Sister/Charge Nurse Eye Emergency

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic Sister/Charge Nurse (band 5/6) to lead in the Eye Emergency department. This fixed-term role supports operational leadership, coordination of nursing and multidisciplinary teams, and delivery of essential patient care within a 7-day service.

You will work closely with the senior sister and band 6 colleagues, ensuring excellent communication, delegation, and patient flow while contributing to the department's target of

Qualifications

• Senior nursing role in eye emergency with leadership responsibilities.
• Focus on operational coordination and team support.
• Excellent communication and delegation within a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership in eye emergency services.
• Coordinate with nursing, administrative and multidisciplinary teams.
• Help meet the 4-hour treatment target and maintain service standards.
• Liaise with ophthalmology departments and wider UHS network.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Delegation

Teamwork

Job description

Hours: Full time, Part time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref: 188-SNM050926

Site: OPH Eye Casualty

Town: Southampton

Closing: 25/09/2026

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Sister/Charge Nurse

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Fixed Term Contract End Date: April 2027

Purpose for Fixed Term: Secondment

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our eye emergency team.

You may not be an expert in ophthalmology but we are looking for a dynamic and motivated senior band 5 or 6 nurse who would like the opportunity for a leadership role within the Eye Emergency department.

This postholder will work alongside another junior sister and the senior sister of the department providing leadership, operational coordination and clinical support to our nursing, administrative and multidisciplinary team.

You will be liaising with other departments within ophthalmology as well as the wider UHS organisation and surrounding partners.

As a type 2 emergency department we have to adhere to the 4hour waiting time for treatment target and the band 6 sister supports the team and service to deliver this.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the day to day operational effectiveness in eye emergency, You will be supported by the senior sister and your band 6 sister colleague.

You will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, be able to delegate effectively and work confidently within a high functioning team.

We are a 7 day service, open to patients 8am to 7pm and the usual shift patterns are 7.30am to 8pm, to include weekends and bank holidays but not nights.

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for.