Specialist Optometrist

NHS; Nuneaton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a qualified Optometrist to deliver specialist clinical services at George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton. This role involves providing independent optometric care, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and contributing to the service's quality and governance. Candidates should possess significant experience and a strong commitment to patient care, demonstrating autonomy and excellence in their practice.

Benefits

On-site nursery

27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays

Cycle to work scheme

Flexible working

In-house training and development

Buying and selling of annual leave

Subsidised restaurant

Generous subsidised on-site parking

Qualifications

• Experience at Band 7 or above and in specialist ophthalmic fields.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and clinical leadership.
• Skills in team building, service development, and audit/research.

Responsibilities

• To provide specialized optometry services and manage complex cases.
• To undertake independent prescribing and review patient care plans.
• Contribute to the teaching and governance of the Ophthalmology service.

Skills

Autonomy

Clinical Governance

Communication

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Registered Optometrist with General Optical Council

BSc in Optometry or equivalent qualification

Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry

Job description

22.5 hours per week (Full time will be considered)

Permanent

Closing date: Monday 30th June 2025

Interview date: TBC

**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly.**

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

**We are happy to support candidates who are either interested or have started their independent prescribers course**

• The post holder will have clinical responsibility for the specialist paediatric and adult refraction clinics.
• To be an autonomous practitioner providing highly skilled and specialised HES optometry services to George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton (GEH).
• To work closely with the Ophthalmology Management to deliver a comprehensive range of specialist optometric services to the highest standards of quality and patient care.

Main duties of the job

• To undertake full range of optometry services as required, providing expert treatment and advice.
• To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients resulting in the safe management of patients, autonomously formulate appropriate management plans for patients.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of own level of responsibility and autonomy and the limits of own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty and incomplete information.
• Prescribe and review medication (as an independent prescriber) for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient need and in accordance with best/evidence-based practice and national and local protocols and within the role's scope of practice and legal framework.
• Ability to order and interpret diagnostic pathological, microbial, and/or radiographic investigations (e.g. blood tests, ocular swabs, MRI etc) using findings to initiate treatment.
• To develop virtual clinics, within own advanced sub-specialty role, in line with the service demands. Developed scope of advanced clinical skills and practice to meet changing needs of service.
• Need for high levels of continuous concentration requiring working under significant pressure, with frequent interruptions from other clinical staff requiring advice.
• To support consultants on the day of surgery by conducting slit lamp examinations to ensure all patient history remains up to date.

About us

Here at George Eliot our vision to'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:

Effective Open Communication

excellence and safety in everything we do

Challenge but support

Expect respect and dignity

Local health that inspires confidence

Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.

Job responsibilities

• The post holder is required to contribute to the teaching, audit, and clinical governance requirements of the Ophthalmology service. Ophthalmology staff work as part of a multidisciplinary team and all members contribute to providing a high-quality service for its users.
• If the post holder is a registered independent non-medical prescriber, to prescribe medicines for patients, working within the GEH Policy and Procedure for Non-medical Prescribing and Directorate's local guidelines/procedures.
• To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and HCPC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To maintain competence under the National Competency Framework for all Prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development.
• To be an autonomous practitioner providing highly skilled and specialised HES optometric services to George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton (GEH).
• To work closely with the Ophthalmology Management to deliver a comprehensive range of specialist optometric services to the highest standards of quality and patient care.
• The post holder will have clinical responsibility for the specialist paediatric and adult refraction clinics.
• Patients may have specific learning difficulties, special needs, various degrees of visual disability and varying communication skills.
• The post holder will participate in multi-disciplinary Glaucoma & Medical retina diagnosis and management clinics, working under the direction of the lead Consultants assessing both new and follow-up patients.
• The post holder is required to contribute to the teaching, audit, and clinical governance requirements of the Ophthalmology service. Ophthalmology staff work as part of a multidisciplinary team and all members contribute to providing a high-quality service for its users.
• If the post holder is a registered independent non-medical prescriber, to prescribe medicines for patients, working within the GEH Policy and Procedure for Non-medical Prescribing and Directorate's local guidelines/procedures.
• To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and HCPC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To maintain competence under the National Competency Framework for all Prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant experience at Band 7 or above
• Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix
• Evidence of organisational and leadership skills
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in change management and problem solving
• Working across organisational boundaries
• Team building and staff development
• Experience of clinical leadership and operational management experience
• Portfolio of evidence showing A) Achievements in Specialist practice B) Research & audit experience C) Team leadership experience D) Financial awareness E) Experience of assessing mental capacity F) Experience of service development
• Lead in audit or research projects
• Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience

Qualifications / Training

• Registered Optometrist with General Optical Council (GOC)
• BSc in Optometry or equivalent qualification
• Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry
• Management qualification completion of management programme
• Teaching and assessing qualification

skills / Knowledge

• Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
• Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team
• Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate
• Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers
• Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development

Personal Qualities

• Ability to work autonomously
• Practical and calm under pressure
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Adaptable and flexible
• Innovate and intuitive
• Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to manage and lead a team
• Excellent role model
• Able to express self clearly and confidently - verbal and written
• Demonstrates commitment and ability to teach others
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances
• Able to achieve personal objectives

Other

• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal
• Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels
• Independent means of transport
• Flexible to meet the needs of the service
• Aware of current NHS issues and priorities

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.