County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Optical Assistant
The closing date is 04 December 2026
An opportunity has opened up for a new optical assistantpost at CDDFT. The post will support thewider Orthoptic and Optometry services at the Trust. TheOrthoptic and Optometry team at County Durham and Darlington NHS FoundationTrust consists of a team of seven Orthoptists and three part time Optometristsworking closely together with the Consultant Ophthalmologists to provide a highstandard of care to our paediatric and adult patients. We work to the Trustsethos of providing the patient with safe, compassionate, joined-up care. Thisis a dynamic department with a strong focus on quality which is constantlystriving to improve services for our patients and ensure that their experienceis as good as possible.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join ourteam working predominantly within our contact lens service and paediatricpatients.
Main duties of the job
Thesuccessful candidate will be closely involved with the contact lens servicehere at CDDFT. They will support thequalified Optometrist in managing both the administrative and clinical dutiesinvolved with the contact lens service.They will support with ordering and distribution of contact lenses,receiving payments for the service and will clinically be involved withsupporting the Optometrist in preliminary testing and training patients inhow to insert and remove their contact lenses. They will be involved with our paediatricservice instilling eye drops and supporting our Orthoptists in ensuringmaximum uptake of appointments.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chancesofsuccess.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Job responsibilities
We are looking for an keen individual who is comfortablewith both clinical and administerial tasks.You will need to work alongside our Orthoptic and Optometry teamsclinically and also manage administerial duties independently and so the successful candidate will requireboth the ability to work within a team and on their own and have goodorganisational skills to manage their workload. A significant part of the roleis with our paediatric service and so a good ability to build a rapport quicklywith children will be advantageous. Full on the job training will be provided forall aspects of the role. You will be required to work across our trust sitesand so it is vital that you are able to meet the travel requirements of thepost.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
- Self-motivated and able to motivate others
- Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
- Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the post
- Be able to offer pastoral care to mentors and students when providing feedback on performance
Qualifications
- NVQ level 3
- GCSE or equivalent in English and Mathematics
- Care Certificate or willingness to complete
Special Skills & Knowledge
- Good communication skills with good verbal and written command of English.
- Ability to act upon own initiative.
- Able to work under some pressure.
- Ability to show leadership
- Ability to plan own work.
- Ability to work calmly under pressure
- Willing to take and record patient observations
- Good interpersonal skills
- Able to engage and build effective relationships at all levels
- Able to work as part of a team
- Knowledge and understanding of the need for confidentiality
- Previous experience in Ophthalmology setting
Experience
- Ability to learn new skills
- Previous experience in caring for others
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.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£25,760 to £27,476 a yearper annum, pro rata
Optical Assistant employer: Cddft
At County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for our Specialty Doctors in Emergency Medicine. Our commitment to professional development is evident through flexible working hours, opportunities for research funding, and a culture that encourages continuous learning and collaboration within a dedicated team. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the community while advancing your career in a vibrant healthcare setting.
