Principal Optometrist

Barts Health NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading healthcare provider as an advanced clinical Optometrist, contributing to quality ophthalmology services in a dynamic environment. You'll work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, providing patient care and participating in educational activities. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of optometry while ensuring high standards of care for a diverse population. With a commitment to inclusion and excellence, this organization values your contributions as you help deliver exceptional healthcare services in east London. Be part of a transformative journey in a supportive and innovative workplace.

Qualifications

• Relevant post-registration clinical experience in a hospital specialist setting.
• Experience in teaching and supervising trainee optometrists.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and leadership in the medical retina service.
• Manage the optometric team and oversee training and governance.

Skills

Advanced optometric procedures

Effective communication

Education

BSc in Optometry

Registered with GOC

Post graduate optometry qualification

Job description

All our hospitals have their own unique identities while sharing the same standards and values

You can shape your story with us

Whether you’re looking to gain experience in a large, fast-paced hospital or get out into the community, we have a range of opportunities that allows you to build your entire career in one trust.

For us, every day is different. We provide care to a diverse population of 2.5 million across east London – that’s 6,000 people every day, speaking over 60 different languages. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to ensuring that people living in east London live healthy lives.

Site: Whipps Cross Hospital
Town: London
Salary: £59,490 - £66,239 pro rata per annum inc
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 02/03/2025 23:59

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond.

Job overview

The post-holder will be job-sharing with the current Principal Optometrist and work as part of the multi-disciplinary Optometry and Ophthalmology teams that provide comprehensive and quality ophthalmology services for the Trust.

You will be based in the Eye Treatment Centre at Whipps Cross University Hospital yet some sessions may be based at Newham General University Hospital. The Eye Treatment Centre is a dedicated unit covering all ophthalmology specialties including vitreo-retinal, medical retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculo-plastics, paediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology and we also have a busy eye emergency service.

You will participate in the educational activities run by and for the Optical Services and Ophthalmology Departments, including the teaching of other health care professionals, medical undergraduates and junior doctors.

Main duties of the job

1. The post holder will be required to work clinically to provide support and leadership in the medical retina service as an autonomous practitioner and as part of the team.
2. To line manage the optometric team at Whipps Cross under the direction of the Head Orthoptist.
3. As an advanced clinical Optometrist, the post-holder will be expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills, training, competence and clinical experience in provision of high quality, effective clinical patient care at a level beyond that of a Masters’ Degree, predominately in retina and potentially across a number of sub-specialist areas.
4. To oversee the induction, training and competencies and governance for optometry staff working within the injection services as well as other extended role clinical areas.
5. To be responsible for training and education within optometry (i.e. undergraduate, pre-registration and postgraduate optometry programmes and all optometry contributions to other programmes including: ophthalmology post-graduate and medical undergraduate curricula and the specialist optometry input to other Barts Health professional groups).
6. To be responsible for and participate in delegated audit, teaching and research projects as appropriate to the needs of the Division.

Working for our organisation

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required.

Person specification

Experience

• Relevant experience in post registration clinical experience in a hospital specialist.
• Experience of teaching at undergraduate and post-graduate level and supervision of trainee optometrists.
• Experience of managing budgets & clinical services.
• Management/leadership experience of dealing with HR issues.
• Experience of development of protocols or competencies.
• Experience of research and development activities.

Skills

• Ability to competently undertake advanced optometric procedures and clinical extended roles.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information in a range of situations.

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience in undertaking YAG laser procedures.

Qualifications

• BSc (Optometry).
• Registered with GOC.
• Further post graduate optometry qualification e.g. Professional Certificate/Higher Certification/Diploma or Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP).

As an Equal Opportunities Employer we actively support applications from individuals who apply under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme and will process your application as appropriate.