About this role
Job summary
Band 7 Ophthalmology Nurse Practitioner - CorneaWhipps Cross University Hospital - Barts Health NHS Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Cornea Nurse Practitioner to join our expanding Ophthalmology service at Whipps Cross. We are seeking a motivated and clinically skilled ophthalmic nurse with a passion for delivering high-quality care to patients with a range of corneal and anterior segment conditions.
Main duties of the job
In this autonomous role, you will undertake full corneal assessments, manage independent nurse-led clinics, interpret diagnostic investigations such as topography and anterior segment OCT, initiate and adjust treatment plans, and support the ongoing management of complex corneal patients. You will work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, timely and effective patient care across the corneal pathway.
You will also be actively involved in service development, audit, teaching, and pathway improvement as we continue to enhance our specialist cornea services.
We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate nurse with substantial ophthalmic experience, excellent clinical judgement, and strong communication and leadership skills. Non-medical prescribing or a willingness to undertake this qualification is essential.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
First-level degree (BSc/BA) in Nursing or equivalent relevant professional qualification. Post-registration ophthalmic specialist qualification, relevant to glaucoma or closely related subspecialties Evidence of advanced clinical practice development, aligned to Ophthalmic Practitioner Training Level 2 framework Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to advanced ophthalmology nursing practices
Desirable
Master's degree or evidence of working towards a Master's-level qualification Leadership or management training relevant to advanced clinical practice Independent Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) qualification or evidence of working towards completion
Professional Registration Essential
Must hold current professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Experience Essential
Post-registration experience working within an ophthalmology service, including delivery of autonomous or extended nursing roles. Evidence of managing a defined cohort of patients, such as nurse-led or advanced practice clinics. Experience of advanced ophthalmic assessment, diagnosis and formulation of management plans within agreed protocols. Experience working independently, demonstrating clinical judgement, accountability, and escalation where appropriate. Evidence of contributing to evidence-based practice within ophthalmology
Desirable
Experience undertaking intravitreal injections within the scope of practice Experience working across ophthalmology subspecialties (e.g. glaucoma, cornea, retina, eye casualty). Experience managing or supporting clinical rotas, staffing or resource allocation
Multidisciplinary Working Essential
Evidence of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, AHPs and nursing colleagues, to deliver safe and effective patient care. Experience liaising with external services (e.g. optometrists, GPs, community services) to support patient pathways
Service Improvement Essential
Experience contributing to service development or pathway improvement within ophthalmology. Evidence of using audit, feedback or outcomes data to improve standards of care
Desirable
Experience leading quality improvement projects or contributing to regional or national initiatives Formal training or qualification in quality improvement or audit
Leadership or Supervision Essential
Evidence of taking charge of clinical areas or caseloads, including delegation and oversight of care delivery. Experience supporting, supervising or mentoring staff, including junior nurses, students or extended role practitioners Evidence of acting as a clinical role model, demonstrating professional accountability and leadership behaviours Ability to recognise and respond to staff performance, skill-mix or safety concerns, escalating appropriately.
Communication Skills Essential
Evidence of communicating complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to patients, carers, and relatives Evidence of effective communication with multidisciplinary professionals to support diagnosis, treatment decisions, and care planning Ability to manage complaints or difficult conversations in line with Trust policy and professional standards.
Organisation and Prioritisation Essential
Evidence of managing and prioritising own and others' workload in a busy clinical environment Ability to balance competing demands, including patient flow, clinics, documentation and service pressures Evidence of effective decision-making under pressure, maintaining patient safety and care quality
IT and Digital Systems Essential
Evidence of using electronic patient record systems (e.g. MediSIGHT, Cerner or equivalent) to document, review and manage patient care. Ability to interpret and utilise diagnostic outputs such as perimetry, OCT and imaging systems Competence in using IT systems to support audit, reporting, and clinical documentation.
Governance and Risk Essential
Knowledge and application of clinical governance principles, including audit, incident reporting and learning from risk Evidence of working within local and national guidelines, including NICE and Trust-approved protocols. Experience of maintaining infection prevention, health and safety and medication management standards, including PGDs or prescribing where applicable. Understanding safeguarding responsibilities for vulnerable adults and children.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Barts Health NHS Trust
Address Whipps Cross University Hospital
London
E11 1NR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)