Optometrist

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Part time

Job summary

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking experienced Optometrists for a part-time position in the Diabetes Eye Screening Service. Candidates will assess and grade patients within one of the largest eye screening programmes, contributing to vital healthcare in the community. Practical knowledge of diabetic eye disease is essential.

Benefits

Great range of benefits

Commitment to equality and inclusion

Opportunities for flexible working

Qualifications

• Experience grading retinal images.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Prepared to work within the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess patients in slit lamp/volk examination clinics.
• Grade patients as seen by technicians in the Diabetes Eye Screening Programme.
• Produce accurate written correspondence to patients and G.P.s after consultations.

Skills

Full optometry skills

Ability to train and supervise staff

Use of non-mydriatic retinal camera

Education

Nationally recognized qualification in Optometry

City & Guilds Qualification in Diabetic Retinopathy

Job description

Main area Diabetes Eye Screening Service Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (Two week days) Job ref 293-EMRS1-0442

Site Homerton Healthcare Town London Salary £44,806 - £53,134 pro rata p.a. incl. Salary period Yearly Closing 18/06/2025 23:59

Advert

Job overview

We are looking for experienced Optometrists available to work on two weekdays to join our large team grading retinal images and carrying out slit lamp biomicroscopy / volk examination on people with diabetes in North East London.

The post involves working alongside other professionals in the diabetes team in one of the largest eye screening programmes in the country.

Practical knowledge of diabetic eye disease and the National Diabetic Eye Screening Programme will be assessed at interview. The City and Guilds qualification in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening or Health Screening Diploma in Retinal Screening would be an advantage, as would Post Graduate training in Medical Retina.

Further training in the use of specialised grading software, and in grading, will be given to the successful candidates.

Main duties of the job

Some of the main duties of the role are as follows:

To be responsible for independently assessing patients in slit lamp / volk examination clinics.

To take responsibility for the grading of patients seen by technicians in the Diabetes Eye Screening Programme. The grade will be arrived at using the information in retinal images (current and old images) visual acuity, blood pressure and other clinical measurements and a brief patient history (recorded in the eye screening software).

To identify sight threatening eye disease and, where necessary, to make appropriate referrals for treatment.

To take responsibility for the accurate production of written correspondence to both the patient and the patient’s G.P. following every consultation.

Working for our organisation

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond.

We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has recently attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.

Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff. This is reflected in our policies, procedures and People Plan. All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.

We are also committed, through our Fair Recruitment Standards, to ensuring all applicants are treated fairly.

Homerton has a proud tradition of supporting and developing its staff, including its well-regarded and valued nursing community, and all staff are able to take advantage of a great range of benefits.

Homerton is proud to have been included on the HSJ & Nursing Times Best Places to Work list.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s on this page.

The person specification below is not the full person specification but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Nationally recognized qualification in Optometry or equivalent experience
• City & Guilds Qualification in Diabetic Retinopathy

Skills/Abilities

• Full optometry skills which will include the use of a slit lamp/volk lens
• Ability to train and supervise support staff.
• Use of non mydriatic retinal camera

Experience

• Experience and prepared to work within multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience grading retinal images.

Other

• Understanding of the Trust values

G eneral Guidance for Applicants

Please ensure that you read the "Guidance Notes On Submitting An Application" under "Additional Documentation" before completing your application.

Please note: we reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We are committed to achieving equality and inclusion at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and we respect and value the diversity and differences of our patients and our people, ensuring everyone is enabled to thrive, feels a sense of belonging, and is able to be their authentic self. We offer a range of flexible working options that enable you to balance your work and personal life, including part-time, compressed hours, remote working and job-shares.

If you are interested in joining our team, please let us know your preferred working pattern in your application, and we will consider all requests for flexible working and try to accommodate them wherever possible.

Please note that secondment arrangements will be considered for any fixed term positions, with the agreement of the existing line manager.

We are committed to equal opportunities, and have been approved as a Disability Confident Employer.

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.