Specialist Optometrist

A fantastic opportunity has become available for a Specialist Optometrist in a busy and expanding London eye Department. The Optometry department is a key part of the Ophthalmology team with our 8 Optometrists working in a great variety of clinics and sub specialities.

This position is suitable for experienced Optometrists wishing to develop their clinical skills within the various disciplines of Ophthalmology. The post holder will be able to work in multiple clinics which provides an excellent variety to the role. The post holder will work both autonomously within core optometry and under our Consultants in extended role.

On the contracted days this would currently include a mixture of Adult and Paediatric Refraction, Consultant-led Glaucoma, Semi Virtual Retina (dependent on experience) and Medical retina clinic, Medical Contact Lenses and a unique opportunity to work within our Paediatric Ophthalmology clinics including specialist clinics for children with additional needs. Clinics are subject to change and you may need to be flexible in working within other clinics.

There are significant opportunities to develop within the role, gaining experience in extended roles and being involved in audit and research.

For further information or to visit the department please contact Miss Sophie Hinton (Principal Optometrist) for further details on .

Main duties of the job

As a Specialist Optometrist the post holder will be practicing within a range of core and extended role clinics to give patients safe and effective clinical care.

These could include depending on the sessions worked:

• Adult and Paediatric Refraction
• Complex Contact lenses
• Low Vision
• Optometrist led Stable Glaucoma
• Consultant led Glaucoma
• Cataract
• Cornea and Anterior Segment
• Medical Retina
• Paediatric Ophthalmology clinics including specialist clinics for those with Special Educational Needs, Downs Syndrome and Hearing Impairment
• School screening service jointly with our orthoptists for schools in the area providing for children with additional needs and autism.

The post holder will provide supervision and education of pre-registration optometry students.

The post holder will participate in educational activities ran by and for the Ophthalmology Department. This includes the teaching of undergraduate or orthoptic students, medical undergraduates, junior doctors and other health care professionals.

The post holder will be expected to fully involve themselves with the team working to uphold high standards of care and suggest improvements that will benefit our patients, the team and the Trust.

The post holder should be keen to further develop their knowledge and skills both in their own time through further education and through our department teaching.

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Optometry BSc (Optometry)
• Registered with the General Optical Council (GOC)
• Member of the Association of Optometrists (AOP) or equivalent insurer
• Commitment to Continuing Professional Development including participation in compulsory continuing education and training as required by the General Optical Council
• Further post-graduate optometry qualification relating to a highly specialist aspect of clinical optometry, for example, MECS/WOPEC/College of Optometrists Professional Certificate, Higher Certificate or Diploma

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Post registration clinical experience in a variety of roles
• Knowledge of current NICE guidelines and potential management options for common eye conditions
• Knowledge of common ophthalmic surgeries and the potential risks and benefits of these
• Ability to keep comprehensive and accurate records and give attention to clinical detail to ensure patient safety
• Ability to work efficiently and organise and manage own workload
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and ability to demonstrate empathy when delivering complex &/or distressing information
• Ability to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team and to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
• Understanding and ability to maintain patient confidentiality
• Previous Hospital Optometry Experience
• Experience working in extended optometry roles and shared-care clinics, for example, glaucoma, retina, anterior eye, cataract, medical contact lenses, low vision, complex adult refraction and paediatric refraction.
• Experience working with children, including children with learning disabilities, visual impairment and special needs
• Experience working with elderly or vulnerable adult patients including those with additional needs
• Experience of teaching optometrists and ophthalmologists at undergraduate and post-graduate level and supervision of pre-registration optometrists.
• Clinical Governance Knowledge and experience of governance issues, in particular clinical audit

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.

£54,320 to £60,981 a year per annum inc pro rata