Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with Special Interest in Paediatrics

King's College Hospital; Sidcup; Hybrid; GBP 114,000 - 151,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with special interest in paediatrics. The post is a 12‑month fixed‑term, part‑time appointment at 6.5 sessions per week, based at Sidcup with responsibilities across Kingdom sites as required.

You will lead paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus services, supervise trainees, participate in teaching and audits, and contribute to developing community paediatric eye care.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration required.
• Name on GMC Specialist Register at time of appointment.
• Within 6 months of CCT or portfolio pathway application; UK recruitment criteria apply.
• Higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD) may be required/advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality ophthalmology care for paediatric patients within the Care Group.
• Share 24/7 on-call cover for the Unit on a rota basis.
• Provide supervision and teaching for junior medical staff and trainees.
• Contribute to CPD, audits, and clinical governance initiatives.
• Deliver high-volume cataract surgery where appropriate.

Skills

Leadership capability

Communication skills

Medical audit knowledge

Teaching skills

Education

GMC registration

Specialist Ophthalmology Register

MD or higher degree

Job description

Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with Special Interest in Paediatrics

Main area Ophthalmology Grade Locum Consultant Contract Fixed term: 12 months (part-time) Hours Part time - 6.5 sessions per week Job ref 213-MED-DH-8355725

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Queen Mary's Hospital Town Sidcup Salary £113,565 - £150,569 per annum excl London Zone Allowance. Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£2.1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 14,000 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.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

This is a replacement Locum Consultant post. The remit of the post holder will be to work within the multi–disciplinary team providing and continuing to develop ophthalmic care for paediatric patients. The post holder will also be expected to provide care for motility related presentations in both adult and paediatric patients. In addition, the individual will be required to play an active role in the general workload of the Care Group while having a significant commitment to teaching and training of junior staff (medical and non‑medical).

Main duties of the job

The post will be primarily based at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup with surgery lists taken place and the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, though there is potential to support any of King’s sites as appropriate. Main ROP responsibilities will take place at Queen Elizabeth Woolwich there may also be the requirement to support ROP screening at any of the sites Kings cover (e.g. Kings at Denmark Hill, The Princess Royal University Hospital, University Hospital Lewisham) to cover leave. The proposed Job Plan is attached. This is subject to review within 3 months of the post holder commencing in post.

The main remit of this post is to provide specialist Consultant leadership, expertise and support to the paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus services provided at King’s College Hospital’s South Sites . As a tertiary centre the service receives referrals from throughout the region in particular for management of ROP which the post holder will be expected to deliver. There will also be a commitment to developing community based paediatric ophthalmology services, with involvement in training, supervision and virtual case review. In addition the post may involve performing high volume cataract surgery

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are deliveringhigh-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

We have also agreed four new organisational values – Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative – and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

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

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

11. Together with other colleagues, to provide a high quality care service to patients. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the Care Group.

22. Shared responsibility with other colleagues for providing 24 hours, 7 days a week cover for the Unit on a rota basis. Responsible also for covering colleagues’ periods of annual leave and short-term sickness as detailed in your contract.

33. Provide clinical supervision of junior medical/dental practitionersas a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.

44. Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives.

55. Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Care Group’s management team where part of the service structure.

66. Contribute to the Care Group’s research interests in accordance with the Trust’s R&D framework.

77. Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, Clinical Governance programmes and Learning from Deaths.

88. Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the Care Group’s Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.

99. Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).

110. Exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post‑qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained.

111. Work in conjunction with clinical and other professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for peers and/or junior colleagues.

112. Undertake Care Group management duties as agreed with the Care Group/Departmental Manager/Clinical Director.

113. Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.

114. Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintaining patient safety.

115. King’s is committed to providing Consultant led 7‑day services and in the event of future developments the post holder would be expected to contribute equally with other Consultant colleagues.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Full Registration with GMC
• Name on GMC Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment
• On the day of interview applicants must be within 6 months of CCT, in final stages of their portfolio pathway application, or be fully registered on the GMC Specialist Register. Any applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.
• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)

Training and Experience

• Wide experience in all aspects of Ophthalmology, culminating in award of Certificate of Completion of Training by GMC, or completed portfolio pathway application
• Advanced subspecialty training in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
• Competence in performing high volume and complex cataract surgery

Skills

• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi‑disciplinary teams
• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of Kings Values
• Effective communicator, able to work in a close-knit team and co‑operate with all medical and paramedical staff
• Ability to treat retinopathy of prematurity
• Competence in performing high volume and complex cataract surgery

Administration

• Experience in day‑to‑day organisation of Ophthalmology services in a busy Teaching Hospital
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Familiar with current structure of UK National Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Management and Leadership

• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi‑disciplinary teams
• Management course and/or qualification

Audit and Quality Improvement

• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit.
• Must have undertaken and completed audit projects.

Research and Publications

• Experience of clinical research.
• Experience of clinical research.
• Relevant research experience in one or more aspects of Ophthalmology

Teaching

• Experience of undergraduate and post‑graduate teaching and exam preparation.
• Teaching skills course/qualification

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications
King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website
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 Trusts.

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.