Band 5 Junior Ophthalmic Imaging Research Technician

Integrated Care System; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity at Integrated Care System for a Band 5 Junior Ophthalmic Imaging Research Technician, working with the Core Research Team in Birmingham. The role involves providing essential ophthalmic imaging support for research projects, ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and clinical experience in the NHS, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Benefits

27 days' leave plus bank holidays

Enhanced pay for unsocial hours

Ongoing learning and development opportunities

Structured career progression

Qualifications

• Clinical experience working in the NHS with adults with significant sensory impairment.
• Ability to follow protocols accurately and work under sustained pressure.
• Technical knowledge of ophthalmic imaging equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality ophthalmic imaging and produce research.
• Ensure Health and Safety requirements are met for research.
• Perform technical assessments as per research study protocol.

Skills

Excellent hand/eye coordination

Problem solving skills

Effective interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

BSc in biological or physiological science

5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English and mathematics

Tools

Spectralis

OCT

Humphrey visual field analyser

Medisoft

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Band 5 Junior Ophthalmic Imaging Research Technician

The closing date is 28 July 2025

Do you want to make a difference and change patient care and experience through research?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Junior Ophthalmic Imaging Research Technician, working with the Core Research Team. The Core Research Team deliver research across multiple specialities, this includes Neurology, Ophthalmology, Liver and Diabetes to name a few.

The post holder will provide ophthalmic imaging support for the ophthalmology research portfolio and to wider R&D department. They will provide high quality ophthalmic imaging and produce research in line with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, with a commitment to the patients' safety and wellbeing.

If you are passionate about research and feel ready to take the next step in your career, UHB is a great place to work, offering a working environment with an inclusive culture that looks after and values our people and creates a sense of belonging. We encourage applications from people who embrace our values and who will enable us to expand our diverse workforce.

What we offer

*27 days' leave plus bank holidays (rising to 29 after five and 33 after 10 years' service)

*Enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours

*Ongoing learning and development opportunities

*Structured personal development and career progression plan

*Great maternity, paternity and adoption pay

*Wide range of LGBT+ initiatives and staff networks

*Health service discounts and online benefits

Main duties of the job

Perform technical assessments as per research study protocol, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography, Humphrey or Goldmann visual field analyser, automated focimetry, retinal photography (including widefield imaging using the Optos) and Immersion US biometry.

Receive and resolve data queries.

Work with the Ophthalmology Research Consultants, external study PI's and research teams to highlight and resolve any issues that arrive during research delivery.

Use technical expertise to advise on quality issues and appropriate imaging and visual function testing modalities.

Ensure that Health and Safety requirements are met for ophthalmic imaging and the research team provides a safe environment for research. Conduct risk analyses where appropriate.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

• *BSc in biological or physiological science or equivalent experience in relevant field or Level 4/Level 5 in Ophthalmic and Vision Science
• *5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English language and mathematics

Experience

• *Clinical experience working in the NHS with adults who have significant sensory impairment / adults with learning difficulties
• *Experience of using Spectralis, Flex OCT, ORA, Optos, Kowa, and interpreting the clinical findings
• *Experience of assessing visual fields using Humphrey or Goldmann visual field analysers in line with set competency standards
• *Documentary evidence of CPD to demonstrate knowledge of up-to-date technical / clinical advancements and methods
• *Technical knowledge of how to set up and operate Humphrey and Goldmann Analysers and how to modify testing to ensure accuracy of the results obtained
• *Knowledge of refractive errors and how they are corrected with spectacles
• *Technical knowledge of how to operate manual and automated lens analyser to assess single vision, bifocal and varifocal lenses
• *Knowledge of how to select the most appropriate method for assessing visual acuity taking into account the ability and understanding of individual patients
• *Knowledge of information governance, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding
• *Knowledge of patient confidentiality
• *Experience of using Aviso equipment and interpreting the clinical findings
• *Knowledge of appointment procedures for new and old patients
• *Experience using Medisoft / clinical portal

Additional Criteria

• *Previous experience using Humphrey and Goldmann visual field analysers in line with set competency standards
• *Ability to take OCT / OCT-A scans
• *Ability to use Optos
• *Excellent hand / eye coordination, dexterity and speed when performing clinical investigations
• *Innovative approach to work and must be able to respond quickly to changes in working practice
• *Sound problem solving skills
• *Self-motivated with strong commitment to high standard of patient care
• *Ability to follow protocols accurately and to work under sustained pressure whilst maintaining high levels of concentration
• *Ability to write clearly and interpret instructions
• *Ability to keep and maintain detailed patient records at all times
• *Effective time manager and able to prioritise own workload
• *Ability to maintain and utilise department and Trust information systems and ensure the accuracy of the information held
• *Experience using Microsoft office
• *Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and evolve professional relationships with staff at all levels
• *Excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and ability to overcome barriers to communication that may relate to language / hearing / vision / age / intelligence
• *Ability to demonstrate well developed communication and persuasion skills needed to work with patients with long-term conditions that may require a lifetime of regular hospital attendance and treatment
• *Must be able to identify own limitations in theoretical and practical skills and thus when to seek the advice of a senior colleague
• *Self- motivated with strong commitment to high standard of patient care
• *Methodical, well organised and efficient
• *Effective time manager and able to prioritise own workload
• *Must demonstrate a pleasant, helpful disposition at all times and be able to make decisions and resolve problems
• *Ability to manage challenging complex cases where patients are distressed
• *Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• *Willingness to acquire and develop new skills
• *Willingness to undertake self-study as appropriate
• *Willingness to attend external training courses and demonstrable commitment to personal development
• *Willing to actively participate in research projects relevant to ophthalmic imaging and to assist in the research activities of the department
• *Ability to perform Ultrasound immersion biometry and Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM)
• *Ability to use Kowa and Anterion

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.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust