Pre-registration Optometrist, Band 4

NHS; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading organization in hospital optometry as a Pre-registration Optometrist. This full-time role provides a unique opportunity to work in varied settings including specialized clinics, under the guidance of experienced professionals, while aiming to achieve registration as a qualified optometrist. Enjoy a collaborative environment, flexible work hours, and valuable hands-on experience.

Qualifications

• Working towards an Optometry BSc (Hons) degree.
• Registration with General Optical Council as a student optometrist.
• Potential for a 2:1 degree.

Responsibilities

• Work under supervision in hospital optometry and ophthalmology clinics.
• Provide care to elderly patients with visual impairments.
• Complete pre-registration period with a principle supervisor.

Skills

Communication

IT skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Optometry BSc (Hons) degree

Registration with General Optical Council as student optometrist

Job description

Go back Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Pre-registration Optometrist, Band 4

The closing date is 29 June 2025

Applications are invited for the full time position of Pre-registration Optometrist, commencing August 2026. The post-holder with have the opportunity to work under supervision in a range of hospital optometry and ophthalmology clinics including specialist medical contact lenses, low vision assessment, adult refraction, including post op cataract clinics and paediatric refraction and dispensing.

Fixed term for completion of pre-registration year post degree

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard working candidate who is keen to progress to a career in hospital optometry as well as looking to achieve registration as a qualified optometrist. Working in a hospital setting requires a caring and considerate approach as many patient will be elderly with visual and hearing impairments. The candidate will need to be flexible, have excellent time management and be able to organise their workload. They will be working under supervision throughout but will be expected to work towards independent working with minimal supervision once training has been completed.

About us

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete their pre-registration period within a friendly and dynamic department of over 20 optometrists and 8 optometry technicians. We work closely with ophthalmology and orthoptics and so the candidate will have plenty of opportunity to observe and learn in these clinics as well as seeing and managing optometry patients. The Ophthalmology unit within Gloucestershire Hospitals is recognised nationally as being in the forefront of Ophthalmology in the UK and the unit is highly regarded for clinical training and research.

Job responsibilities

1 full time post is available

Normal working hours are 9.00am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday.

Access to transportation would be an advantage as the post holder will be required to work in both of the main Ophthalmology Outpatients departments at Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals.

The post holder will have one principle supervisor and additional supervisors who will work closely and support them throughout the pre-registration period. As well as working within the hospital setting the post holder will have a session per week at a local community optometrists.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Working towards Optometry BSc (hons) degree
• Registration with General Optical Council as student optometrist
• Potential for 2:1 Optometry BSc (hons ) degree

Experience

• Relevant experience working in healthcare clinical environment
• Experience as an observer/ volunteer in NHS (ideally ophthalmology/optometry) setting
• Work experience in optometric practice as student/optical assistant
• Previous experience working with elderly, vulnerable or visual impaired patients

Knowledge/ Skills

• Competent level of IT skills
• Good communication skills with patients and other staff members
• Able to organise and prioritise own workload
• Able to work on own initiative and within a team
• Ensure accuracy, clinical precision and demonstrate attention to detail

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.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

£26,530 to £29,114 a year(pro rata if part time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

13 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-25-T0435

Job locations

Trustwide