Junior Sister/Charge Nurse - Ophthalmology Department

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Sidcup; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Sidcup is seeking a Junior Sister/Charge Nurse in Ophthalmology to lead clinical care across outpatient and intravitreal services.

The role focuses on patient safety, service improvement, and staff development within a busy multidisciplinary team, including intravitreal injections and pre-assessment clinics.

You will act as nurse in charge when required and contribute to governance and education.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with active UK NMC registration.
• Mentorship or teaching qualification is desirable.
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent.
• Experience in ophthalmic or surgical nursing is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centred ophthalmic nursing care across outpatient and treatment services.
• Deliver intravitreal injection clinics and other ophthalmic services.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised patient care.
• Act as senior clinical nurse and role model to staff.
• Support quality governance, safety initiatives and staff development.

Skills

Communication skills

Team building

Education

NMC registered nurse

Mentorship/teaching qualification

Degree in Nursing or equivalent

Job description

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Junior Sister/Charge Nurse - Ophthalmology Department

The closing date is 16 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Ophthalmology Service as a Senior Staff Nurse.

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic registered nurse with excellent clinical, leadership and communication skills to support the delivery of high-quality ophthalmic care across our outpatient and treatment services.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Ophthalmic nurse looking to further develop their leadership, service improvement, and specialist ophthalmology skills within a busy and progressive multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting patient pathways, service delivery and staff development while maintaining a strong focus on patient experience, safety, and quality.

The post holder will work across a range of ophthalmology services, including outpatient clinics, diagnostic services, minor procedures, and intravitreal injection sessions. The role includes supporting and delivering intravitreal injection treatments for those already trained or following appropriate training and competency assessment, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and compassionate care.

The post holders will be working across both Eye Service Locations at Queen Mary's Hospital and Orpington Hospital.

Main duties of the job

• Provide patient-centred nursing care for patients with a range of ophthalmic conditions, ensuring safe, effective and evidence-based practice.
• Deliver specialist ophthalmic services, including intravitreal injection clinics, emergency ophthalmology pathways and pre-assessment services.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised patient care and treatment.
• Act asa senior clinical nurse and role model, providing advice and support to patients, carers and multidisciplinary team members.
• Support the delivery of high-quality care through clinical governance, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Contribute to workforce development through supervision, teaching and support of nursing and support staff.
• Coordinate clinical activity, patient flow and workforce deployment to support efficient service delivery.
• Undertake delegated leadership and management responsibilities within the clinical area.
• Act as nurse in charge when required and support day-to-day operational management of the service.
• Support the effective running of the department in the absence of senior nursing staff.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are deliveringhigh-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

We have also agreed four new organisational values - Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative - and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

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.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.
• To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the ward/ department.
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on the Ward on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
• To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
• To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patients condition and the treatment delivered.
• To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a way that they understand.
• To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
• To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
• To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.
• To support the Ward Managers and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
• To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• 1st level Registered General Nurse with active UK NMC registration
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification
• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.
• Intravitreal Injector experience or willingness to attain competency

Skills and Competencies

• Communication skills - able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
• Team building and working skills - able to lead a team to achieve results

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.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£45,953 to £54,254 a yearPer Annum Including High Cost Area