Ophthalmic Specialist Nurse in Sutton in Ashfield

The Ophthalmic Nurse Specialist is a senior clinical practitioner within the Ophthalmology Department at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, delivering high-quality, patient-centred ophthalmic care across a range of settings. Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder provides expert assessment, treatment and ongoing management of patients with ophthalmic conditions. Reporting to the Elective Care Matron and supported by the Head of Nursing and Ophthalmology Consultants, the role includes leading nurse-led clinics such as intravitreal injection, triage and emergency clinics. The post holder independently manages a caseload, prioritises urgent cases, identifies abnormalities, prescribes within scope of practice, and escalates care appropriately. The role involves providing clinical leadership, acting as a role model, and supporting staff through education, training and supervision. The post holder contributes to service development, audit, research, policy implementation and quality improvement in line with national guidance, professional standards and Trust policies. A strong focus is placed on patient safety, education and experience, ensuring care is equitable, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of patients, carers and staff, while supporting continuous improvement and effective clinical governance within the Ophthalmology service.

Responsibilities:

• Lead nurse-led clinics including intravitreal injection, triage and emergency clinics.
• Independently manage a caseload, prioritise urgent cases, identify abnormalities, prescribe within scope of practice, and escalate care appropriately.
• Provide clinical leadership, act as a role model, and support staff through education, training and supervision.
• Contribute to service development, audits, research, policy implementation and quality improvement in line with national guidance, professional standards and Trust policies.
• Support patient safety, education and experience, ensuring care is equitable, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of patients, carers and staff.
• Support continuous improvement and effective clinical governance within the Ophthalmology service.

We are an award-winning NHS Foundation Trust working alongside health and social care colleagues across the county to provide acute and community healthcare services to more than 420,000 people across Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, and parts of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. We put the patient at the heart of everything that we do and it is our aim to make sure that every patient is treated as we would want a member of our own family to be treated. At the same time, we expect our staff to be caring, kind and courteous to each other and to look out for each other. We believe that we are truly a clinically-led organisation. We are proud that our Trust colleagues have voted us the best acute Trust to work for in the East Midlands for seven years running in the National NHS Staff Survey, while the Care Quality Commission has rated our Trust as outstanding for care and our Kings Mill Hospital as the only outstanding NHS-run hospital in the East Midlands.