Optometrist Specialist

NHS; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Canterbury is seeking an Optometrist for a Band 7 role within their Optometric Services Team. This position offers opportunities to manage urgent eye services, conduct paediatric assessments, and participate in specialized clinics. Ideal candidates will have a BSc in Optometry and strong clinical skills. Competitive pro-rata salary of £47,810 to £54,710, plus part-time working opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience working autonomously guided by optometric policies.
• Ability to perform assessment of paediatric patients.
• Proficient in performing slit lamp assessments.

Responsibilities

• Triaging and managing patients in the urgent eye service.
• Conducting paediatric cycloplegic refraction and fundus examinations.
• Assisting in training Ophthalmic Technicians and staff.

Skills

Autonomous working

Diagnostic drug use

Working with elderly and children

Slit Lamp Assessment

Education

BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry

General Optical Council registration

Post-graduate optometric qualifications

Higher Degree

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about patient care? Do you want to expand your clinical knowledge and experience? Do you want to work with a multi-disciplinary team in East Kent? We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate individual to work in an extended clinical role in our Optometric Services Team within Ophthalmology in East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

The post will involve triage and managing patients in the urgent eye service, paediatric refractions, specialist contact lens fitting, virtual glaucoma review and more. Clinics generally run Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm.

Main duties

The specific extended roles we are currently recruiting are:

• Acute eye referral triage/advice and assessment of patients as part of the Urgent Eye Service team at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford (training will be provided)
• Paediatric cycloplegic refraction and fundus examination at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone with autonomous clinical management plan
• Possible training in the glaucoma service including face to face independent optometrist clinics and virtual review
• Optometric examination of patients enrolled with clinical trials at EKHUFT
• Assist in the training of Ophthalmic Technicians and other staff as necessary
• Assist in the collection of data for Clinical Audit, when requested

About us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is "great healthcare from great people". We are guided by values: people feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference. We are adopting a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals called "We care" to empower frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day.

Details

Date posted: 26 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per year pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Location: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download. For queries, contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry
• General Optical Council registration

Desirable

• Post-graduate optometric qualifications
• Higher Degree

Clinical Skills and Experience

Essential

• Autonomous working, guided by board optometric policies
• Diagnostic drug use/instillation of ophthalmic drugs
• Working with elderly and children
• Slit Lamp Assessment

Desirable

• Eye casualty assessment
• Anterior Segment disease assessment
• Experience of research and audit

Knowledge

Essential

• NICE guidelines
• Assessment of paediatric patients e.g. emmetropisation
• Interpretation of ophthalmological test results e.g. visual fields/OCT

Desirable

• Experience of NHS computer systems
• Independent prescribing

Personal/Professional Attributes

Essential

• Basic IT skills

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a disclosure check will be made.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications. For information see the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For information see the NHS Careers website.

Employer

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG