Senior Healthcare Assistant - Surgical Assessment & Ambulatory Unit

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Ophthalmology Service as a Senior Staff Nurse.

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic registered nurse with excellent clinical, leadership and communication skills to support the delivery of high-quality ophthalmic care across our outpatient and treatment services.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Ophthalmic nurse looking to further develop their leadership, service improvement, and specialist ophthalmology skills within a busy and progressive multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting patient pathways, service delivery and staff development while maintaining a strong focus on patient experience, safety, and quality.

The post holder will work across a range of ophthalmology services, including outpatient clinics, diagnostic services, minor procedures, and intravitreal injection sessions. The role includes supporting and delivering intravitreal injection treatments for those already trained or following appropriate training and competency assessment, ensuring patients receive safe, effective and compassionate care.

The post holders will be working across both Eye Service Locations at Queen Mary's Hospital and Orpington Hospital.

Main duties of the job

• Provide patient-centred nursing care for patients with a range of ophthalmic conditions, ensuring safe, effective and evidence-based practice.
• Deliver specialist ophthalmic services, including intravitreal injection clinics, emergency ophthalmology pathways and pre-assessment services.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised patient care and treatment.
• Act as a senior clinical nurse and role model, providing advice and support to patients, carers and multidisciplinary team members.
• Support the delivery of high-quality care through clinical governance, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Contribute to workforce development through supervision, teaching and support of nursing and support staff.
• Coordinate clinical activity, patient flow and workforce deployment to support efficient service delivery.
• Undertake delegated leadership and management responsibilities within the clinical area.
• Act as nurse in charge when required and support day-to-day operational management of the service.
• Support the effective running of the department in the absence of senior nursing staff.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are delivering high-quality patient care ; creating a great place to work ; leading pioneering research, innovation and education ; building strong and successful partnerships ; providing timely and efficient care ; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability .

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.
• To demonstrate clinical expertise in the care of any patients receiving treatment in the ward/ department.
• To assess, plan, implement and evaluate the needs of patients on the Ward on an ongoing basis, co-ordinating the care given by all members of the clinical team.
• To accurately assimilate and interpret clinical information about the patients’ condition, promptly report changes and instigate remedial action as appropriate.
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
• To ensure that accurate records are maintained reflecting both changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment delivered.
• To ensure that patients and their relatives are updated regularly with accurate information, and ensure that this is presented in a way that they understand.
• To ensure that Clinical Guidelines are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with Line Manager and practice development staff.
• To ensure that practice is evidence based and with support assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area.
• To uphold high standards of nursing care, according to existing policies and standards.
• To support the Ward Managers and Modern Matron in processes of continuous quality improvement, formally evaluating standards of care and assisting in the implementation of changes in the light of such findings.
• To contribute to the health education of patients and their families, ensuring that all patients receive appropriate advice and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• To actively support the implementation of the Trust nursing strategy and uphold the ethos of the local philosophy.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 1st level Registered General Nurse with active UK NMC registration
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification

Desirable criteria

• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.
• Intravitreal Injector experience or willingness to attain competency

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication skills – able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
• Team building and working skills – able to lead a team to achieve results

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

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