Band 8a - advanced practitioner, ophthalmology

Band 8a - Advanced Practitioner, Ophthalmology

Go back West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The closing date is 21 June 2026

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Advanced Practitioner in Ophthalmology to join our Urgent Eye Service at Watford General Hospital.

This senior role combines advanced autonomous clinical practice with leadership and service development, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient‑centred care.

You will independently assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patients while supporting and developing the wider team and shaping service improvements.

We are looking for an experienced, dynamic clinician with advanced ophthalmic skills, strong leadership capability, and a passion for innovation and quality improvement.

You should be confident working autonomously, committed to delivering excellent patient outcomes, and able to inspire and support others.

In return, you will join a supportive, forward‑thinking Trust with a strong focus on staff wellbeing, professional development, and delivering excellent patient care, together.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in a progressive and patient‑focused ophthalmology service.

Full time 37.5hrs, Monday to Friday. Occasional weekend work may be required to meet the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job

Independently manage patients in emergency eye and nurse‑led clinics, including triage, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge.

Undertake comprehensive ophthalmic assessments using specialist equipment (e.g., slit lamp, diagnostic lenses).

Request and interpret investigations and prescribe medications as a non‑medical prescriber.

Act as an autonomous clinical expert and resource within ophthalmology.

Job responsibilities

Provide leadership, support, and development for nursing and practitioner teams.

Contribute to service improvement, quality assurance, and clinical governance.

Lead on education, training, audit, and implementation of evidence‑based practice.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

• Registered with relevant professional body
• MSc in advanced Practice
• Teaching & Assessing Qualification
• Non - Medical prescriber
• Leadership course ALS.

Knowledge

• Clinical practice and demonstrable knowledge of developments in nursing policy & practice.
• Good understanding of risk and clinical governance.
• The NHS plan and delivering making a difference
• The importance of successful partnership working.
• Lifelong learning, professional education and training.
• Workforce planning, recruitment and retention.
• Ability to operationalise strategies

Experience

• Broad senior clinical and managerial experience relevant to the post.
• Success in working collaboratively.
• Cross professions and services
• Demonstrable success in managing change.
• Experience with the introduction of evidence‑based practice.
• Project management.
• Experience obtained in more than one clinical setting.
• Research experience.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust