Job Description

To work as the lead Ophthalmic nurse within Mersey and West Lancashire teaching hospital NHS Trust Ophthalmic outpatient Team.
Providing specialist evidence based ophthalmic care advice for Ophthalmology patients, with a wide range of ophthalmic conditions.
Act as a resource for patients, nursing and medical colleagues and other health workers by offering specialist ophthalmic nursing advice/support as needed to ensure favourable patient outcomes.
Line manager to the Ophthalmic nursing outpatients staff- providing full line management duties including rota allocation of staff, full HR function (i.e.- appraisal, attendance management, recruitment and selection, mandatory training compliance, competency and disciplinary procedures as required)
Main duties of the job
Perform specialist clinical skills in assessment &/or diagnosis &/or treatment including IVT and blepharospasm treatments.
Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs and varying levels of complexity.
Participate in nurse led clinics within the care setting for ophthalmologyProvide information and support following diagnosis by an ophthalmologist. This maybe of a long-term condition eg glaucoma.
Provide support and knowledge to enable patient and family to understand importance of treatment and how to manage ophthalmic conditions effectively.
Support patients following the delivery of bad news, providing information to improve understanding as needed and where to access advice and help.
To be empathetic and reassuring to those patients who are registered severely or partially sight impaired providing information on how to obtain ongoing support and advice. To extend that support for patients who have been informed they can no longer drive.Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patient needs are met.
Provide cover for the ophthalmic nursing team and work autonomously when required, ensuring a seamless service.
Provide a nurse-led ophthalmic triage service to our local community. Liaising with GP's A&E, opticians and walk-in-centres. Assessment and prioritising of complex, acute Ocular conditions.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details
Date posted
08 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
47,810 to 54,710 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
409-7426726
Job locations
St Helens Hospital
Marshalls Cross Road
ST Helens
WA9 3DA
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 8th September 2025
Closing date: 14th September 2025
Shortlisting date: 16th September 2025
Proposed Interview date: 23rd September 2025
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received. Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 8th September 2025
Closing date: 14th September 2025
Shortlisting date: 16th September 2025
Proposed Interview date: 23rd September 2025
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Professional Registration in a relevant specialty RGN
• Diploma or degree in Health related subject or actively working towards same

Desirable

• Management qualification

Knowledge
Essential

• Extensive experience of ophthalmic nursing practices to be a point of reference and knowledge source for all departmental staff
• Provide a nurse-led ophthalmic triage service to our local community. Liaising with GP's A&E, opticians and walk-in-centre's. Assessment and prioritising of complex, acute Ocular conditions
• Experience of both medical and surgical conditions Both Inpatient & Outpatient
• Research awareness and a commitment to evidence-based practice

Skills
Essential

• Up to date clinical skills in order to ensure quality of services being provided: IVT injection/oculoplastic skills/Sac washout/ biometry
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership skills
• Able to prioritise effectively
• Excellent communication skills
• Effective team leader and change agent
• Able to take responsibility for and identified area of clinical practice
• Ability to work independently & as a team member
• Able to work flexibly as part of a team
• Manage patient and relative complaints

Other
Essential

• Ability to carry out nursing procedures relating to area of work. Tasks requiring fine dexterity and binocular vision eg. Sac Washout/removal of lid sutures
• Role involves sitting, standing, walking
• Involves periods of concentration whilst undertaking administrative tasks and providing leadership of a busy outpatient service for two specialities across site

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Professional Registration in a relevant specialty RGN
• Diploma or degree in Health related subject or actively working towards same

Desirable

• Management qualification

Knowledge
Essential

• Extensive experience of ophthalmic nursing practices to be a point of reference and knowledge source for all departmental staff
• Provide a nurse-led ophthalmic triage service to our local community. Liaising with GP's A&E, opticians and walk-in-centre's. Assessment and prioritising of complex, acute Ocular conditions
• Experience of both medical and surgical conditions Both Inpatient & Outpatient
• Research awareness and a commitment to evidence-based practice

Skills
Essential

• Up to date clinical skills in order to ensure quality of services being provided: IVT injection/oculoplastic skills/Sac washout/ biometry
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership skills
• Able to prioritise effectively
• Excellent communication skills
• Effective team leader and change agent
• Able to take responsibility for and identified area of clinical practice
• Ability to work independently & as a team member
• Able to work flexibly as part of a team
• Manage patient and relative complaints

Other
Essential

• Ability to carry out nursing procedures relating to area of work. Tasks requiring fine dexterity and binocular vision eg. Sac Washout/removal of lid sutures
• Role involves sitting, standing, walking
• Involves periods of concentration whilst undertaking administrative tasks and providing leadership of a busy outpatient service for two specialities across site

Skills Required