Optometrist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust seeks experienced Optometrists to join their diabetes team. The role involves grading retinal images and conducting examinations, supporting the largest eye screening programme in North East London. Candidates will benefit from further training and the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Optometrist qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience grading retinal images.
• Understanding of the Trust values.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients in slit lamp / volk examination clinics.
• Grade patients seen by technicians in the Diabetes Eye Screening Programme.
• Produce accurate written correspondence following consultations.

Skills

Full optometry skills

Ability to train and supervise support staff

Use of non mydriatic retinal camera

Education

Nationally recognized qualification in Optometry

City & Guilds Qualification in Diabetic Retinopathy

Job description

Go back Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Optometrist

The closing date is 18 June 2025

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.

About us

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.

Job 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

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.

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

£44,806 to £53,134 a yearpro rata p.a. incl.