Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Ophthalmic Theatre Nurse

The closing date is 09 December 2025

Job summary

Having successfully completed a project for additional day case theatres which opened in February 2024, we have exciting opportunity to recruit a team of Ophthalmic Theatre practitioners on a full-time permanent contract!

One of these new Theatres is a dedicated ophthalmology theatre which has created a second full time theatre for the service to serve the population of Torbay and South Devon locality. We are recruiting now to help provide reduced waiting times for our surgical patients.

We are looking an individual who is interested in working with patients who have sight related problems, who may or may not have experience in the field. This is an exciting opportunity for you to join the Ophthalmology department and experience the expertise within this specialty.

Asa Theatre Practitioner, you will be responsible for the delivery of high-quality patient focused care, providing and maintaining a safe environment for all patients attending theatres and coordinating and facilitatingperioperative care with minimal supervision, acting as a role model and working with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

The role consists of scrub and circulating responsibilities for a variety of Ophthalmic surgical procedure as such you will be:

Handover and transfer responsibility of care to colleagues, ensuring appropriate information and care is relayed.

You will be supervising students of nursing, operating department practitioners, Healthcare Support Workers and post registration learners.

Operating lists can change at short notice, as such you will need to be flexible. Elsewhere, you will be required to commit and fulfil an out of hours on call service on a rotational basis.

To be eligible for this position you must currently be registered to practice with a UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registering body. Please note that previous applicants need not apply.

About us

Where to find us?

Torbay Hospital provides acute care for the local community and has several community hospitals, and is a hot-spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park. Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history and shopping experiences.

Why work with us?

You will work alongside the nursing team to ensure a first-class patient experience streamlining the patient journey to optimize efficiency and effectiveness, develop a greater knowledge and understanding about eye disease which is relevant to all given the aging population.

There are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills when joining our supportive, welcoming and friendly team! Care to join us?

Are you a qualified candidate considering a move to Torquay or the surrounding areas? We offer a generous relocation package of up to £5,000 for successful candidates who do not currently reside in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, or Somerset. Further information regarding this relocation package is available upon request from the Recruiting Manager.

Details

Date posted

25 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7597172-PC&S

Job locations

Ophthalmic Theatre

Eye Surgery Unit, Torbay Hospital

Torbay

TQ2 7AA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification

To liaise and communicate effectively with all parts of the multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate person-centred care

To liaise and communicate effectively with all service users and relatives

To ensure a cohesive working environment and effective team work in all assignments

To liaise with the multidisciplinary team, coordinating patient care, communicating with relatives ensuring they have adequate information at all times

To liaise with other departments ensuring information regarding the patient is given appropriately

Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills to effectively assess, plan, deliver and evaluate individualised care plans

Be responsive to change and able to work in an environment which has constant interruptions

Act with integrity and professionalism, ensuring that you are demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with our Trust values

Be accountable for your actions and learn from mistakes. Be honest and share experiences, encouraging learning in others

Supporting the wider team during peak activity or during absences

To ensure high standards of care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures

To administer prescribed medication effectively and safely according to Trust requirements and in line with the NMC guidelines

All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the service are met in a timely and efficient manner

Encourage and welcome feedback to ensure that we as individuals, and as a collective team, learn and continually improve

To be aware of all Trust policies and procedures

There is no direct supervision responsibility within this role however you may be asked to support other members of the team, acting as a role model at all times

On occasions take charge of an area in the absence of more senior staff

Work flexibly to ensure the department collectively achieves its goals. Work with colleagues, seeking or offering support as required

To be responsible for own personal and professional development; attending study days/courses as appropriate

Attend mandatory training is kept up-to-date and develop and maintain own knowledge and skills

Actively contribute to reviews with your line manager, including supervision and achievement reviews. Be able to ask for support as required

To keep up to date with nursing developments and research, incorporating into nursing practice where appropriate

To be accountable for own actions

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification

To liaise and communicate effectively with all parts of the multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate person-centred care

To liaise and communicate effectively with all service users and relatives

To ensure a cohesive working environment and effective team work in all assignments

To liaise with the multidisciplinary team, coordinating patient care, communicating with relatives ensuring they have adequate information at all times

To liaise with other departments ensuring information regarding the patient is given appropriately

Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills to effectively assess, plan, deliver and evaluate individualised care plans

Be responsive to change and able to work in an environment which has constant interruptions

Act with integrity and professionalism, ensuring that you are demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with our Trust values

Be accountable for your actions and learn from mistakes. Be honest and share experiences, encouraging learning in others

Supporting the wider team during peak activity or during absences

To ensure high standards of care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures

To administer prescribed medication effectively and safely according to Trust requirements and in line with the NMC guidelines

All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the service are met in a timely and efficient manner

Encourage and welcome feedback to ensure that we as individuals, and as a collective team, learn and continually improve

To be aware of all Trust policies and procedures

There is no direct supervision responsibility within this role however you may be asked to support other members of the team, acting as a role model at all times

On occasions take charge of an area in the absence of more senior staff

Work flexibly to ensure the department collectively achieves its goals. Work with colleagues, seeking or offering support as required

To be responsible for own personal and professional development; attending study days/courses as appropriate

Attend mandatory training is kept up-to-date and develop and maintain own knowledge and skills

Actively contribute to reviews with your line manager, including supervision and achievement reviews. Be able to ask for support as required

To keep up to date with nursing developments and research, incorporating into nursing practice where appropriate

To be accountable for own actions

Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Evidence of meeting PREP requirements
  • Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care.
  • Knowledge of clinical governance.
  • Knowledge of individual responsibility to health and safety and clinical risk.
  • current uk NHS hospital experience as a band 5 nurse

Experience

Essential

  • NMC/HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Ophthalmic Experience
  • Theatre experience
Person Specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Evidence of meeting PREP requirements
  • Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care.
  • Knowledge of clinical governance.
  • Knowledge of individual responsibility to health and safety and clinical risk.
  • current uk NHS hospital experience as a band 5 nurse

Experience

Essential

  • NMC/HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Ophthalmic Experience
  • Theatre experience

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

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

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ophthalmic Theatre

Eye Surgery Unit, Torbay Hospital

Torbay

TQ2 7AA


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ophthalmic Theatre

Eye Surgery Unit, Torbay Hospital

Torbay

TQ2 7AA


Employer's website

https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ophthalmic theatre manager

Viki Willicott

v.willicott@nhs.net

01803654961

Details

Date posted

25 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

388-7597172-PC&S

Job locations

Ophthalmic Theatre

Eye Surgery Unit, Torbay Hospital

Torbay

TQ2 7AA


Supporting documents

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