Senior Sister/Charge Nurse Ophthalmology

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Luton is seeking a Senior Sister/Charge Nurse for their Ophthalmology Department. The successful candidate will provide leadership and management of the nursing team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality ophthalmic care. Essential qualifications include nursing registration, ophthalmic qualifications, and leadership experience. This role requires effective communication and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. The position promotes career development within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Access to training and development programs

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Ophthalmic and prescribing qualifications.
• RGN with current NMC registration.
• Undertaking or completed Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) modules.
• Certified specialty courses.

Responsibilities

• Managing the ophthalmology nursing team.
• Liaising with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Budget monitoring and managing clinical areas.

Job description

Senior Sister/Charge Nurse Ophthalmology

The closing date is 30 December 2025

Would you like to develop your leadership skills while delivering and supporting the delivery of high quality ophthalmic care in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital Ophthalmology Department? The Ophthalmology Department is friendly and welcoming to everyone. We have just been awarded silver in the trust accreditation process which demonstrates our passion and commitment to the provision of high quality safe ophthalmic care to our patients and their relatives or carers. This is a crucial role, providing effective clinical, management and leadership to the nursing team. The post holder will be responsible for the everyday management of the ophthalmology clinical areas and will act as a role model, demonstrating strong leadership and clear and concise communication skills, liaising with the multidisciplinary team and stakeholders.

The post holder will also partake in specialist nurse-led clinics; clinical experience is essential, and knowledge is required. The post holder will work closely with the matron, head of nursing, clinical lead and management to ensure the delivery of the highest quality, safe ophthalmic care to our patients.

Main duties of the job

The main duties are undertaking the management of the ophthalmology nursing team, monitoring the capability, competence, sickness and absence of staff by following the Trust Policies. The post holder will need to liaise and communicate with the multidisciplinary teams within the organisation and with external stakeholders. Budget monitoring will also be a duty of the post. Partaking and undertaking specialist nurse-led clinics is required.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, obstetrics-led maternity, and paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high-performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region, you will have access to a programme of high-quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience – we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. We achieve this by using values-based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

The job description and personal specification are attached to this job; please review for the full details and responsibilities. Overall, the post holder is required to possess excellent ophthalmic knowledge and experience in leadership and the provision of ophthalmic care. Excellent communication and the ability to work collaboratively with all team members are key to this role.

Qualifications

• Ophthalmic and prescribing qualifications
• RGN with current NMC registration
• Undertaking or completed Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) modules
• Certified specialty courses

Experience

• Leadership experience at band 6
• Working as a senior nurse within an ophthalmology setting
• Undertaking nurse-led clinics
• Independently triaging ophthalmic patients

Knowledge

• Awareness of current developments in ophthalmic nursing.
• Knowledge of clinical governance and clinical supervision.

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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