Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner - Stratford

Moorfields; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Free counselling service

Flexible working

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner to join our Stratford team. Training will develop ophthalmic imaging skills while you work toward a Level 2 healthcare apprenticeship, supporting patients with kindness and respect.

You will learn within a multidisciplinary team, delivering patient care and assisting with imaging procedures in a structured training program. Opportunities for development and flexible working are offered.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (Grade C or above).
• Willingness to complete Level 2 Healthcare Apprenticeship.
• Experience in a customer service/front-facing role is desirable.
• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with a patient-focused approach.
• Ability to use Microsoft packages.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients and manage patient flow to ensure a smooth, respectful experience.
• Assist in routine ophthalmic imaging procedures under supervision.
• Support clinical staff in delivering high-quality patient care and safety.
• Contribute to a compassionate, professional environment and maintain patient confidentiality.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Ophthalmic imaging

Education

GCSE Maths and English

Level 2 Healthcare Apprenticeship (willingness)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We're proud of our team and recognise the significant contributions they make to patients here in the UK and globally. When you join Moorfields Eye Hospital you can help us continue to deliver excellence and equity in patient care through kindness and compassion for all.

Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner - Stratford

NHS AfC: Band 3

Main area Ophthalmic Vision Science Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent: 3 vacancies: 2 x Full-Time (37.5 hrs) and 1 x Part-Time (30 hrs). Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 273-DN-8332273

Site Moorfields at Stratford Town Stratford Salary £31,554 - £33,270 per annum pro rata incl. HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 30/10/2026 23:59

YOU MAKE US MORE

Join Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

At Moorfields, people’s sight matters—and so do the people who make it possible.

For over 200 years, Moorfields has been at the forefront of ophthalmic care, research, and education. With more than 2,300 dedicated team members and over 700,000 patients seen annually across our City Road site and 22 networked sites, we are proud to be a global centre of excellence.

We’re also a vibrant community where kindness, equity and excellence shape every aspect of our work. Whether it’s pioneering research through our partnership with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre or training the next generation of global eye care leaders, we’re united by one mission—delivering world-class eye health, sustainably and at scale.

From 2027, we’ll move to our brand-new site in St Pancras, Camden—a state-of-the-art centre that will unite eye care, research, and education under one roof - Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health. This groundbreaking facility, developed in partnership with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity, will enable transformative innovation and collaboration like never before.

Could you be part of this future? Make us more.

Job overview

Have you always wanted an opportunity to start a career in healthcare but were unsure of how?

Do you want a meaningful career that will make a real difference to people’s lives?

Could your excellent customer services skills be translated into excellent patient care? If so, this may be for you.

We have a fantastic opportunity to join our dedicated team of skilled Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioners (OVSP).

As an Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner, you will be trained to work within Ophthalmic Imaging, a specialised form of medical photography dedicated to the recording and treatment of many disorders of the eye.

In this role you will earn as you learn and gain valuable work experience. There is not a requirement to have previously worked within the NHS or ophthalmology however you must be willing to study towards a level 2 healthcare apprenticeship.

You will follow a comprehensive structured training programme that could start your career path. There many career routes you may not have been aware of and we encourage staff to explore areas of interest.

Please note: we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Main duties of the job

As an Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner, you will greet patients, manage patient flow and ensure everyone has an excellent experience during their appointment, treating them with dignity and respect at all times.

You will be trained to undertake a range of routine ophthalmic imaging procedures on medical devices and support qualified staff in the assessment of health needs and the delivery of care for patients, including clinical risk assessment.

This role also involves working collaboratively with others as part of the multi-disciplinary team, assisting clinical staff in delivering high quality patient care.

Working for our organisation

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

• Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement (for London based roles)
• 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

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN RESPONSIBILTITES

The post holder works as part of a team under supervision and will:

• Participate in the delivery of patient centered care, always maintaining a compassionate and professional attitude
• Contribute to the ward/clinic/department/organisation
  Support senior staff in the provision of a caring and safe environment
• Demonstrate competence in generic and specialist skills following the completion of the appropriate training and education and within twelve months from commencement in role
• Function at a competency level in line with the requirements of the post and achieve and maintain both mandatory and statutory training requirements associated with the role.

