Nurse Specialist (Ophthalmology)

Transformation Unit; Newcastle upon Tyne; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Nurse Specialist in Ophthalmology for the Eye Emergency Department (EED). The post requires autonomous clinical management and leadership within a multidisciplinary team.

The role involves advanced clinical assessment, mentoring junior staff, and achieving core competencies to enable specialist practice. NHS values and patient safety are central to the post.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with current NMC registration.
• Diploma plus specialist qualifications or experience; degree-level study encouraged.
• Meets NMC standards for student supervision if relevant.
• Degree in health-related subject.

Responsibilities

• Work flexibly to cover days and some weekend shifts.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team in EED.
• Maintain high standards of clinical nursing procedures.
• Responsible for safe custody of medications and administration.
• Support governance, safety and continuous improvement.

Skills

Report writing

Teamwork

Time management

Change management

Education

Diploma + specialist qualifications

Degree in health-related subject

NMC registration

Job description

Employer The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Victoria Infirmary Town 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 15/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 03/11/2026

Nurse Specialist (Ophthalmology)

Band 6

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.

With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, w e’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.

As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Nurse Specialist to work within Ophthalmology, Eye Emergency Department (EED).

The post holder will be able to work autonomously and be able to provide a high level of clinical management and care to patients within the Ophthalmic speciality. They will act as a role model for clinical practice working closely with the multidisciplinary team and other key stakeholders.

The post holder will also be required to achieve a wide range of core clinical competencies to enable advanced clinical assessment and examination, including but not limited to:

• Clinical data interpretation, investigation and treatment.
• Diagnosis and disease management.
• Delivery of clinical interventions and treatments and mentor junior staff members.
• Interview Date Tuesday 03 November 2026

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly to cover days and some weekend shifts within their job plan. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team in EED.
The post holder is expected to work within their professional guidelines and trust values. They are expected to:

• Maintain a high standard of clinical work when carrying out nursing procedures.
• Responsible for the safe custody of medication, including checking and administration.
• Ensure compliance with our clinical governance framework, you will motivate colleagues, champion service user safety and dignity and drive continuous improvement.

Working for our organisation

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting‑edge care (supported by state‑of‑the‑art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust define a nurse
specialist as a qualified nurse where the primary purpose of role is to provide guidance and support based on advanced level knowledge to patients, carers and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.

Within the sphere of specialist practice:

• Is working towards advanced knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
• Contributes to the facilitation of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.
• Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
• Contributes to training and education within specialist area.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• Registered nurse (appropriate to branch)
• Current NMC registration
• Diploma plus specialist qualifications / experience within specialist area; prepared to take degree level study
• Meets Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for student supervision and assessment (formally Mentorship) if relevant to role
• Degree in health related subject

Knowledge & Experience

• Some post registration experience within related specialist area of practice
• Extended clinical practice underpinned by training supervision & assessment
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
• Has understanding / experience of adult / child safeguarding
• Evidence of on-going continuous professional development
• Research or audit experience
• Evidence of contribution towards education and training programmes

Skills & Abilities

• Effective report writing skills
• Able to work independently and as a member of a team
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Change management skills and involvement in project work

Whilst Newcastle Hospitals are a forward thinking and highly innovative organisation, the use of Third-Party Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a risk to the integrity of our Recruitment & Selection processes. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual application or to the recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process. Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

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.