Optometric Advisor

NHS; Port Talbot; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is looking for an Independent Optometry Advisor to provide clinical leadership in Port Talbot, Wales. This role requires significant experience in the optometry field and offers competitive pay. The postholder will collaborate with various healthcare professionals to enhance patient care and support local services, ensuring quality and safety across all optometry services. Candidates must be registered with the General Optical Council and hold relevant qualifications. A commitment to patient-focused service development is essential.

Qualifications

• Registered with the General Optical Council.
• BSc(Hons) Optometry or equivalent necessary.
• Significant post-registration experience in optometry in Wales.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership on optometry services.
• Ensure quality and safety across health board's optometry services.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize patient pathways.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Conflict management

Autonomy

IT applications

Education

BSc(Hons) Optometry or equivalent

Registered as an optometrist with the General Optical Council

Professional/Higher certificate/diploma in contact lens practice

Job description

To provide clinical leadership/advice on optometry services to the Health Board. The post holder will support, develop and implement all Wales policies relating to WGOS and contribute to wider corporate strategies and policies. A key role is the planning, development and delivery of effective and efficient services across the health board area. This will encompass supporting local primary care, primary care clusters, hospital and community services and national WGOS Clinical Leads to deliverstrategies and policies.

Main duties of the job

o Will be the strategic lead for Quality, Safety and Performance across all health board's optometry services, ensuring systems and processes are in place and effectively applied for the management of clinical performance.o To develop the professional interface with the optometry profession in the SBUHB area.o In all the above, to be supported extensively by the Health Board's Primary Care and Clinical Governance managers.o There will be no expectation for the Independent Advisor to provide clinical services. Primarily the role is one of clinical advice andleadership. However administrative duties requiring clinical knowledge and judgement may be required.o Will work collaboratively with senior clinicians of all professions to achieve the required outcomes and objectives to implement thestrategic vision. This will include working closely with identified leads within the health board and partner organisations (e.g.ophthalmology departments, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and third sector organisations), to support improvement, redesign and implement delivery of WGOS

About us

We believe staff are our best asset and wewant you to be happy and confident about starting your career here in Swansea Bay University Health Board.

As one of the biggest healthcare groups in the UK we can offer a wealth of professional training and development opportunities in an innovative, forward-thinking organisation.

You might be a nurse ordoctor, maybe you specialise in a health science/therapy or can offer skills in one of our support services - wehave a job for you.

There are also apprenticeships, work placementsand volunteering roles available.

We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everyone whatever their sex; religion or belief; race; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or, whether they are pregnant or have recently been on maternity leave, married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled.

Our values - Caring For Each Other, Working Together and Always Improving, show thatour commitment to equality is at the heart of everything we do.

If you want excellent career and training opportunities while living on the doorstep of some of Europe's most spectacular scenery,with all the benefits of a thriving and cosmopolitan city - look no further.

Job responsibilities

For more details in relation to this post, please click on the supporting documents section to find the full job description and person specification. These are available bilingually, in both English and Welsh

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Registered as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.
• BSc(Hons) Optometry or equivalent.
• Evidence of up-to-date knowledge of the WGOS regulatory framework & recent clinical developments.
• Understanding of the legal and regulatory aspects of optometry.
• Member or Fellow of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom or FCOptom).
• Post-graduate qualification(s) relating to a highly specialist aspect of clinical optometry, e.g. College of Optometrists.
• Professional/Higher certificate/diploma in contact lens practice / glaucoma/ low vision / medical retina / paediatric eye care.

Experience

• Significant postregistration experience of optometry in Wales.
• Experience of clinical governance and quality improvement
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of working at a senior level across primary and/or secondary care within the NHS
• Experience of having worked in different optometry settings
• Experience of clinical management
• Experience in teaching/research within Primary Care
• Experience of working in deprived communities. Team leader / managerial experience

Abilities

• Able to work constructively with other healthcare professionals and develop a patient focused service.
• Able to develop and lead the implementation of new patient pathways
• Able to maintain engagement when dealing with conflict. Excellent interpersonal skills - influencing, negotiating and communication (written and verbal) skills
• Able to develop implement and monitor new polices and services
• Aptitude and confidence for working in a rapidly changing environment
• Able to work autonomously and independently
• Experience in the use of IT applications - specifically Microsoft Office
• Ability to plan and prioritise within limited resources
• Evidence of research and audit activity
• Knowledge of HB policies and procedures

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.

£56,514 to £63,623 a yearper annum pro rota