Regional Clinical Lead in Preston

Optegra has an exciting new job opportunity for an experienced Clinical Lead to join our amazing and dedicated regional team. This role covers three hospitals across the region Manchester, Preston and Sheffield and requires regular travel between sites. This is a great opportunity to join a forward-thinking business and benefit from our fantastic fully funded training and development programs.

Main duties of the job

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, and in alignment with Optegra values, ensure a comprehensive level of care provision to all ophthalmic patients, their relatives, or carers, across clinical and non-clinical care pathways, with an emphasis on quality patient care across all hospitals within the region.

• Provides clinical leadership to the hospital sites.
• Responsible for the management and activity of clinical services, theatre and outpatient departments in line with policies, practice standards, regulation and governance.
• The post holder will provide excellent care to all patients, and manage the patient flow through departments, to provide high-quality, cost-effective care that puts the patient first at all times.
• Ensuring visible leadership is always maintained and day to day running of the theatres and outpatient departments are managed efficiently to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective management of relevant pathways.

About us

Optegra Eye Healthcare has been proudly recognised as one of 115 Best Big Places to Work 2025 as awarded by the Sunday Times. We are committed to creating an exceptional working environment where our people thrive. Join us and be part of a team that values your growth, wellbeing, and contribution every step of the way.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Services

• Oversee care delivery and co-ordinate activities of multi-disciplinary clinical teams to optimise patient outcomes with available resources whilst complying with regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Participate in and undertake clinical activity as necessary to support the delivery of care at site.
• Liaise with multi-disciplinary team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care for patients undergoing theatre procedures.
• Effectively monitor and manage all resources in the theatre and wards, including workforce planning, efficiency of theatres lists etc.
• Provide effective deployment of resources needed to sustain agreed activity.
• Alongside the HOCS, where required develop and implement action plans as a result of clinical audit and reviews.
• Empower staff to deliver high quality care through high professional standards at all times demonstrated by adherence to nationally recognised policies/procedures and NMC Code compliance and AfPP standards.
• As part of the senior management team, contribute to the strategic direction and operational management of the hospital.
• Continually examine opportunities for continuous clinical improvement and develop and maintain a culture of change in line with best practice.
• Represent the department for nursing/clinical issues at management meetings.

People Management

• Provide direction and highly visible professional leadership for all staff in the operating theatre and outpatient department including appraisals, rotas, development, retention, and recruitment.
• Alongside the Hospital Manager, monitor staff attendance and turnover. Ensuring policy and procedure are always adhered to. Identifying contra-indicators and developing strategies to address where required.
• Ensure new employees are inducted to Optegra, the organisation and their department in a timely and professional manner.
• Foster a culture of professionalism and development for all nursing, ODP and non-clinical staff through induction, supervision, appraisal, mandatory training, CPD, etc.
• Resolve any workplace conflict in a professional manner through the correct organisational processes.
• Support both the Regional Head of Clinical Services and the Hospital Manager in planning and maintaining clinical departmental budget ensuring budgetary requirements are met.
• Support the Hospital Manager to effectively manage efficiencies i.e. manage the departmental budget to control costs and monitor effective use of resources.
• With the Hospital Manager build effective controls to ensure the departmental KPIs and financial targets are achieved.
• Monitor and manage on an ongoing basis, the use of consumables to ensure efficiency and cost containment are maximised and appropriate for current occupancy and case mix.

Communication, Consultation & Change

• Be a positive role model for the team fostering a culture that is forward thinking and free from blame, encouraging everyone to speak freely and openly.
• Liaise closely with the HOCS and Hospital manager on relevant issues relating to the provision of clinical services.
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and supportive work environment by communicating relevant policies and guidelines to all staff.
• Alongside the HOCS and Hospital Manager ensure the strategic direction, goals, planned changes and outcomes of the hospital are effectively communicated to all clinical staff.
• Encourage contribution from the team via regular meetings and open communication etc.
• Foster an environment which encourages staff to raise concerns to ensure that all clinical staff can be open and honest with patients and colleagues embracing the duty of candour at all levels within the company.

Clinical Governance, Quality & Patient Safety

• Work with the consultant body to ensure a culture of high-quality care and candour is embedded and visible through the Quality and Governance agenda. This includes monitoring effectiveness.
• Responsible for effective management of any records which are required are kept in accordance with professional, company, regulatory and legislative needs.
• Collect, analyse and report on relevant clinical indicators specific to the clinical departments when required.
• Responsible for effective Clinical Governance, Quality and Patient Safety policies & procedures are in place commensurate with legislation, CQC guidance and the aspiration of the organisation.
• Ensuring that systems & processes are in place so that all departmental staff are aware of the organisations policies and procedures and their application to the specific needs of patients and the organisation.
• Responsible for Infection prevention and control policies are up to date and reflect best practice within the relevant department.
• Responsible for departmental audits are carried out in a timely manner, outcomes acted upon and shared accordingly.
• Responsible for effective processes and procedures are in place to identify, report, investigate, monitor, and act upon critical incident reports.
• Foster a culture of learning from critical incident to ensure lessons learned are disseminated according to company policy.

Safeguarding

Comply with the Optegra's Safeguarding policies, procedures, and protocols. All individuals have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Personal & Professional Development

Demonstrate commitment to the profession through continued registration with professional body. Participate in appraisal, continuing professional development and supervision as required by professional Codes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Comprehensive understanding of relevant clinical standards (e.g. AfPP standards) and regulatory frameworks applicable to the hospital and departments.
• Exposure in a senior role to Consultants, Physicians, allied health professionals, patients, and suppliers.
• Previous leadership experience within a day surgical and/or operating theatre environment over multiple clinical disciplines.
• Experience in all areas of people management.
• Experience of implementing and supporting evidence based clinical practice.
• Registered General Nurse with NMC or ODP registered with the HCPC would be desirable but is not essential.

Experience

• Previous leadership experience within a day surgical and/or operating theatre environment over multiple clinical disciplines.
• Experience in all areas of people management.
• Experience of implementing and supporting evidence based clinical practice.