Band 8a - Matron, Ophthalmology

West Herts Hospitals; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust seeks an experienced Matron to lead ophthalmology services within the Surgery, Anaesthetics & Cancer Division. The role provides senior nursing leadership, with a clinical component and involvement in the Senior Nurse rota, across our cross-site ophthalmology services at Watford.

You will champion high-quality patient care, lead service improvement, support workforce development and ensure safe, effective and responsive services within the Trust’s

Qualifications

• Current and relevant NMC registration.
• First level registered nurse.
• Post graduate qualification in Ophthalmology.
• Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD).
• Practice assessor or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Evidence of master’s level study.
• Non Medical Prescriber course.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership to ophthalmology nursing services.
• Maintain visible clinical presence and support frontline care delivery.
• Drive quality improvement, governance, patient safety and experience initiatives.
• Manage and develop senior nursing staff through appraisal and workforce planning.
• Lead responses to patient feedback, incidents and complaints to improve services.
• Support education, training and professional development across the workforce.
• Develop future workforce models, including Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles.
• Manage resources effectively and contribute to budget planning and financial performance.
• Collaborate with consultants, multidisciplinary teams and external partners to deliver seamless patient pathways.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Ophthalmology experience

Clinical governance

Staff development

Education

NMC registration

Registered nurse (First level)

Postgraduate ophthalmology qualification

CPD evidence

Practice assessor qualification

Master's level study

Non-Medical Prescriber course

Job description

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Important: West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers.

If you receive a job offer or recruitment communication and are unsure whether it is genuine, please verify it using the contact details published on this website. Any request for payment should be treated as fraudulent.

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and highly motivated Matron to lead our Ophthalmology services within the Surgery, Anaesthetics & Cancer Division.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior nurse with extensive ophthalmology experience to provide visible clinical, professional and operational leadership across our services.

As Matron, you will champion high-quality patient care, lead service improvement, support workforce development and ensure delivery of safe, effective and responsive services.

Working closely with clinical and operational leaders, you will play a key role in shaping the future of ophthalmology services, including the development of advanced clinical practice roles and innovative models of care.

This role includes a clinical component, participation in the Senior Nurse out-of-hours rota and following a year focus on Ophthalmology expanding the portfolio to include Head and Neck services.

This is a cross site role.

Provisional date for interviews 26th November 2026.

Main duties of the job

You will provide strong professional leadership to nursing teams, ensuring patients remain at the centre of all care delivery. Key responsibilities include:
Leading and developing ophthalmology nursing services.

Maintaining a visible clinical presence and supporting frontline care delivery.

Driving quality improvement, governance, patient safety and patient experience initiatives.

Managing and developing senior nursing staff through appraisal, coaching and workforce planning.

Leading responses to patient feedback, incidents and complaints to improve services.

Supporting education, training and professional development across the workforce.

Developing future workforce models, including Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles.

Managing resources effectively and contributing to budget planning and financial performance.

Working collaboratively with consultants, multidisciplinary teams, community partners and external stakeholders to deliver seamless patient pathways.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us.

We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.

Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will be accountable for clinical and non‑clinical quality within Ophthalmology services and will work in partnership with the Clinical Lead, Head of Nursing and Divisional Senior Management Team to deliver operational and strategic objectives.

You will provide professional leadership across the service, support implementation of the Trust Nursing Strategy, lead infection prevention initiatives, oversee workforce development and contribute to long‑term service planning. The post holder will also participate in the Senior Nurse out‑of‑hours rota and work clinically to maintain visibility and credibility within the service.

Core hours are typically Monday to Friday, with flexibility required to meet service needs, including participation in the out‑of‑hours senior nursing rota.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• Current and relevant NMC registration.
• First level registered nurse.
• Post graduate qualification in Ophthalmology.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.
• Practice assessor or equivalent teaching qualification.
• Evidence of master’s level study.
• Non Medical Prescriber Course.

Knowledge

• Experience at Band 7 or equivalent
• Current knowledge of clinical practice in an acute setting.
• Experience working in partnership with multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of current developments in nursing and the NHS.
• Budget Management.
• Lifelong learning, professional education and training.
• Workforce planning, recruitment and retention.
• Ability to operationalise strategies.

Experience

• Significant experience managing a ward / unit.
• Broad senior clinical and managerial experience relevant to the post.
• Success in working collaboratively across 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 Audit experience

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire.

As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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 close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Name Sarahjane Turner Job title Head of Nursing Surgery Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07467 373628

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
Telephone [phone]