Specialist Optometrist

NHS; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the Tees Valley is seeking a Band 6/7 Special Optometrist to provide specialist optometric services within a multidisciplinary team. Applicants should have a degree in Optometry, registered with the GOC, and experience in optometric settings. This part-time permanent position offers a competitive salary ranging from £38,682 to £54,710 annually.

Benefits

Leadership and improvement training

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Post-registration optometrist experience required.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Continuing professional development evidence required.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality optometric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Undertake lead role in delivering specialist optometric services.
• Work independently within a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Excellent communication skills

IT skills (Microsoft Office)

Change-management skills

Organisational and time-management skills

Education

Degree in Optometry (BSc or MSc)

Registered Optometrist with the General Optical Council

Job description

Job summary

If you do not meet the essential requirements for a Band 7 Special Optometrist, we will consider appointing a Band 6 Optometrist and uplifting to a Band 7 upon completion of competencies.

The Optometry Department offers an extensive range of services across South Tees Hospitals Ophthalmology Outpatient clinics. As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will provide high‑quality, optometric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as part of a busy multidisciplinary ophthalmology team across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will be required to provide autonomous practice and sole‑handed clinics across hospital sites including James Cook, University Hospital of North Tees, Low Grange Health Village and Friarage Hospital; therefore candidates must have access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Optometrists provide highly specialist core optometric services (including refraction, specialist medical contact lenses and low visual aids).

Successful candidate must have access to a vehicle for work purposes to meet the requirements of the role.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 7 Special Optometrist the post holder will spend the majority of their time in the core optometry services (paediatrics and adults). They will also be expected to undertake a caseload in advanced specialist extended clinical roles such as glaucoma, medical retina, cataract and/or emergency department.

As a Band 6 Optometrist the post holder will spend the majority of their time in the core optometry services (paediatrics and adults).

To undertake a lead role in the delivery of a broad range of highly specialist core optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care for South Tees Hospitals and its outreach clinics. This includes diagnostic refraction, independent management of highly complex specialist medical contact lenses and low‑vision rehabilitation.

To work as an independent practitioner and autonomously as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing an extensive range of advanced optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care.

About us

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This programme includes the following training sessions:

• Leadership Impact: Leading your Team to Success
• Leading Into the Future
• Service Improvement for Beginners
• Developing your Service Improvement Skills
• Lean Practitioner

After completing six and a half days of training, staff may explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. Additional in‑house and externally provided courses and bite‑size programmes are also available through our Leadership and Improvement Team.

Job details

Date posted: 12 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £38,682 to £54,710 a year per annum (pro‑rata)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part‑time

Reference number: 328‑HNO‑7317885‑A

Job locations: James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW

Job responsibilities

Please see both full job description and person specification documents for Band 6 and Band 7 for the main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Knowledge and Skills – Essential

• Able to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multidisciplinary team, undertaking a comprehensive range of complex hospital optometry core specialist services.
• Ability to undertake audit of personal and others’ data.
• Competent IT skills – use of Microsoft Office (including Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word).
• Ability to undertake extended role in specialist areas such as cataract, glaucoma, paediatrics, medical retina, acute and emergency eye care.
• Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills including effective report writing.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Ability to use own initiative and make independent clinical decisions.
• Good organisational and time‑management skills.
• Ability to work with patients of all ages, including those with learning disabilities and the elderly.
• Courteous at all times with excellent chair‑side manner.
• Change‑management skills and willingness to lead change where necessary.
• Ability to undertake audit.
• Ability to work with patients of all ages and abilities.

Qualifications and Training – Essential

• Degree in Optometry (BSc or MSc).
• Registered Optometrist with the General Optical Council (GOC).
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) in line with GOC registration requirements.
• Further highly developed specialist knowledge including theoretical and clinical training such as:
  • College of Optometrists’ Post‑Graduate Professional Qualification (e.g., Diploma in Ocular Therapeutics)
  • Accredited slit‑lamp examiner under the Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme
  • Highly specialised medically necessary contact lens fitting and after‑care

Experience – Essential

• Post‑registration optometrist experience – not necessarily HES‑based.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of shared care/extended role in one or more of the following: glaucoma, cataract, medical retina, complex refraction, low vision, medical contact lenses or clinical trials.
• Experience of undertaking research and audit.
• Broad understanding of the developing roles of the ophthalmic professions across primary, secondary and tertiary care.
• Knowledge and experience of clinical governance.
• Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development.
• Knowledge and experience of adult/child safeguarding.
• Able to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multi‑disciplinary team.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW

Website: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/