Ophthalmic Assistant - Band 3

Transformationunitgm; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS foundation trust is seeking a full-time Ophthalmic Assistant to join their dedicated team. This role involves supporting various clinical procedures for ophthalmic patients. The successful candidate will be involved in hands-on patient care and will receive on-the-job training to develop relevant skills.

Benefits

Minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata)

Generous pension scheme

NHS discounts

On-site health and fitness club

Access to a childcare nursery

Qualifications

• Experience working with people who have a visual impairment.
• Experience in an acute hospital setting or relevant qualification.
• High level of accuracy in clinical tasks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare clinical areas and equipment for patient procedures.
• Perform diagnostic procedures and maintain medical records.
• Assist in the efficient running of the ophthalmology department.

Skills

Communication

Hand-eye coordination

Technical mindset

Education

GCSE grade C or equivalent in key skills level 2

Job description

Main area Band 3 Ophthalmic Assistant Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Flexibility to Service Demands as will include Peripheral Clinics) Job ref 269-SFT9184

Employer Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Town Salisbury Salary £24,625 - £25,674 per annum pro rata if part time Salary period Yearly Closing 06/07/2025 23:59

Ophthalmic Assistant - Band 3

Band 3

Job overview

**PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY **

Applications are invited for a full time enthusiastic and self-motivated Ophthalmic Assistant to join our small, friendly team.

The Ophthalmology Department at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has approximately 29,000 attendances per year. The client base covers the full life range of ages from neonates to patients in excess of 100 years.

The post holder will take part in the day-to-day service delivery within the department and have experience of working with people who have a visual impairment. The job is extremely varied with numerous opportunities to be involved in a variety of different clinical areas e.g. cataract clinics, glaucoma clinics, medical retina clinics and virtual monitoring clinics. The post holder will learn a variety of new skills and on the job training will be given as staff are encouraged to expand their knowledge and expected to learn new skills like Biometry, Topography, Spectralis and Retinal Photography. You will also assist with ophthalmic treatments and procedures once training as been given and competencies achieved.

The post holder will have a high level of accuracy and excellent hand-eye coordination, be technically minded and have excellent communication skills.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

• Prepare clinical areas adequately to receive patients and ensuring all equipment for clinical procedures is available, when required.
• Discuss clinical imaging procedures with patients and ensure that consent has been gained.
• Perform necessary investigational and diagnostic procedures for which training has been given and competence achieved.
• Help to keep department clean and tidy, participating in regular cleaning of equipment and clinical areas.
• Perform other duties as delegated by trained nursing staff within the range of appropriate procedures for which training has been given and competence achieved, assisting in the efficient running of the department.
• Assist with ophthalmic treatments/procedures once training given and competency achieved.
• Contribute to the effective day-to-day running of the department and assist in the development of good working practices e.g. help to support other members of the team.
• The post holder must beable to assist patients who use wheelchairs to manoeuvre into clinical rooms and position at machines.
• Maintain accurate medical records, including manual and electronic data entry during the patients journey through the department.

Working for our organisation

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is an innovative hospital with a proud heritage and over 250 years of experience behind us. Here we’re driven to deliver an outstanding experience for everyone and have been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment we continue to provide for our patients and also our staff.

We are an acute Trust, rated “Good” by the CQC, with a track record of high performance providing regional and super regional specialist services such as: Burns, Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Wessex Rehabilitation, Spires Cleft Centre and the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. We have about 470 beds and employ over 4000 staff.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. We think working here is pretty rewarding. You can access a range of NHS discounts, receive a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme. On-site benefits include car parking (fee applies), leisure centre, day nursery and holiday play scheme.

Salisbury is an attractive place to live and work and really gives you the best of everything. With easy access to London and local airports, the city of Southampton is only a short train or car journey away or if you prefer the sea, Bournemouth is also accessible. Don’t just take our word for it, why not explore what Salisbury has to offer by visiting www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

Application Form and Interview

• Educated to GCSE grade C or equivalent in key skills level 2 or functional skills level 2 numeracy and literacy
• Computer literate with basic ECDL skills.
• Experience of working with people who have a visual impairment
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting and/or community knowledge of speciality or have a dispensing related qualification (if already working in primary care)
• Good communication skills and current evidence of dealing with members of the general public.
• The post holder will have a high level of accuracy and excellent hand-eye coordination, be technically minded and have excellent communication skills.

We offer excellent benefits that help make SDH a great place to work. These include but aren't limited to:-

• Holiday starting at 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years for Agenda for Change staff
• Holiday entitlement for Medical and Dental staff starts at 27 days for Junior/Senior Clinical Fellows, Specialty Doctors and rises to 32 days after 5 years. Consultant entitlement starts at 32 days and rises to 34 days after 7 years
• An additional day's leave to celebrate your birthday (after 12 months & non contractual) pro rata
• Access to a career average revalued earnings pension scheme
• Life assurance if a member of the pension scheme
• An extensive Health and Wellbeing offer to help you deal with life's challenges
• Exclusive deals and discounts websites saving you money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills for home
• Cycle to work scheme
• Uniform provided (where required)
• On site Day Nursery and Holiday Play scheme
• On site health and fitness club
• On site car parking (fee's and restrictions apply)
• Opportunities to get on - take advantage of our ongoing learning opportunities and training, to help you achieve the job and career you want.

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

We continue to encourage and support our staff to participate in the seasonal respiratory vaccination programme in order to protect themselves, colleagues and their patients.

GETTING TO WORK

We offer parking on site at Salisbury District Hospital, a daily charge applies. We encourage our staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible, and our Trust is well connected through the bus services to the city centre and other areas.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY

We are committed to making Salisbury an inclusive and welcoming place for every single staff member, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Equality sits at the heart of everything we do, and we ensure that all employees have equal opportunity to develop, to apply for promotions and to work flexibly.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, martial status and age.

OTHER INFORMATION

If this job requires you to have DBS check to enable you to properly fulfil the requirements of the job, on appointment, you will be required to replay the cost of obtaining a DBS check and this amount will be reclaimed in instalments from your salary. Many staff use the DBS update service at a cost of £13 per annum but you need to sign up for this via their website.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

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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.