Senior Staff Nurse - Ophthalmology

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

flexible-working

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated Senior Ophthalmic Nurses to deliver high standards of care and experience for patients attending a busy Ophthalmic Outpatient Service based at South Sites: Orpington Hospital Eye Clinic (BR6 9JU) and Queen Mary's Hospital Eye Department (DA14 6LT). This is a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Staff Nurse with extensive ophthalmic experience to join a multi-disciplinary team assessing and caring for ophthalmic outpatients.

The successful candidate will be required to be flexible, enthusiastic, and committed to bringing the highest level of nursing care to patients in line with the Quality Agenda of the NHS and the King's strategy. You should be able to demonstrate good planning, organization, managerial and leadership skills and deliver enhance clinical practice such as intravitreal injections

The post holder will be required to work flexibly within 7-day service delivery including weekends.

Main duties of the job
• To provide expert, holistic care of a high standard to both the patients and their relatives within the King's College Hospital.
• To take direct managerial responsibility for the clinical area in the absence of or as delegated by the Ward Sister/ Charge Nurse/ Head of Department.
• To assist in the leadership and development of an identified group of nurses within the ward complement.
• To act as a clinical resource within the ward and across the Care Group as necessary.
• To act as a positive role model to junior staff members. Particular emphasis is put at Kings on the need to ensure that all staff recognise their responsibility to deliver services in a high quality, courteous, patient focused manner and to maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Applying specialist ophthalmic knowledge, clinical experience, and extended practice skills to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care to a defined cohort, including patients receiving intravitreal injections.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct at all times.
• Demonstrate clinical expertise in caring for patients receiving treatment within the department.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient needs, coordinating care across the multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Accurately interpret clinical information, promptly report changes in patient condition, and initiate appropriate remedial actions.
• Serve as a resource to the multidisciplinary team, patients, and relatives by providing accurate information, advice, and support.
• Maintain accurate records reflecting patient condition changes and treatments delivered.
• Ensure patients and relatives are regularly updated with clear, understandable information.
• Implement Clinical Guidelines and actively participate in auditing practices with the Line Manager and practice development staff.
• Promote evidence-based practice and assist, where appropriate, in developing policies and protocols.
• Uphold high standards of nursing care according to existing policies and standards.
• Support continuous quality improvement initiatives led by the Nurse Manager and Matron, evaluating and enhancing care standards.
• Contribute to patient and family health education, providing advice and support for healthy lifestyles.
• Actively support the Trust's nursing strategy and uphold the local philosophy and ethos.

Education and Research

• Mentor junior staff, overseeing their orientation, supervision, and ongoing development alongside Line Manager and Practice Development staff.
• Act as a practice supervisor by completing competency documentation for junior staff within agreed timelines.
• Mentor students undertaking further education, ensuring a positive learning environment and clinical skills development.
• Contribute to the delivery and participation of educational activities within the Care Group.
• Promote and encourage the application of research and evidence-based practices.
• Participate in research projects conducted within the clinical area as appropriate.

Management

• Manage clinical workload effectively, prioritizing patient care appropriately.
• Contribute to the delivery of a cost-effective service, adjusting staffing to meet demand and assisting in resource management.
• Assist with ongoing departmental organization and coordination of clinical activities.
• Liaise with medical personnel and Bed Manager to optimize bed usage, facilitating timely admissions and discharges.
• Act as a team leader for a designated staff group, monitoring and documenting their clinical skill development.
• Develop skills in recruitment, retention, sickness, and performance management as guided by the Line Manager.
• Support risk management by ensuring incidents are reported and helping to identify ways to prevent errors and accidents.
• Contribute to service development initiatives and support staff adaptation to change.
• Promote customer care, assist in resolving informal complaints, and support investigations of formal complaints.
• Monitor clinical stores and equipment stock levels, addressing any shortages appropriately.
• Maintain hygiene and cleanliness standards within the clinical area, reporting issues to the Modern Matron as necessary.
• Communicate complex information clearly, both verbally and in writing, ensuring key facts are understood.
• Resolve local conflicts, keeping managers informed and maintaining positive team dynamics.
• Lead in crisis situations, resolving problems within the Care Group as needed.
• Maintain confidentiality of personal staff information.
• Attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings.

Personal Professional Development

• Maintain agreed levels of clinical competence and accept responsibility for personal professional growth.
• Keep up to date with NMC, Trust, and Care Group policies and guidelines, adhering to all.
• Be an active, committed member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Reflect on personal professional development, identifying educational and training needs with the Ward Manager.
• Participate in Individual Performance Reviews and, when trained, undertake reviews for junior staff.
• Ensure mandatory training and PREP requirements are current in coordination with the Line Manager.

People Management and Performance

• Lead, coach, and manage team performance, recognizing excellence and addressing underperformance effectively.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals and ensure team members have clear objectives and development plans.
• Ensure team compliance with statutory, mandatory, and professional training requirements.
• Manage team absences, including sickness, according to Trust policy, and facilitate appropriate return-to-work meetings.
• Identify and fill team vacancies following Trust recruitment policies.
• Support talent management processes to attract, retain, and succession plan for staff.
• Review skills mix regularly to maximize resource utilization and ensure job descriptions are updated.
• Promote overall team wellbeing and morale, fostering a culture of zero tolerance for bullying and harassment.

General

• Uphold a duty of care for personal health, safety, wellbeing, and that of colleagues, visitors, and patients.
• Observe all King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust policies, statutory, and professional obligations.
• Commit to delivering the highest quality care and ensure all contributions are valued.
• Embrace and promote the Trust's core values:
• Kindness: Show compassion and a positive attitude.
• Respect: Promote equality, inclusivity, and honesty.
• Teamwork: Support open communication and professionalism.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of patient and staff personal information.
• Take responsibility for personal development and support colleagues' development.
• Recognize this job description as a guide; duties may evolve and will be reviewed in consultation with the post holder.
• Maintain an active NHS.net email account for formal Trust communications.
• Promote inclusion at all levels, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and welcomed.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

• 1st level Registered General Nurse
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area (Ophthalmology)
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification

Desirable criteria

• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to Ophthalmology.
• Able to contribute to the development of students, ophthalmic technician, nurses and oneself

Skills

Essential criteria

• Communication skills - able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and can work with and through others.
• Team building and working skills - able to lead a team to achieve results.
• Problem solving skills - able to respond to unexpected issues and provide first line response and to identify appropriate sources of secondary support

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Click here to see the range of benefits we offer
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Band 6 Senior Staff Nurse - Ophthalmology (PDF, 592.3KB)
• Princess Royal (PRUH) Site map (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Visa and Sponsorship Information (PDF, 344.6KB)