Principal Optometrist

Main area Optometry Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent: Cross site working Hours

• Full time
• Compressed hours

37.5 hours per week (Cross site working) Job ref 213-DH-

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Kings College Hospital Town London Salary £61,927 - £68,676 pro rata, inc HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 18/01/:59

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.7 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

We are looking for an innovative, self-motivated and enthusiastic Optometrist to join our friendly and dynamic team and provide clinical professional leadership to our Optometrists. Our cross site department consists of Orthoptists and Optometrists and we work closely with a large extended team.

The caseload is extremely varied and will include core Optometry clinics, contact lens and Ophthalmology clinics.

We also currently have a number of trainee ACPs working directly within Ophthalmology and are very supportive in developing ACP roles to support and develop a sustainable service for the future.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will play a pivotal role within the Optical Services team consisting of both Optometrists and Orthoptists. They will work collaboratively as part of an integrated team, contributing to a unified clinical approach while maintaining professional identity and working within own scope of practice. Operating at an advanced level, the post holder will provide expert diagnostic assessment and intervention, offering specialist advice within their field.

The post holder will be responsible for the professional leadership of optometry staff working across an extensive range of specialist services in Ophthalmology, including:

Independent clinics such as paediatrics, refraction, contact lens, low vision, post-op cataract within consultant led clinics such as glaucoma, retina, paediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology, cornea, acute/emergency care.

This role encompasses both managerial and clinical responsibilities, ensuring professional leadership and robust support for Optometrists to uphold high-quality clinical practice in Optical Services. Additionally, the post holder will serve as a subject matter expert, providing teaching and training to registered and pre-registration Optometrists, as well as the wider ophthalmology team, including trainees and students where appropriate.

The post holder will also drive continuous quality improvement initiatives, oversee audits, and ensure that evidence-based practice is embedded in the service.

Working for our organisation

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To deliver core and specialist clinical care in a range of ophthalmic sub-specialty clinical services including advanced optometric extended roles and non-medical prescribing.

Provide highly specialised optometric services to a diverse patient population including eye care advice, and ocular health management.

To independently manage and deliver highly specialised therapeutic contact lens fitting and aftercare for paediatric, keratoconus, traumatic injury, post-graft, and post-operative patients.

Support the development of co-managed care models to reduce pressure on Consultant Ophthalmologist clinic capacity and meet the evolving needs of the Ophthalmology service.

To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless patient care, addressing and resolving issues as they arise.

To work as an autonomous practitioner, proactively managing your own caseload.

To act as an expert resource within Optometry as well as with the wider clinical team.

To set and adhere to evidence-based standards of care.

To be competent in the use of complex optical and ophthalmic equipment ensuring it is properly tested and calibrated.

To ensure accurate and appropriate onward referrals and clinical escalations through the correct route.

To demonstrate strong referral management skills, using advanced triage, and prioritisation based on clinical urgency combined with an understanding of capacity and available resource.

To provide advanced clinical assessment using strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills, applying advanced analytical approaches.

To offer guidance and support to patients and carers, enabling informed decisions about their future care.

To ensure effective care pathways are in place within the service for patient referral, diagnosis, ongoing management and for discharge as appropriate.

Person specification Education and qualifications

• Degree in Optometry
• GOC Registration
• Postgraduate study (MSc level or equivalent):
• Teaching qualification
• Qualification in an extended role (e.g. ACP, Prof Cert Glaucoma)

Knowledge and Experience

• Relevant post-registration clinical experience in managing a broad range of core complex optometric cases in a hospital setting
• Experience of the development of policies/protocols/SOPs/guidelines
• Demonstrable experience of delivering quality/service improvement
• Strategic planning, workforce analysis and service improvement experience.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

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.