Dispensing Optician

SeeAbility; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training

Pension

Awards

DBS paid

Annual Leave

Wage Stream advance pay

Job summary

SeeAbility is seeking a Special School Dispensing Optician to work mobile across Isle of Wight SEN services. The role involves managing a caseload of schools, delivering spectacle dispensing and related services to pupils with complex needs.

The successful candidate will work 4–5 school days per week (20–25 hours) in schools during term time and spend remaining time from home, with travel requirements and a full driving licence essential.

Qualifications

• Dispensing optician with NHS special school eyecare experience preferred.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a car are required.
• Experience working in a non-commercial, clinical setting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Dispense spectacles, perform repairs, replacements and follow ups for a caseload of Isle of Wight schools.
• Manage own diary and clinics across multiple schools under supervision.
• Coordinate with schools to book rooms, gain parental consent and book diaries for optometrists.
• Provide teaching staff inset training on eye care and vision.

Skills

Dispensing optician

Driving licence

Car access

Job description

Join our Team as Special School Dispensing Optician-Mobile- SEN Services

Location

Schools across Isle of Wight

Salary

£31,500 per annum with SeeAbility benefits + all professional fees and travel expenses paid + company pension

Hours

Full Time (37.5 hours- Monday to Friday) or Part Time (negotiable)

Contract

Permanent

Essential

Ability to attend multiple schools in Isle of Wight is required, as well as a full driving license and regular access to a car

About You

This is an exciting opportunity for a full-time/ part-time dispensing optician to work in a non-commercial, clinically challenging setting providing complex, creative and often life-changing support with spectacles to young people as part of our NHS special school eyecare service. You will have your own caseload of Isle of Wight schools and will work collaboratively with our established eye care team, as well as the school staff teams, and under the guidance of the special schools service manager and dispensing optician clinical lead. Ability to attend multiple schools in Isle of Wight is required, as well as a full driving license and regular access to a car.

What will you be doing?

The successful candidate would be expected to work 4-5 school days (20-25 hours) in the school setting during term time and the rest of time from home. You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of clinics across your defined school caseload. This will include managing your own diary, under the supervision of the service manager and dispensing optician clinical lead, to ensure efficient, timely, high-quality care for all children under our care. You will be responsible for providing spectacle dispensing, repairs, replacements and follow ups to your caseload.

Your responsibilities for the remainder of your full time role and the school holidays, will be to support the special schools service manager in ensuring the smooth running of the service. The service manager will have overall responsibility for the planning of clinics, and you will support by liaising with schools to book clinic rooms and gain consent from parents, book appointment diaries for yourself and the optometrists, respond to parent and school enquiries and offer and provide teaching staff inset training on eye care and vision.

• Please see the attached job description for detailed information involving the role

About Us

Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 225th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!

We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people with a disability to find paid employment for the very first time.

SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.

#INDSJS

Our Benefits

SeeAbility Total Rewards Package

Your development and appreciation

• Fully paid essential training inc. 15 point Module with City St Georges University of London
• Annualexcellence awards
• Long service awards every 5 years and recognition
• Development Discussions: Opportunity to discuss your progress and your future
• Leadership development academy for the next steps in your career

Your work-life balance

No weekends plus working from home during school holidays and outside school hours

• 28 daysholiday (Pro-rata) (incl. bank holidays), increasing to 36 days with long service (1 extra day for each year of service)
• Life events: Time off when you need it most
• 2 weeks Organisational Sick Pay after 6 months service, increasing to 12 weeks over your first 3 years
• Enhanced Family-Friendly Pay
• Paid Fertility Leave
• Carers Leave available

Your money goes further

• £500 monthly bonus scheme for two lucky colleagues
• Eligible for Blue Light Card discounts
• Discounts and cashback at hundreds of shops, restaurants and activities
• Access to Tickets for Good
• Employer contributory pension scheme: Support and tools to help you make the right decisions about your future
• Refer a friend and receive £600
• Paid DBS and renewals
• Advance pay scheme and high interest saving scheme through Wage Stream App for all our colleagues.

Your wellbeing counts

• Cycle to Work scheme
• Life assurance of 2x annual salary
• Free 24/7 employee assistance programme for advice and support
• Free eye test
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Coach for your team

Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare

SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. We expect all staff to uphold this commitment and have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding.

Safer Recruitment

• A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate).
• Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address, and the right to work in the UK.
• Health Declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered.
• References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to (a) health or social care, or (b) children or vulnerable adults.

These checks will be carried out and completed prior offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility' s expense.

Diversity

SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We are please to confirm that we are a Disability Confident employer.

We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone’s unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.

In exceptional circumstances, the exempt from the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1) which provides for the application of a genuine occupational requirement.