At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead specialist optometry clinics and manage clinical teams in the North East.
- Company: Join Moorfields, the largest hospital optometry department in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy NHS pension, flexible working, free Pilates, and discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in patient care and develop your optometry skills.
- Qualifications: Must have BSc in Optometry and relevant hospital experience.
The predicted salary is between 46300 - 52800 £ per year.
We are looking for highly skilled and motivated optometrists for a principal Optometrist post working within our North East sites. The posts will consist of delivering highly specialist clinical care and significant management experience leading clinical care. Applicants need to have prior experience working in the hospital service and already have the relevant higher qualifications from the College of Optometrists or be working towards them. Experience of managing clinical teams is essential to the role. The successful applicants will be joining an enthusiastic and friendly team of consultants, optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmic nurses and technicians working within the hospital.
As well as joining the largest hospital optometry department that delivers sub‑specialty care, research and education within the optometry sector. Moorfields provides high quality ophthalmology services across the full range of sub‑specialties in hospital and community settings.
Main Duties of the Job
- To be the lead optometrist in the North East division for the trust and work within specialist clinics within the division, liaising with community optometry links in the North East division.
- To develop the role of optometrists within the division in conjunction with the Consultant Ophthalmologists within the clinics and the Service Leads and Head/Deputy Head of Optometry and divisional directors.
- To represent the hospital and the optometric profession in the teaching and management of conditions, by developing UK wide models of eye care.
- To have overall responsibility for the clinical care and supervision of patients seen in the clinic.
- To undertake highly specialist clinical activity requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management that includes a high proportion of tertiary referrals.
- To have overall responsibility of the clinical supervision of clinical staff; supervise all patient examinations carried out by the support/resident/placement/new to clinic optometrist until such time that the support/resident/new to clinic optometrist has attained the appropriate College of Optometrists certificate or completed their competency sign off.
- To provide expert opinion to optometric and non‑optometric colleagues on the management of complex cases within the designated clinics and the Optometry Department.
Working for our organisation
This post will be based at our Stratford, St Ann’s and City Road Clinic site.
Benefits
- Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
- Free 24/7 independent counselling service
- Learning and development opportunities
- Easy and quick transport links
- A range of attractive benefits and discounts
- Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS discount schemes
- Free Pilates classes
- Full support and training to develop your skills
- Flexible working friendly organisation
Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities
- To deliver highly specialist clinical patient care requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management that includes a high proportion of tertiary referrals.
- This activity requires regular use of a wide range of advanced clinical techniques requiring dexterity, precision and intense concentration; and the judgement, analysis and interpretation of the complex clinical findings with a range of management options.
- Patient examinations will be comprehensive and commensurate with clinical experience beyond master’s level (i.e. College of Optometrists Diploma in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing).
- Skills and knowledge are commensurate with those of sub‑specialty medical ophthalmology staff.
- To make independent, patient‑centred clinical decisions on management in the presence of uncertainty (for example where patients are unable to cooperate fully in clinical assessments or the evidence for management options is unclear).
- To be autonomously responsible for medical treatment (including prescribing) and management of patients.
- To recognise when patient clinical findings require Consultant Ophthalmic opinions (e.g. regarding surgery).
- To refer patients with ocular comorbidity to other ophthalmological services appropriately.
- As Clinic Lead in Optometrist, to supervise all patient examinations carried out by the support/resident/placement/new to clinic optometrist until the support/resident/new to clinic optometrist has attained the appropriate College of Optometrists certificate or completed their competency sign off.
- To review all prescribing decisions unless the prescribing optometrist has the correct qualifications together with the College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing and their scope of practice/area of prescribing is in that service.
- To organise the session by reviewing all clinical records at the start of an Optometrist‑led clinic to determine necessary additional clinical tests (e.g. visual fields, imaging, auto‑refraction) utilising the different staff groups efficiently (admin, technical, optometric).
- To undertake a comprehensive range of complex optometry services at Moorfields and out‑reach clinics. These include refraction (complex, diagnostic and paediatric), low‑vision clinics (paediatric, complex, employment). The post holder maintains a personal clinical workload within these services.
- To refer patients for appropriate appliances (contact lenses, spectacles, low‑vision aids) and provide appropriate advice to patients on needs, treatment and corrective aids.
Qualifications - Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- BSc (Hons) Optometry
- Specialist College of Optometrist Professional Certificate Qualifications
Desirable Criteria
- Specialist College of Optometrist Professional Certificate Qualifications
- Specialist College of Optometrist Higher Qualifications
- Specialist College of Optometrist Diploma in Independent Prescribing
- MSc/PhD in Optometry/Ophthalmology
Professional Registration
General Optical Council Registration
Experience
Essential Criteria
- Post‑qualification Hospital experience > 5 years
- Hospital extended role experience > 3 years
- Experience of examining vulnerable groups of patients e.g. CYP / additional needs
- Experience with clinical teaching
- Experience with supervision of junior staff
- Experience in audit
- Experience with line management and appraisal
Desirable Criteria
- Hospital extended role experience
- Experience with line management and appraisal
- Experience in research
- Experience dealing with quality and safety issues e.g. complaints, incidents, risk assessment
- Experience of formal undergraduate/postgraduate teaching
- Experience of presenting at national and international meetings and conferences
- Experience of writing protocols, competencies and standard operating procedures
Skills
Essential Criteria
- Competent use of a slit‑lamp to examine the anterior and posterior eye with specialist lenses
- Competent performance of retinoscopy
- Ability to analyse and interpret ocular imaging e.g. OCT, visual fields, topography to an expert clinical level e.g. diagnosis and formulate management plans
- Ability to use electronic patient record systems
- Excellent written and verbal communication
Desirable Criteria
- Ability to write detailed clinical summaries
- Excellent interpersonal skills highlighting the complexity of multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work environments, and the overall needs of the service
- Advanced planning and organisational skills
- Ability to sensitively manage staff and patients with respect to their emotional well‑being
- Expertly and effectively communicate sensitive and complex information in a range of situations e.g. clinical information to patients, unwelcome & bad news, or where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. patients with additional needs and other sensory impairments.
- Ability to identify service improvement needs and innovate solutions
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our organisational culture. As part of our pledge to take positive action in recruitment we encourage applications from under‑represented candidates including BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and Disabled candidates as we work towards a representative workforce that is able to provide the quality, the dignity and respect and to deliver above and beyond.
Employment Conditions
Due to the nature of this position, employment is subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK, completion of a satisfactory DBS disclosure and two references. We do not offer visa sponsorship for roles unless clearly stated in our adverts, so please consider this before applying. We are a flexible working friendly organisation and are committed to helping our employees achieve a work‑life balance that is beneficial for health and wellbeing, motivation levels and job satisfaction. Every employee of the Trust has the right to request to work flexibly. Please speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
We will close this ad prior to the closing date if sufficient applications are received. Please do not delay submitting your completed application. To discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying or to obtain an accessible version of any recruitment documents, please contact the recruitment team at moorfields.recruitment@nhs.net. For more information see https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/work-for-us.
Divisional Lead Optometrist - North East employer: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, Fellowship
Moorfields Eye Hospital is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for optometrists in the North East. With access to extensive learning and development opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to employee well-being, you will thrive in a culture that values your expertise and fosters professional growth. Join our dedicated team and contribute to pioneering eye care services while enjoying attractive benefits, including NHS pension schemes and discounts.
Contact Details:
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, Fellowship Recruitment Team
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