Clinical Practice

• Support qualified staff in the assessment of health needs and the delivery of care for a number of individuals or groups of patients, including clinical risk assessment
• Work collaboratively with others as part of the multi-disciplinary team, assisting nursing and other clinical staff in duties associated with patient care
• Treat patients with dignity and respect and maintaining their confidentiality both inside and outside the hospital environment.
• To be competent in undertaking a routine ophthalmic imaging procedure on medical devices, the provision of clinical work and any related tasks following formal training under Moorfields Ophthalmic Vision Science practitioners’ technical competency framework and where needed provide appropriate support for newly appointed staff
• Be responsible for the initial reporting of faulty equipment and follow-up repairs, keeping the supervisor or nurse in charge informed ensuring the clinical areas are prepared and maintained throughout the day
• Liaise effectively with all stakeholders in the care process including carers and relatives as well as to support colleagues to ensure patients receive care in a timely manner during their visit to any site under the care of Moorfields
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations
• Act as a chaperone when required
• Manage patient flow by monitoring patient times along the patient journey. Report any delays to the supervisor or nurse in charge.
• Ensure those patients that require special assistance are monitored and supported
• Ensure effective handover of patients between shifts/healthcare professionals /departments using a range of communication aids such as verbal handover/ safety huddle/ written documentation/referral
• To assist or attend patient basic care where required
• Give clear and concise explanation and test instructions to ensure maximum patient understanding and co-operation, taking into account patients who have visual impairment, hearing loss, physical or mental disabilities, learning difficulties, different age groups, cultural differences and non-English speaking patients
• Observe and report to senior staff any change in a patients physical and psychological condition
• Obtain verbal consent from the patients before any clinical intervention is undertaken, where this is not given report this to senior staff
• Ensure any safeguarding concerns are raised with team leader / nurse in charge
• Be an active participant in providing education and health promotion advice to patients and their carers
• Support patients and/or relatives that are in need of assistance
  Identify and act upon acutely unwell members of the public and/or colleagues according to their BLS training.

Professionalism

• Maintain and update relevant knowledge and skills, undertaking and completing further training and academic qualifications as appropriate to the role and service requirements
• Adhere to all trust policies, guidelines and standards ensuring a high standard of personal and professional behavior and dress ismaintained at all times whilst acting as an ambassador for the trust and a role model to others
• Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks
• Maintain professional boundaries and working relations with patients and colleagues,
• The post holder may be deployed/expected to work in any part of the organisation should the need arise to ensure patient safety is maintained

Communication

• Communicate clearly and appropriately with patients, their relatives/friends, colleagues and all other members of the multidisciplinary team, including responding to queries, answering the phone, taking messages, and passing on written and verbal information
• Identify patient's individual communication needs and assure correct communication support is provided to those who need using available translating services
• To comply with the trust information governance policy and patient's confidentiality
• Provide patients with information and advice ensuring that the information provided is in a format which meets their needs e.g. large, Braille or other languages, complying with AIS standards
• Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and ensure effective communication with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and relatives, mindful of own and others body language and barriers which may affect communication
• Participate in discussions about patients care and ward/clinic/departmental issues at safety huddle /handover meetings

Safety and Quality

• Contributes towards the completion of clinical audits and research and work in partnership with colleagues to continually improve on the quality and safety of care provided.
• Be aware of and comply with all trust policies and procedures which govern health and safety and clinical practice
• In line with the trust's Incident Reporting system, report any accidents, incidents, near misses and defects to your supervisor.
• Remove any hazards which could potentially cause injury to staff, patients or visitors
• Support colleagues to ensure the quality metrics are displayed and are kept up to date in order to keep our patients informed of our quality and safety data and how we are improving our services.
• Be aware of the trust procedures on risk register and clinical incidents and participate in ensuring lessons learnt are implemented and embedded in practice, to maintain a safety culture within your department.

Education/Learning Development

• Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational needs and personal development plan as agreed with your line manager
• Maintain your compliance with mandatory and statutory training and annual appraisals.
• Take responsibility for maintaining a record of your own personal development and inform your manager if there is any deviance from training compliance
• Undertake any appropriate training as deemed necessary by your line manager to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care
• Support and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff and students
• Contribute and participate towards patient engagement and involvement initiatives e.g. patient focus groups, patient information sessions
• Continually develop computer literacy skills/digital in order to use electronic systems to deliver safe and effective care both within the department and the trust level.

Leadership, Teamwork

• Lead by example and act on own initiative
• Contribute to team meetings and service improvement management initiatives and where appropriate, propose changes and if approved implement the changes
• Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks
• Understand the patient complaints procedures and work in partnership with senior colleagues to ensure that lessons learnt and changes in practice required is embedded as a result of feedback from complaints
• Utilise opportunities to support ongoing professional development by undertaking delegated tasks for your line manager in his/ her absence
• Actively participate in department team huddles and / or debriefs, ensuring you contribute to improving both staff and patients’ experience quality and safe care.
• The post holder will undertake other duties as may be required to achieve the trusts objectives, commensurate with the grading of the post. This includes acquiring additional skills to use new pieces of equipment.
• This post involves manual handling activities and exposure to body fluids and chemicals. May involve some VDU work and individuals may be exposed to violence and aggression.
• The post holder is also required to undertake physical task such as moving and handling, leading and guiding for example as well as clinical tasks as identified in the Person Specification.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

• GC/GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English (Grade C or above)
• Willingness to complete level 2 healthcare apprenticeship

Experience

• Demonstration of working in a team
• Experience working in a NHS / private healthcare setting
• Minimum one year experience in a customer service / front facing role

Knowledge

• Understanding of equal opportunities

Skills / Abilities

• Good communication skills written and verbal
• Ability to use Microsoft packages

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.

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.

Moorfields is a flexible working friendly organisation, and we 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.

If we receive sufficient applications, we will close this ad prior to the closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying or would like an accessible version of any recruitment documents, please contact the recruitment team at [e-mail].

Moorfields Eye Hospital does not charge applicants any recruitment or sponsorship fees. Our website and published contact details are the only authorised channels for applications and verification of job offers.

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/work-for-us

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.