Job overview
We are seeking an experienced, motivated and forward-thinking Clinical Nurse Educator to join our Ophthalmology service at Whipps Cross University Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic nurse leader with a passion for education, clinical development, and improving patient care through high-quality learning. As part of the senior nursing team, you will support the professional development of nurses and ophthalmic technicians, helping to build a positive learning culture across the Eye Treatment Centre. You will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure staff are equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care. About You We are looking for a nurse who is: Passionate about education and developing others. Experienced in ophthalmology and confident in clinical leadership. Able to work autonomously, prioritise effectively and communicate clearly. Committed to delivering high-quality patient-centred care. Enthusiastic, supportive, and able to inspire learning in others. This is an excellent opportunity for a registered nurse with extensive ophthalmology experience who is committed to advancing ophthalmic nursing education and contributing positively to the ongoing development of our service
Main duties of the job
Assist in the delivery and ongoing development of a progressive learning environment for all nursing staff, including nursing assistants and ophthalmic technicians, within Whipps Cross University Hospital.
Support the professional development of post-registration nursing staff and nursing assistants by contributing to the coordination of educational activities and facilitating the assessment of learning within the clinical setting.
Actively promote and contribute to interprofessional learning opportunities across Whipps Cross University Hospital and the wider Barts Health organisation.
Act as an effective role model, demonstrating professional, compassionate, and inspirational leadership for all members of the multidisciplinary team within the area of accountability.
Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of policies, protocols, clinical guidelines, standard operating procedures, and patient information to support safe, high-quality care.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. First‑level degree (BSc/BA) in Nursing or equivalent relevant professional qualification (or evidence of working towards completion).
2. Recognised teaching and assessing qualification (e.g. practice assessor/supervisor preparation, mentorship or equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent experience in clinical education.
3. Post‑registration ophthalmology qualification, or clear evidence of relevant ongoing ophthalmology‑specific CPD to support clinical teaching.
4. Evidence of leadership development, demonstrated through completion of a leadership programme or equivalent experience within a clinical or education setting
5. Current professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), evidenced by registration number
Desirable criteria
6. Postgraduate qualification in education (Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Master’s degree)
7. Additional leadership or management training relevant to education or workforce development.
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Post‑registration experience within an ophthalmology service, undertaking clinical responsibilities
9. Post‑registration experience within an ophthalmology service, undertaking clinical responsibilities
10. Experience of staff and practice development, including delivery of training, competency assessment, supervision, or contribution to Personal Development Plans (PDPs)
11. Evidence of contributing to the development, implementation or evaluation of education programmes, learning resources or competency frameworks
12. Experience of collaborative working to support learning in practice, safe care and service standards
13. Experience of participating in audit, quality improvement or evidence‑based practice related to education or clinical care.
Desirable criteria
14. Experience of advanced ophthalmic practice (e.g. intravitreal injections or subspecialty practice) used to support clinical credibility and teaching.
15. Experience contributing to research activity or publication
Leadership or Supervision
Essential criteria
16. Evidence of supervising and supporting staff or learners, including responsibility for assessment of competence, feedback and ongoing development.
17. Demonstrable educational leadership, including influencing practice, supporting teams through change and promoting high standards of care and learning
18. Evidence of negotiating and influencing to deliver education objectives or support improvements in practice.
19. Demonstrates leadership behaviours including professional accountability, role‑modelling and adherence to the NMC Code.
20. Evidence of promoting, monitoring and maintaining health, safety and security within the clinical learning environment
Desirable criteria
21. Experience of leading education‑related projects or deputising in a senior clinical or education role.
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
22. Evidence of communicating complex clinical or educational information clearly and appropriately to a range of audiences, including learners, nursing staff and the wider MDT.
23. Evidence of communicating education or workforce‑related information to influence learning, engagement and positive change in clinical practice.
Organisation and Prioritisation
Essential criteria
24. Evidence of managing competing priorities and deadlines, balancing clinical credibility with education delivery to achieve effective outcomes aligned with service and organisational objectives
IT and Digital Systems
Essential criteria
25. Evidence of using Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems (e.g. MediSIGHT, Cerner or equivalent) to support clinical care and learning.
26. Evidence of using incident reporting systems (e.g. Datix or equivalent) to support learning from incidents.
27. Evidence of using MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to develop education materials, manage training records and analyse or present data.
Governance and Risk
Essential criteria
28. Evidence of understanding and applying clinical governance frameworks, including audit and quality improvement.
29. Evidence of awareness of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and using incident learning to inform education and risk mitigation.
30. Experience contributing to the development, review or implementation of policies, guidelines, SOPs or competency frameworks.
Other
Essential criteria
31. Evidence of budget awareness or responsible use of resources relevant to education or clinical services.
32. Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion principles, with evidence of applying these in education and practice.
33. Commitment to continuous professional development, reflection and improvement
**Visa Sponsorship Information**
Recent changes to UK immigration policy on the Health and Care Visa and Skilled Worker Visa could mean that this role is not eligible for sponsorship or that you may not meet the eligibility criteria.
Sponsorship can only be offered if this post and any individual offered employment meet all the Home Office’s requirements under the UK Skilled Worker visa scheme.
If you are applying from outside the UK or will require sponsorship, please mention this clearly in your application.
To be eligible for sponsorship, the following conditions must be met:
34. Eligible role: The position must be on the UK Skilled Worker visa list. You can check your eligibility here: -.
35. Salary threshold: The role must meet the minimum salary set by the Home Office. Please note that for roles employed under Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions, the High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) is not included when calculating the basic salary for the purposes of sponsorship.
36. Skill level: The role must meet the minimum skill requirement of RQF Level 6 or above (graduate level).
37. English language: Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B2 or higher.
38. Other criteria: Applicants must meet all other criteria as set out by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)