Pre-registration Optometrist, Band 4

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed healthcare provider in the UK is looking for a Pre-registration Optometrist to join their dynamic optometry team. The candidate will engage in practical training under supervision, providing services in hospital optometry clinics and refining skills in varied patient care. Applicants should possess or be working towards an Optometry degree, with relevant healthcare experience. Competitive salary offered between £27,485 and £30,162 annually, with a supportive training environment.

Qualifications

• Working towards Optometry BSc (hons) degree.
• Registered as a student optometrist.
• Potential for a 2:1 degree.

Responsibilities

• Deliver patient care under supervision in various clinics.
• Assist in low vision assessments and post-op cataract clinics.
• Manage own workload and time effectively.

Skills

IT skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Optometry BSc (hons) degree

Registration with General Optical Council

Job description

Overview

Pre-registration Optometrist, Band 4. The closing date is 26 October 2025. Applications are invited for the full-time position of Pre-registration Optometrist, commencing August 2026. The post-holder will 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 achieving registration as a qualified optometrist. Working in a hospital setting requires a caring and considerate approach as many patients 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 optometrist.

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 visually 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

£27,485 to £30,162 a year(pa pro rata if part-time)