Job overview
Are you an experienced and dynamic Registered Nurse with a passion for ophthalmic care, enhance practice and service development? We are seeking a proactive and clinically skilled Nurse Team Manager to lead and support our nursing team at Orpington Hospital Eye Clinic, with dedicated time allocated to deliver clinical sessions.
In this hybrid leadership and advanced practice role, you will combine expert clinical care with oversight of service delivery, workforce development, and patient-centred innovation. You will lead by example, support junior staff, and actively contribute to MDT planning and service improvement initiatives.
We are looking for a professional who thrives in both autonomous and team-based settings, and who is ready to make a measurable impact on patient outcomes and nursing practice.
Main duties of the job
* The post holder will provide effective team leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality care, with responsibility for managing team operations, workforce skill mix, and ongoing professional development.
* They will lead site-based service improvements and trust-wide transformation initiatives, while maintaining robust clinical governance through audits, quality reviews, and risk assessments.
* The role requires close collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to support integrated care, as well as active contribution to service capacity and patient flow across high-demand areas.
* The post holder will also work as an autonomous practitioner, delivering enhanced specialist clinical practice in line with service needs.
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
Professional and Clinical Responsibilities
Must be a Registered Nurse (RN1) and adhere to the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses, Midwives, and
Be accountable for own clinical practice.
Actively seek opportunities to maintain and enhance knowledge and professional competence.
Act in accordance with the NMC Code and Scope of Professional Practice, maintaining accountability at all times.
Apply clinical knowledge and expertise to make informed, evidence-based decisions as an autonomous practitioner.
Request and interpret investigations to support clinical diagnosis where appropriate.
Participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and case discussions to enhance clinical knowledge and service delivery.
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate specialised care programmes for patients, families, and carers.
Promote patient choice and involvement in care decisions, taking appropriate action to support shared decision-making.
Maintain accurate, comprehensive clinical records in accordance with NMC, Trust, and medico-legal standards and ensure these standards are upheld within the nursing team.
Act as a patient advocate, upholding principles of confidentiality, privacy, and respect for cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Serve as a credible, approachable role model for junior staff and students, offering clinical guidance and support as needed.
Provide current, evidence-based clinical advice to patients and healthcare professionals across organisational boundaries.
Ensure patients and families receive appropriate verbal and written information regarding care plans and treatment.
Promote the effective and efficient use of healthcare resources.
Competently operate specialised equipment relevant to the role, including:
§ Slit lamp
§ Humphrey Visual Field (HVF) Analyser
§ Biometry devices
§ Icare tonometer
§ Optos imaging systems
§ Optos OCT scans
Deliver enhanced services including:
§ Intravitreal injections (R&I and injection-only model clinics)
§ Medical Retina face-to-face consultations
§ Medical Retina virtual review sessions
Leadership
· To work within relevant trust policy in order to determine and maintain acceptable standards of conduct and performance.
· Participate in local and national forums to promote best practice and raise the profile of the service and the Trust.
· Act up as required in times of line manager absence
Governance/Quality Control
* To facilitate high quality, cost effective care through the use of audit, benchmarking, observations of care and other quality initiatives as determined by the Trust. Ensuring that all feedback where necessary action is taken to improve standards.
* To attend and participate in multi professional meetings and represent the ophthalmology nursing team as required.
* To identify risk to patient or staff safety taking appropriate management action including management of the risk Patient Safety Incident Framework Process.
* To keep the Nurse Manager / Matron informed of any adverse incidents and complaints. Investigating complaints and adverse incidents as required by the senior nurse, intervening at an early level to resolve informally where possible and implementing any identified outcomes.
* To participate in the development and implementation of assessment and mentorship/preceptorship processes for new staff to ensure quality standards are met.
Education and Training
* To contribute to an assessment of own educational needs, developing and agreeing a professional development plan with your line manager.
* To keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments as required to meet NMC revalidation and own standards of practice and knowledge.
* To maintain links with affiliated educational organisations and ensure that there is an appropriate learning environment for students and trainees.
* To ensure that own mandatory training is up to date.
Research and Service Development
* Take the lead for clinical audit and development of knowledge within the specialist field of practice.
* To carry out research in relation to specialist area of practice taking into account local and national guidance.
* Undertakes evidence based practice and ensure dissemination of relevant research and best practice.
People Management and Performance
* Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
* Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
* Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
* Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
* Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.
* Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
* Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
* Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.
General
* The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
* To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
* We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
* At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:
Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work
Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed
Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional
* To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
* To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
* This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
* All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
* Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;
* attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
* familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
* reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times
Person specification
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Knowlege
Essential criteria
* NMC Level 1 Registered Nurse with NMC
* Experience of managing and leading a team
* Relevant post-registration qualification and evidence of speciality enhanced clinical practice within the last 2 years
* Enhanced post-registration experience within specialist area
* Excellent oral and written communication skills
* Strong leadership skills and ability to motivate others
* Negotiation and conflict resolution skills
Desirable criteria
* Independent/Non-medical Prescribing qualification
* Experience in service development and change management
* Experience of clinical decision-making and autonomous practice
* Experience of administering intravitreal injections (or prepared to train)
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
* 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.
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