Senior Ophthalmic Assistant

New Medical Systems Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading ophthalmology service provider in Manchester is seeking a Senior Ophthalmic Assistant to manage clinic operations and coordinate patient care efficiently. This role involves ensuring the smooth running of the clinic, supporting clinical assessments, and mentoring Ophthalmic Assistants. The ideal candidate will have experience in ophthalmology, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to high standards of patient care. Competitive salary up to £30,000 depending on experience is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience undertaking diagnostic tests such as OCT, visual fields, and visual acuity.
• Ability to manage patient data ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the daily clinic schedule.
• Support safe running of theatre and assist clinical staff.
• Act as mentor to Ophthalmic Assistants.

Skills

Experience in ophthalmology

Customer service skills

Organisational skills

Knowledge of eye physiology

Proficient in Office 365

Education

Good standard of education

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Ophthalmic Assistant to join our Manchester site. This is a full time role working 40 hours per week.

As a Senior Ophthalmic Assistant, you will be responsible for the day to day running of the clinic. You will coordinate the daily schedule and ensure the smooth and efficient administration of the clinic.

Main duties of the job

You will also play a pivotal role in supporting the safe and effective running of our theatre activity, supporting the surgeon and nursing workforce in direct clinical care. You will have the ability to work flexibly between outpatients and theatre, based on demand.

In addition, you will act as a mentor and guide to the Ophthalmic Assistants within the service and take a leadership role without line management responsibility.

From a clinical point of view, you will support the clinical assessment of each patient, demonstrating competence in all diagnostic testing and medical histories, assisting in YAG clinics, admission and discharge for both cataracts and oculoplastic procedures.

About us

Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatients appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.

We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country.

We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues to tell us what it’s like to work here, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third year running. The feedback has directly contributed tomedica being listed among the UK’s top 50 Best Workplace for 2025.

Job responsibilities

Newmedica is one of the leading providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology services in England.

Our Purpose is to make a difference.

Our Vision is a society where everyone can get access to free or affordable world class treatment for advanced eye conditions without any unnecessary delay or worry.

Our Mission is to revolutionise the care and treatment for patients facing the prospect of sight loss by creating a new national network of specialist eye clinics that have a seamless link with all optometrists and GPs.

We provide services for NHS ICBs, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, and other providers of NHS funded services. We deliver over 125,000 patient interactions annually, including outpatient appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. Our services are delivered through a variety of models including Managed Services and Ophthalmology Joint Venture (OJV) Partnerships.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Senior Ophthalmic Assistant is responsible for the day to day running of the clinic. They coordinate the daily clinic schedule and ensure the smooth and efficient administration of the clinic. The Senior Ophthalmic Assistant also play a pivotal role in supporting the safe and effective running of our theatre activity, supporting the surgeon and nursing workforce in direct clinical care. This post holder will have the ability to work flexibly between outpatients and theatre based on demand.

Additionally, they work as a Senior Ophthalmic Assistant and are responsible for ensuring that patient appointments are booked and that clinics are full, for supporting the clinical assessment of each patient and for ensuring that all patients understand their treatment. They are also responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient administration of the clinic, including retrieving patient notes, recording and filing clinical outcomes and utilizing Newmedica’s electronic patient records. They act as a mentor and guide to the Ophthalmic Assistants within the service and take a leadership role without line management responsibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate the daily clinic schedule.
• Competent in all diagnostic testing, medical histories, assisting in YAG clinics, admission and discharge for both cataracts and oculoplastic procedures.
• Report any day-to-day staffing issues, such as sickness absence or training needs, to the management team.
• Play a key role in the safe and effective running of theatre, both within the admission/discharge area and theatre itself.
• Perform a daily equipment check and support review of stock levels.
• Act as the point of contact for technical, operational or patient issues, resolving them or escalating them as appropriate.
• Ensure the incident reporting and complaints procedures are followed as necessary.
• Communicate key information from Senior Management or the Operational Director to clinic staff.
• Obtain authorisation from the management team if unscheduled overtime is needed.
• Take primary responsibility for reporting clinic data.
• Involvement in the training and mentoring of new Ophthalmic Assistants.

Perform Ophthalmic Assistant responsibilities to include:

• Managing the relationship with the patient and the provision of appropriate information to them, ensuring that exceptional customer service is delivered.
• Management of patient data; ensuring availability, required accuracy and confidentiality. This may involve retrieving patient records from and returning them to the Trust, liaising with Newmedica's administration centre, updating Newmedica's electronic patient records and producing and providing letters to patients.
• Performing, verifying and recording results of clinical testing with absolute integrity.
• Working with other clinic staff to ensure optimal patient flow, including assisting them if required.
• Appropriate escalation of process, clinical, equipment, quality or infection risk issues.
• Maintaining a positive relationship with client teams at every interaction.
• Committed to continued professional development and clinical governance, including participating in appraisal process, clinical audits and research as required.
• Undertaking other ad-hoc duties and administrative tasks as required to ensure the smooth running of the clinic.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience in ophthalmology, undertaking diagnostic tests such as OCT, visual fields and visual acuity.
• Experience of dealing with a variety of data for example patient records, GP and patient correspondence and diagnostic test results.

Qualifications

• Good standard of education.

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of eye physiology and treatment.
• The ability to coordinate tasks within a small team where there is no direct management responsibility.
• The ability to make a clear judgement about when to deal with issues and when to elevate them.
• Proven customer service skills with a passion for customer care.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Committed to delivery of consistently high standards of testing and administration.
• A competent user of all Office 365 programmes and comfortable working on new systems such as patient record systems or diagnostic programmes.
• An excellent grasp of the English language both verbally and in written format.
• A good team player happy to jump in and support others when required.

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.

Depending on experience Up to £30,000 depending on experience