At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide life-changing eye care to young people in schools across London.
- Company: Join SeeAbility, a historic charity dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities since 1799.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a range of perks including discounts and bonuses.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while working in a supportive, collaborative environment focused on personal growth.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified dispensing optician with a full driving licence and access to a car.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional development and a chance to work with a passionate team.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 35000 £ per year.
Join our Team as Special School Dispensing Optician
Location: London school sites/ home
Salary: £30,000 per annum with SeeAbility benefits + all professional fees + travel expenses
Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours)
Contract: Permanent
Start Date: September 2025
Essential: Ability to attend multiple schools in your London region is required, as well as a full driving license and regular access to a car.
About You: This is an exciting opportunity for a full-time dispensing optician to work in a non-commercial, clinically challenging setting providing complex, creative and often life-changing support with spectacles to young people as part of our NHS special school eyecare service. You will have your own caseload of London schools and will work collaboratively with our established eye care team, as well as the school staff teams, and under the guidance of the special schools service manager and dispensing optician clinical lead.
What will you be doing? The successful candidate would be expected to work 4-5 school days (20-25 hours) in the school setting during term time. You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of clinics across your defined school caseload. This will include managing your own diary, under the supervision of the service manager and dispensing optician clinical lead, to ensure efficient, timely, high-quality care for all children under our care. You will be responsible for providing spectacle dispensing, repairs, replacements and follow ups to your caseload. Your responsibilities for the remainder of your FT role and school holidays will be to support the special schools service manager in ensuring the smooth running of the service. The service manager will have overall responsibility for the planning of clinics, and you will support by liaising with schools to book clinic rooms and gain consent from parents, book appointment diaries for yourself and the optometrists, respond to parent and school enquiries and offer and provide teaching staff inset training on eye care and vision.
About us: Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799! We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assist people with a disability to find paid employment for the very first time. SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible; we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.
Our Benefits:
- Fully paid essential training including Care Certificate
- Funded professional qualifications QCF levels 2-6 available (valued at £3,000+)
- Annual excellence awards
- Long service awards every 5 years and recognition
- Development Discussions: Opportunity to discuss your progress and your future
- Leadership development academy for the next steps in your career
- 28 days holiday (including bank holidays), increasing to 36 days with long service (1 extra day for each year of service)
- 2 weeks Organisational Sick Pay after 6 months service, increasing to 12 weeks over your first 3 years
- Enhanced Family-Friendly Pay
- Paid Fertility Leave
- Carers Leave available
- Flexible Working: We are up for anything that works for your team and the wider organisation
- £500 monthly bonus scheme for two lucky colleagues
- Enhanced overtime rates for working bank holidays and weekends
- Eligible for Blue Light Card discounts
- Discounts and cashback at hundreds of shops, restaurants and activities
- Access to Tickets for Good
- Employer contributory pension scheme: Support and tools to help you make the right decisions about your future
- Refer a friend and receive £600
- Paid DBS and renewals
- Season ticket loans
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life assurance of 2x annual salary
- Free 24/7 employee assistance programme for advice and support
- Free eye test
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Dedicated in house Wellbeing Coach for your team
Safer Recruitment: SeeAbility is committed to safe and fair recruitment practices, safeguarding and protecting those who we support. It is a condition of employment that prospective employees will be subject to the following: A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate). Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address, and the right to work in the UK. Health Declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered. References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to (a) health or social care, or (b) children or vulnerable adults. These checks will be carried out and completed prior to offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility's expense.
Diversity: SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone's unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.
Dispensing Optician employer: SeeAbility
Contact Detail:
SeeAbility Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Dispensing Optician
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of children with learning disabilities and complex needs. Understanding their unique challenges will help you demonstrate your commitment to providing tailored eye care during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of special education and optometry. Attend relevant workshops or seminars to connect with others who work in similar roles, as they may provide insights or even referrals for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with managing a caseload and working collaboratively with teams. Highlight any previous roles where you coordinated services or worked in educational settings to showcase your relevant skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Research SeeAbility's mission and values thoroughly. Being able to articulate how your personal values align with theirs can set you apart and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their cause.
We think you need these skills to ace Dispensing Optician
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the role of a Dispensing Optician. Emphasise any previous work in educational or clinical settings, as well as your ability to manage a caseload.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for working with young people and your understanding of the unique challenges they face. Mention your driving license and access to a car, as this is essential for the role.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: Include any professional qualifications or training that are pertinent to the role, such as dispensing optician certifications. If you have experience with special needs or in a school environment, be sure to mention it.
Showcase Your Teamwork Skills: Since the role involves collaboration with school staff and an eye care team, provide examples of how you've successfully worked in teams in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to contribute positively to the established team at SeeAbility.
How to prepare for a job interview at SeeAbility
✨Know Your Role
Familiarise yourself with the specific responsibilities of a Dispensing Optician in a school setting. Understand the unique challenges and rewards of working with children who have complex needs, as this will help you demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in dispensing optics, particularly any work with children or in educational settings. Highlight any relevant training or qualifications that align with the job requirements, as this will show your commitment to the field.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
Since the role involves collaborating with school staff and an eye care team, be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully worked in a team before. Emphasise your communication skills and ability to build relationships with colleagues and parents.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the organisation. Inquire about the support provided for professional development or how the team collaborates to ensure high-quality care. This shows your genuine interest in the position and the company.