Ophthalmic Local Training (OLT) Doctor in City of Westminster

Main area Ophthalmology Grade MN37 Contract 4 years (Fixed term until 15.11.2028) Hours Full time - 40 hours per week (Fixed term Until 01/03/2031) Job ref 290-TDPB-166

Site Western Eye Hospital Town London Salary £45,715 - £69,976 per annum +LDN Weighting Closing 19/11/2026 23:59

Fulfil your potential in hospitals that make history:

Charing Cross, Hammersmith, St Mary’s, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and Western Eye.

With five world-renowned hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is full of opportunity if you are looking to develop your healthcare career.

We are an NHS Trust of approximately 16,000 people, providing care for over a million and a half patients from north west London and beyond every year.

We have a rich heritage and an ambitious vision for the future of our patients and local communities.

With our partners, Imperial College London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, we form Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, one of 6 academic health science centres in the UK, working to ensure the rapid translation of research for better patient care and excellence in education.

We are proud of our heritage in innovation and we are early adopters of new insights in technologies, techniques and treatments for improving health.

Job overview

This is a locally employed Ophthalmic Local Training (OLT) post at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, based primarily at the Western Eye Hospital.

The programme provides structured clinical and surgical training, supervised experience across ophthalmic subspecialties and a clear framework for progression towards the GMC Portfolio Pathway to specialist registration.

The OLT programme is designed to mirror the standards and learning outcomes of Ophthalmic Specialist Training (OST), aligned with the RCOphth Ophthalmic Specialist Training Curriculum 2024, while recognising the applicant’s previous experience and individual training needs. The successful candidate will be appointed to an appropriate equivalent level following assessment at recruitment, with a personalised training plan, rotations and regular feedback.

Main duties of the job

Main duties and responsibilities

Clinical care: Assess, investigate and manage patients in general and specialist ophthalmology clinics under appropriate supervision, escalating when needed. Contribute to inpatient, outpatient, day-case, perioperative and acute care, including on-call duties, prioritising sight-threatening presentations.

Rotations: Follow an individually agreed training timetable, gaining experience across ophthalmic subspecialties, with no more than two emergency sessions per week.

Surgical training: Attend training theatre lists, progressing from assisting to performing procedures under consultant supervision, including cataract surgery and lasers. Maintain an Eye Logbook and a continuous cataract complications audit.

Supervision and portfolio: Meet the Educational Supervisor at each attachment, agree a Personal Development Plan, complete workplace-based assessments and maintain a current portfolio for annual review of progression.

Education: Attend weekly regional and local teaching (minimum 75% attendance), prepare for RCOphth examinations and contribute to teaching.

Governance and leadership: Contribute to audit, quality improvement, research and patient safety, develop leadership skills and demonstrate the Trust values of Kind, Collaborative, Expert and Aspirational.

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

The statutory requirement to be fully Covid-19 vaccinated as a condition of employment from April 2022 is subject to legislative review. At Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination uptake as this remains the best line of defence against COVID19. The successful applicant may have contact with patients and service users and as part of our pre-employment checks and risk assessments, we will ask all candidates to confirm whether or not they have been fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption.

As part of our continued response to Covid19 we are still conducting the majority of our interviews virtually.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part-time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

About the role

This Trust-employed post offers structured clinical and surgical training aligned with the RCOphth OST Curriculum 2024, supporting progression towards the GMC Portfolio Pathway. It is not a national training number post.

Key responsibilities:

• Assess and manage patients in general and subspecialty clinics under supervision, escalating appropriately.
• Rotate across glaucoma, cornea, cataract, retina, uveitis, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, strabismus and paediatrics.
• Contribute to acute eye care and on-call duties, normally no more than two emergency sessions a week.
• Attend training theatre lists, progressing to supervised cataract surgery, lasers and minor procedures, keeping an Eye Logbook and cataract complications audit.
• Agree a Personal Development Plan with a named Educational Supervisor, complete workplace-based assessments and maintain a portfolio for annual review.
  • Attend protected weekly regional teaching, prepare for RCOphth examinations and contribute to teaching.
  • Take part in audit, quality improvement, research and patient safety, demonstrating the Trust values of Kind, Collaborative, Expert and Aspirational
• Essential: MBBS or equivalent, full GMC registration with a licence to practise and ophthalmic experience appropriate to entry level

Person specification

Academic Achievements Including Research/Publications

• Commitment to evidence-based medicine and ability to critically appraise clinical information and apply it to patient care.
• Research participation, conference presentation, peer-reviewed publication or relevant academic project
• Primary medical qualification (MBBS or equivalent).
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise. Evidence of continuing professional development and eligibility to work in the UK.
• Part 1 FRCOphth, Refraction Certificate or progress towards later FRCOphth examinations. Previous curriculum-mapped training or higher ophthalmic qualification.

Relevant experience in ophthalmology

• Clinical experience and competency appropriate to the proposed OLT entry level. Sound foundations in ophthalmic assessment, patient safety, clinical documentation and appropriate escalation.
• Previous NHS ophthalmology experience; exposure to general and subspecialty clinics, eye emergency services and theatre; evidence of relevant prior training competencies.

Education and Qualifications

• On GMC’s register with a Licence to Practice or eligible to apply for GMC registration and a Licence to Practice
• On GMC’s Specialist Register or within six months of being admitted to the register by the date of the interviews or eligible for specialist registration
• Appropriate Royal College Membership.
• Currently Working in NHS
• MD, PhD

Clinical examination and decision-making

• Ability to undertake visual acuity assessment, slit-lamp examination, dilated fundus assessment and tonometry, with understanding of differential diagnosis, investigations and safe management plans.
• Experience with gonioscopy, OCT and fundus imaging interpretation, visual fields, B-scan and advanced examination techniques.

Communication and patient-focused care

• Clear spoken and written English appropriate to the role; empathy, professional communication, reliable clinical documentation and ability to explain uncertainty and safety-netting.

Surgical and procedural aptitude

• Interest in procedural and surgical ophthalmology; willingness to undertake simulation, work within supervision limits, maintain a logbook and seek timely assistance.
• Ophthalmic wet-lab or surgical experience, cataract theatre exposure, laser procedures or documented surgical assessments relevant to entry level.

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

We operate a joint recruitment hub across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative Group. As part of this, your application and personal data may be shared with partner trusts within the group for recruitment and workforce purposes, in line with general data protection regulation (GDPR).

Vacancy Closing Date

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Recruitment fraud warning

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust does not charge any fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or offers of employment. All legitimate recruitment communications and applications will be made through our official careers website and published contact details. If you receive a job offer or recruitment communication requesting payment, please do not make any payment and verify it with us using the contact details published on our official careers website.

Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

#J-18808-Ljbffr