Clinical Lead Optometrist

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS Trust in Liverpool seeks a full-time Clinical Lead Optometrist to enhance the delivery of emergency eye care and comprehensive optometry services. The ideal candidate will bring significant hospital experience, engage in patient care across various subspecialties, and contribute to clinical audits and research. Candidates must possess a higher degree in Optometry and relevant qualifications, making this position essential for advancing eye care practices within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Registered Optometrist with independent prescribing qualifications.
• Significant experience in Ophthalmic care and related fields.
• Demonstrated leadership and operational management experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver patient care in emergency and general optometry.
• Participate in clinical audits and education training.
• Contribute to research activities and service development.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Negotiation skills

Ability to work autonomously

Education

Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry

Registered Optometrist

Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification

Job description

Job summary

With further development of optometry roles within St Paul's Eye Unit we are looking to recruit an additional full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A). This post will involve a range of patient facing activities with a particular focus on the delivery emergency eye care.

The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the principal optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists.

This post is based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary.

Main duties of the job

St Paul's Eye Unit is a Division within Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We are a tertiary referral centre with around 370 staff including 42 Consultant Ophthalmologists. We delivery eye emergency and general ophthalmology services along with all subspecialty services including ocular neurology, ocular plastics and ocular oncology.

In addition to core optometry activities hospital optometrists are involved in: eye emergency, cornea, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic, medical retinal and clinical research activities.

The post holder will personally deliver patient care in at least one subspecialty, deliver research activity & clinical audit as required, and coordinate their service responsibilities ensuring that delivery of timely, safe, quality care is maintained.

About us

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page.

Details Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

287-OPHT-38-25

Job locations

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Mount Vernon Street

Liverpool

L7 8YE

Job description Job responsibilities

With further development of optometry roles within St Paul's Eye Unit we are looking to recruit an additional full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A). This post will involve a range of patient facing activities with a particular focus on the delivery emergency eye care.

The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the principal optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists.

This post is based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary.

Job description Job responsibilities

With further development of optometry roles within St Paul's Eye Unit we are looking to recruit an additional full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A). This post will involve a range of patient facing activities with a particular focus on the delivery emergency eye care.

The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the principal optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists.

This post is based at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Optometrist
• Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry
• Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification

Desirable

• Management qualification completion of management programme
• Teaching and assessing qualification

Experience Essential

• Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Portfolio of evidence showing achievements in Specialist practice
• Portfolio of evidence showing Research & audit experience
• Portfolio of evidence showing Team leadership experience
• Portfolio of evidence showing Financial awareness
• Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of assessing mental capacity
• Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of service development

Desirable

• Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience
• Lead in audit or research projects

Knowledge Essential

• Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
• Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team

Skills Essential

• Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate
• Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers
• Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development

Other Essential

• Committed to training and development
• Flexibility in clinical case mix
• Vision to develop the service

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered Optometrist
• Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry
• Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification

Desirable

• Management qualification completion of management programme
• Teaching and assessing qualification

Experience Essential

• Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Portfolio of evidence showing achievements in Specialist practice
• Portfolio of evidence showing Research & audit experience
• Portfolio of evidence showing Team leadership experience
• Portfolio of evidence showing Financial awareness
• Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of assessing mental capacity
• Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of service development

Desirable

• Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience
• Lead in audit or research projects

Knowledge Essential

• Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
• Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team

Skills Essential

• Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate
• Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers
• Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development

Other Essential

• Committed to training and development
• Flexibility in clinical case mix
• Vision to develop the service

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Mount Vernon Street

Liverpool

L7 8YE

Employer's website

https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Mount Vernon Street

Liverpool

L7 8YE

Employer's website

https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)