Job overview
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Job Summary
The expectations within this job description will be met through hands on clinical practice, leadership, education and audit.
The post holder will deliver direct patient care within specific guidelines
The post holder will be a professional figure able to provide assistance, advice and support for patients and their families as well as staff in medical retinal subspecialty
The post holder will support the progression of ophthalmic nursing by assisting the senior ophthalmic staff to develop & educate staff and audit practice for current and new nursing roles within the ophthalmic setting within the organisation and the wider healthcare community.
Main duties of the job
The post of a qualified nurse is characterised by five principal role functions:
-Advanced Clinical Practice
-Professional leadership
-Education training and development
-Audit of care
Working for our organisation
St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1.0Expert Clinical Practice
1.1Deliver direct patient care within the intravitreal injection service using aseptic surgical techniques to perform intravitreal (within the cavity of the eye) injections for retina treatments utilising specialist skills to reduce risk of intraocular infections.
1.2Support, educate and counsel patients, families &/or carers in all aspects of vision and vision loss linked to activities of daily living.
1.3Provide immediate care for those with irreversible sight loss and signpost these patients to appropriate on-going support services such as low vision services both within the hospital and the community.
1.4Coordinate with others delivering intravitreal injections for planned absence within the injection service to provide a streamlined experience for patients
1.5Maintain professional expertise through regular independent clinical practice.
1.6Assist in developing new ways of working with the multidisciplinary team to enhance the patient journey supporting future developments of the service.
1.7Promote a professional image at all times and be accountable for own clinical practice and development.
1.8Support and educate patients, families &/or carers in complying with treatment regimes for their ophthalmic condition if appropriate, using every opportunity to advocate health promotion to ensure that the patient is treated from a holistic perspective.
1.9Provide specific patient education to ensure realistic patient expectations are achieved.
1.10Ensure confidentiality of all patient and staff information at all times.
1.11Ensure that all clinical and legal nursing documents are completed accurately and legibly through regular audit.
2.0 Leadership
2.1Contribute to debates internally with the multi professional team about the development of services within the medical retinal service
2.2Support other members of the nursing team to develop new skills, always acting as a professional role model.
2.3Act as a source of advice on ophthalmic nursing issues utilising problem solving skills and experience at any time.
2.4Take an active role alongside the advanced nurse specialist in developing low vision awareness across the organisation to ensure patients with ophthalmic problems receive appropriate standards of care
3.0Education and Training
3.1Maintain own professional and personal competence & development as agreed in PDR, including mandatory training requirements and maintenance of professional records of developments in order to meet appraisal and revalidation requirements.
3.2Use a reflective approach to own development and learning needs to support personal competence.
3.3Flexible and adaptable approach to own professional development proactively seeking opportunities to enhance personal nursing and academic skill base.
3.4Act as a mentor and assessor for staff in all areas of development as required.
3.5Provide informal and formal training opportunities for junior staff to improve standards of ophthalmic nursing care.
3.6Assist in delivery of in house ophthalmic nurse training to support professional and personal development.
3.7Participate in student nurse education and assessment as required
4.0Evaluation of Care and Research
4.1Promote evidence-based practice, taking every opportunity to use current research to enhance nursing practice.
4.2Participate in clinical audit and evaluate nursing practice across the service area.
4.3Work and adhere to the needs of the service continuously striving to improve the quality of service provision.
5.0Human Resources
5.1Be aware of and adhere to all of the relevant Trust Policies and Guidelines e.g. sickness reporting, absence management and the uniform policy.
5.2Be aware of issues relating to Data Protection, Human Rights and Clinical Governance, Health & Safety and welfare of patients & colleagues.
6.0Specific skills, knowledge and expertise for ophthalmology.
6.1Basic ophthalmic nursing skills such as visual acuity including distant (all types), near vision testing and relative afferent papillary defect procedure (RAPD) including A&P.
6.2Basic ophthalmic nursing procedures such as ocular hygiene, lid hygiene & postoperative first dressings.
6.3Patient education specific to area of practice
6.4Assessment of ophthalmic patients within area of expertise.
6.5Autorefraction, Focimetry, Biometry and Keratometry and other diagnostic investigative procedures.
6.6Use of slit lamp, anterior & posterior segment examination using the appropriate examination lens and applanation tonometry.
6.7Venepuncture, intravenous cannulation and intermediate life support.
6.8Knowledge and competence necessary for independent practice in defined areas of ophthalmic specialty as service needs require including teaching & assessing others in retinal services.
6.9Knowledge and competence in use of patient group directives and independent non medical prescribing.
Person specification
desirable criteria
Essential criteria
1. nurse injector
2. 3 years ophthalmic experience
3. slit lamp examination experience
essential
Essential criteria
4. injector training/ injector experience
Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E:
Your application
Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.
Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.
References
Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.
Closing date
To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.
Application feedback
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.
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.
Application numbers
This vacancy may have an application cap, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Ensure your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the job specifications.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
NameRamona LichiJob titleSenior SisterEmail addressTelephone number07917 576288Additional information
Band 6 Registered Nurse working 30 hours per week as nurse injector to support the Treat and Extend service implementation