Optometrist

University Hospitals Dorset; Lower Blandford St Mary; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset in Bournemouth is recruiting an Optometrist (Band 7) to join the Ophthalmology team at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The role offers either full-time or part-time options (minimum 1 day per week) with a workload including contact lens clinics and therapeutic fittings.

Applicants should be registered with the GOC, have a BSc in Optometry, and experience in contact lens practice. IP qualifications are advantageous and hospital experience is preferred but not essential.

Qualifications

• GOC registration is mandatory.
• Experience in contact lens practice is desirable.
• Independent prescribing qualification is advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in the Ophthalmology department.
• Conduct core clinics including assessment of new and existing patients in contact lens services.
• Support IP qualified duties and participate in specialist clinics as available.

Skills

GOC Registration

Contact lens experience

Independent prescribing

Hospital optometry experience

Education

BSc in Optometry

Job description

Main area Optometry Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent: Work available as 1 day per week up to FT hours Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Could be filled by PT workers, minimum 1 day per week) Job ref 153-SU06900

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary pro rata Closing Today at 23:59 Interview date 04/11/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a enthusiastic and motivated full or part time Optometrist to join our friendly Ophthalmology department based mainly at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Part time applications will be considered for a minimum of 1 day per week, so if you would like the challenge of Hospital Optometry and the support of the consultant ophthalmologists to improve your clinical practice this is the role for you.

The clinical workload will involve core clinics including the assessment of new and current patients attending the contact lens optometry service where we provide therapeutic contact lens fittings and aftercare for a wide variety of patients, and include paediatric refraction (both with and without cycloplegia) at RBH and possibly also off-site at our other local hospitals. On the job training and supervision will be provided. Other roles could include specialist clinics utilising IP such as Glaucoma clinics, macula clinics and working in the Eye Emergency Department.

Support to those wanting to undertake their IP qualification will also be considered.

This role requires GOC Registration

Base Location: UHD Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Main duties of the job

You will be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, liaising closely with a team of five Optometrists, 15 Consultant Ophthalmologists, 8 Orthoptists, Ophthalmic Nurses, Ophthalmic technicians and other support staff.

The successful post holder should have a BSc in Optometry and be registered with the General Optical Council. Experience in contact lens practice is desirable, and previous hospital optometry experience would be advantageous but not essential. An Independent prescribing qualification is again advantageous, but not essential.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview. If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions. UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

• GOC Registration
• Experience with Contact lens – competent in soft and RGP fitting and aftercare
• Experience in complex contact lens work in hospital contact lens clinics
• Experience in scleral contact lenses

Experience

• Experience in paediatric eye care - competent in cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic retinoscopy
• Experience in hospital paediatric ophthalmology clinics
• Extended role skills, examples as appropriate to role
• Planning and prioritisation skills
• Computer literacy particularly working with e.g. excel spreadsheets and access databases including IT Systems

Knowledge

• Experience in full range of optometry roles
• Qualifications in extended roles – glaucoma, macula, IP

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.

Name Julie Dowdney Job title Head Orthoptist and Optometry Service Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 0300 019 6047