didn't necessarily expect.
“I was so sceptical moving to a dental group. You hear a lot of bad things about corporates. But it’s the best thing I ever did for my personal and professional development.”
What comes next?
Interestingly, Sophie’s next ambition isn't simply another qualification or job title.
She wants to help other new Clinic Managers.
“If you’d asked me a few years ago when I first started as PM, I’d have said something compliance related. But I’ve changed my mind on that.
“Now, the journey I’ve been through, I’d just love to do something that supports new practice managers.”
Why?
“I would love to be the person I didn’t have when I went into that role.”
And her message to dental nurses wondering where their own careers could go?
“This is honestly only the beginning, and you’ve literally just scratched the surface of what is out there. Getting your dental nursing qualification is massively opening the door to so many opportunities.”
Could your next chapter be with Envisage?
We’re currently looking for exceptional people to join practices across Envisage, including a number of Clinic Manager opportunities.
If you’re ready to lead a brilliant team, develop your career and become part of a wider community of people with expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Sophie Bassett is Clinic Manager at Envisage Dental Whiteley. She qualified as a dental nurse in 2021 and remains GDC registered.