Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Eye Casualty/Ophthalmology

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 7 ophthalmology advanced practitioner to work in Eye Casualty, providing autonomous clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment with non-medical prescribing capabilities. The role covers AMD and Medical Retina services, including potential injector duties and clinical reviewing.

The post requires substantial post-registration ophthalmology experience, leadership ability and a commitment to high standards of care and patient safety.

Qualifications

• Specialist post-graduate education or qualifications relevant to Ophthalmology.
• Evidence of ability to study at Level 7, through previous Level 6 or Level 7 study.
• Mentoring, facilitating workplace learning or clinical supervision qualification.
• NMC registration as an adult nurse.

Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose and manage patients with ophthalmic conditions, developing treatment plans within agreed protocols and scope of practice.
• Assess, diagnose and treat patients presenting to Eye Casualty with urgent and emergency ophthalmic conditions, prioritising care and arranging follow-up.
• Assess patients at the first point of contact within Eye Casualty.
• Practise autonomously with a high level of accountability, making complex decisions using advanced clinical skills.
• Independently assess and manage patients attending AMD and Medical Retina services, interpreting OCT and retinal imaging and monitoring disease progression.
• Determine treatment requirements in line with established pathways, provide patient education and escalate complex cases.
• Work in partnership with patients, families and carers, including history taking, holistic and mental health assessment, risk identification and diagnostic investigations.
• Refer sight-threatening or complex presentations to medical staff.
• Practise as a Non-Medical Independent Prescriber, prescribing and monitoring treatments within professional standards and Patient Group Directions.
• Support the AMD service, considering the role as an injector and supporting clinical reviewing.
• Develop and implement service improvements, meeting key performance indicators and quality and safety standards.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Autonomous decision-making

Clinical assessment

Education

Specialist post-graduate education in Ophthalmology

Level 7 study evidence

Mentoring/clinical supervision qualification

NMC registration as adult nurse

Tools

OCT interpretation

Retinal imaging analysis

Job description

This Band 7 post sits in the Ophthalmology department at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, working within Eye Casualty as the first point of contact for patients. The role centres on autonomous advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment, including non-medical prescribing. It also covers Age-related Macular Degeneration work, with a possible injector role and clinical reviewing. Sponsorship is not normally available, so the right to work in the UK is needed by the proposed start date.

What the job involves

• Assess, diagnose and manage patients with a wide range of ophthalmic conditions, developing treatment plans within agreed protocols and scope of practice
• Assess, diagnose and treat patients presenting to Eye Casualty with urgent and emergency ophthalmic conditions, prioritising care and arranging follow-up
• Assess patients at the first point of contact within Eye Casualty
• Practise autonomously with a high level of accountability, making complex decisions using advanced clinical skills
• Independently assess and manage patients attending AMD and Medical Retina services, interpreting OCT and retinal imaging and monitoring disease progression
• Determine treatment requirements in line with established pathways, provide patient education and escalate complex cases
• Work in partnership with patients, families and carers, including history taking, holistic and mental health assessment, risk identification and diagnostic investigations
• Refer sight-threatening or complex presentations to medical staff
• Practise as a Non-Medical Independent Prescriber, prescribing and monitoring treatments within professional standards and Patient Group Directions
• Support the AMD service, considering the role as an injector and supporting clinical reviewing
• Develop and implement service improvements, meeting key performance indicators and quality and safety standards

What's required

Qualifications

• Specialist post-graduate education or qualifications relevant to Ophthalmology
• Evidence of ability to study at Level 7, through previous Level 6 or Level 7 study
• Mentoring, facilitating workplace learning or clinical supervision qualification
• History Taking and Clinical Assessment module held

Registration & licences

• NMC registration as an adult nurse

Experience

• Significant post-registration clinical experience with sustained professional development
• At least 3 years' experience within Ophthalmology
• Proven management ability and leadership

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent communication skills promoting high quality care and service delivery

Nice to have

• Completed or completing a Level 7 MSc relevant to the clinical area or speciality, or willing to undertake one
• Hold, or able to undertake and register as, an NMC Independent or Supplementary Prescriber
• Leadership course or qualification
• Evidence of existing clinical skills or procedures as set out in the job description
• Experience of change management
• Post-registration clinical experience in emergency eye care