Pre-registration Optometrist

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in Newcastle upon Tyne is seeking a pre-registration optometrist to join its optometry team. This role offers a unique opportunity to kickstart a career in a dynamic hospital setting, focusing on essential optometric services. Candidates must hold a BSc in Optometry and are encouraged to engage in hands-on training under the guidance of qualified professionals. This position promotes flexible work arrangements and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Degree in Optometry required by start date.
• Experience in Optometry Practice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering core Optometric services under supervision.

Skills

IT skills including use of databases

Excellent hand/eye coordination

Counselling

Full clean driving licence

Education

BSc Optometry

Job description

Pre-registration Optometrist

The closing date is 07 December 2025

We are seeking an enthusiastic pre-registration optometrist to join the optometry team at Newcastle Eye Centre. This post offers an exciting opportunity to start your optometry career in a busy fast-paced hospital clinic and gain the necessary knowledge and skills for the College of Optometrist's Scheme for Registration.

• Interview date: 15 January 2026
• 37 hours 30 minutes /week

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Main duties of the job

• You will work primarily in the core optometry service which provides refraction, low vision and contact lens services to adult and paediatric patients. You will also have the opportunity to participate in extended role clinics such as eye emergency and post operative cataract care. Regular sessions are arranged in a range of Ophthalmologist and Orthoptic clinics.
• There is a good opportunity to be involved in providing a wide range of services and to get an insight into the expanding role of an Optometrist in a busy hospital environment.
• It is essential that you have a degree in Optometry by the date of commencing in post.
• Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for all essential and desirable criteria required for the role.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting‑edge care (supported by state‑of‑the‑art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Job responsibilities

• To assist in the delivery of a broad range of core Optometric services to the highest standard of quality and care under supervision of a qualified Optometrist.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE

• BSc optometry

SKILLS

• IT skills including use of databases, spreadsheets, presentations
• Excellent hand/eye coordination
• Counselling
• Full clean driving licence

EXPERIENCE

• Previous work in Optometry Practice

QUALIFICATIONS

• BSc Optometry

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust