Job summary
Recognised as one of the largest NHS trusts -- University Hospitals Birmingham is at the forefront of clinical research and is recognised as a centre of excellence in the development of new treatments and complex care. Our Ophthalmology services is delivered across Solihull, Heartlands, Good Hope and Queen Elizabeth hospitals and accounts for 12% of all UHB's annual patient activity.
To support this key department and the patients who rely on us -- we are seeking Specialist Optometrists to join our expanding team who will be charged with delivering core and specialist optometry clinics, recommending defined care and treatment plans. We will provide you with training to succeed in specialist areas. Flexibility can be offered with the option of both full time or part time hours.
A passion for delivering high quality patient care and excellent communication skills will be essential in supporting and providing guidance to patients and clinical colleagues. In return you can expect to join colleagues who are committed to delivering excellence in their roles and to be able to access peer support and specialist guidance from our Principle Optometrists and Consultant Ophthalmologists.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive team, ensuring that staff satisfaction and a healthy work life balance is high on our priorities. If you'd like to join a caring and nurturing team, with plenty of learning and development opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
You will perform core optometry duties to include: Paediatric/adult refraction, low vision assessments and specialist paediatric, corneal and clinics contact lens. A training programme will be provided to advance your specialist skills. This will involve diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of a wide range of anterior eye pathology and post operative care under the supervision of a Consultant Ophthalmologist. The role will require the ability to prescribe complex optical appliances and non optical aids.
You will practice in conjunction with the consultant ophthalmologists supported by a multi-disciplinary team of medical, nursing, and technical staff with access to contemporary diagnostic instrumentation and out-patient diagnostic services.
You will diagnose and treat, prescribe and advise patients on a broad range of unique and complex cases. The role will require exercising of independent clinical judgement in interpreting and evaluating multiple optometric and visual function tests to recommend defined care whilst considering parental requests and patients' wishes
You will manage a personal case load, planning care based on medical evidence, specialist knowledge and departmental protocols whilst maintaining your professional development. You will contribute to the development of specialist services, clinical audit and teaching.
Further details, a site visit and discussion can be arranged if required.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Optometry or International Equivalent
- Registration with the General Optical Council
- Post Graduate Diploma (Optometry) or International Equivalent
- Advance Post Graduate Diploma/Higher Degree/Equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience >2 yrs
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
- Hospital Optometry Practice
- Complex adult refraction and spectacle prescribing
- Paediatric Refraction
- Paediatric binocular vision theory
- Advanced Medical Contact Lens Practice (Keratoconus, Post Graft, Therapeutic)
- Low Vision Practice
- Extensive clinical experience of medical contact lens fitting for all stage of keratoconus and post graft
- Extensive clinical experience of therapeutic contact lens practice
- Knowledge of binocular vision theory and practice
- Contemporary knowledge of low vision optical appliances
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Slit lamp biomicroscopy of anterior and posterior eye with specialist lenses
- Ability to independently undertake specialist extended clinical roles (working to agreed protocols)
- Ability to independently assess and make clinical decisions
- The interpretation of anterior and posterior segment medical imaging for example: HRT, OCT, visual fields, and topography
- Clear written presentation and accurate record keeping
- IT skills -- use of Word, Excel, databases, statistical analysis softwares
- Verifying optical prescription vouchers
- Raising purchase orders
- Dexterity and developed hand to eye-co-ordination
- Empathy for distressed patient and carers
- Tolerance for demanding clinical schedules
- Collaborative
- Tactful and diplomatic
- Comfortable and confident with paediatric patients
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in respect of presentations and teaching etc.
- Ability to elicit a comprehensive clinical history & examination where there is a barrier to understanding e.g. young children, patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments
- Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate complex information in a range of situations e.g. clinical information to patients, unwelcome & bad news, or where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments
- Shows flexibility and sensitivity to the complexity of multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work environments, and the overall needs of the service
- Multiple site working
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Optometry or International Equivalent
- Registration with the General Optical Council
- Post Graduate Diploma (Optometry) or International Equivalent
- Advance Post Graduate Diploma/Higher Degree/Equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience >2 yrs
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
- Hospital Optometry Practice
- Complex adult refraction and spectacle prescribing
- Paediatric Refraction
- Paediatric binocular vision theory
- Advanced Medical Contact Lens Practice (Keratoconus, Post Graft, Therapeutic)
- Low Vision Practice
- Extensive clinical experience of medical contact lens fitting for all stage of keratoconus and post graft
- Extensive clinical experience of therapeutic contact lens practice
- Knowledge of binocular vision theory and practice
- Contemporary knowledge of low vision optical appliances
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Slit lamp biomicroscopy of anterior and posterior eye with specialist lenses
- Ability to independently undertake specialist extended clinical roles (working to agreed protocols)
- Ability to independently assess and make clinical decisions
- The interpretation of anterior and posterior segment medical imaging for example: HRT, OCT, visual fields, and topography
- Clear written presentation and accurate record keeping
- IT skills -- use of Word, Excel, databases, statistical analysis softwares
- Verifying optical prescription vouchers
- Raising purchase orders
- Dexterity and developed hand to eye-co-ordination
- Empathy for distressed patient and carers
- Tolerance for demanding clinical schedules
- Collaborative
- Tactful and diplomatic
- Comfortable and confident with paediatric patients
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in respect of presentations and teaching etc.
- Ability to elicit a comprehensive clinical history & examination where there is a barrier to understanding e.g. young children, patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments
- Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate complex information in a range of situations e.g. clinical information to patients, unwelcome & bad news, or where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments
- Shows flexibility and sensitivity to the complexity of multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work environments, and the overall needs of the service
- Multiple site working
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
