Senior Ophthalmology Support Worker

Train Work Live; Haverfordwest; Remote; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

Hywel Dda University Health Board is recruiting an Ophthalmic Support role to join a nursing team delivering high standards of patient care across Pembrokeshire sites.

You will support ophthalmology services, undertake essential tasks, and may cover reception duties. Welsh language ability is desirable and travel between sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Understanding of health and/or social care including clinical observations.
• NVQ level 2 in a health care related subject is required.
• Level 3 NVQ in ophthalmology or equivalent experience relevant to the role.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a nursing team delivering high standards of care.
• Be adaptable within a flexible core competency framework.
• May undertake administrative/reception duties as part of the role.

Skills

Ophthalmology knowledge

Clinical observations

Lifelong learning

IT competence

Education

NVQ level 2 health care

Level 3 NVQ ophthalmology

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.

Job overview

The post holder will work as part of a team of nursing staff and will be required to carry out a range of assigned tasks involving direct and non-direct care for the benefit of the patient, and will be in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse.

You may be required to undertake administrative / reception duties within this role.

This role covers the Pembrokeshire area, where care is delivered mainly from Withybush General Hospital, with planned work carried out at the Cardigan Integrated Care Centre once a week. Due to constant service developments, there may be occasional work delivered from other sites, or support required on other sites where Ophthalmology is provided, and being able to travel between sites is an essential part of the role.

The post holder will be expected to follow local training upon starting the role, to enable them to work at the required level.

Interviews to be held on 18/11/2026

Main duties of the job

Working as part of a team assisting in the delivery of a high standard of care, acting in a professional manner at all times.

This post is of an evolving nature and the job description is based upon a flexible core competency framework that will enable the post holder to develop their role.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.

Qualifications and knowledge

• Have a good understanding of health and /or social care e.g. Clinical observations etc. NVQ level 2/level 2 qualification in a health care related subject.
• NVQ level 2/level 2 qualification in a health care related subject.
• Level 3 NVQ/Agored Cymru training, in an ophthalmology / health care related subject appropriate to role, or equivalent experience such as covering clinics independently, independently performing diagnostic tests on a variety of Ophthalmology equipment, such as visual fields tests and OCTs. (Post holders with equivalent experience only must be willing to work towards obtaining a level 3 qualification appropriate to role)
• Recognises the need for lifelong learning.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the role and scope of practice for Ophthalmic Support staff and understands the principles of safe delegation of care.
• Knowledge of the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales and All Wales Delegation Guidelines (HEIW)
• Knowledge of relevant policies and procedures within a healthcare setting (for example the principles of Safeguarding adults/children to keep patients within their care safe), and confidentiality (for example General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
• Evidence of continuous professional development and further learning, e.g., level 4.
• IT Qualification.

Experience

• Ophthalmology related experience.
• Willingness to undertake additional essential training.
• Experience of working in hospital environment
• Experience working in an ophthalmic department/service
• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.

By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable).

These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data (sensitive personal data is defined as any declared physical or mental health conditions, racial or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, trade union membership, political opinion, religious beliefs). As an organisation, we ensure that the legislation defining confidentiality is observed such as use of data for specific, defined purposes, and use of data that is relevant and not excessive whilst practicing data accuracy and security of all held personal identifiable information (PII)

If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa , unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK . If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.