Job summary
Band 6 Optometrist
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the large Orthoptic and Optometry team at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
This role is suitable for an experienced optometrist who is keen to develop their skills in both core optometry and extended role services.
We are particularly looking for optometrists with an interest in medical retina who would be keen to enhance their skills in assessment, diagnosis and management of AMD.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve assessment, diagnosis and management of all patients attending the eye clinic. The role will involve a mix of core optometry such as refraction, medical contact lenses and low vision, but will also offer the scope to develop further skills in extended role such as intravitreal injections for AMD, and working in the glaucoma service to assess, diagnose and manage patients with glaucoma.
The ophthalmology department provides services at two main hubs: the Royal Berkshire Hospital at Reading, and Prince Charles Eye Unit in Windsor, but also runs services in Thatcham, Bracknell and Henley-on-Thames.
This role will based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, but there is scope for cross-county working.
About us
Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.
Our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work autonomously, taking sole responsibility for the optometric assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients referred to the ophthalmology department.
- Carry out accurate cycloplegic refraction and fundus examinations.
- Formulate management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills.
- Undertake contact lens assessments for complex corneal patients referred to the service by the consultant ophthalmologists.
- Assess and interpret visual fields using the Humphrey visual field analyser.
- Work within the medical retina and AMD service, providing comprehensive care to patients including delivery of intravitreal injections to manage patients with age related macular degeneration.
- Undertake and interpret OCT images in patients with AMD, to determine requirement for treatment.
- Undertake assessment within the glaucoma service, including but not limited to intraocular pressure measurement, assessment of the anterior chamber depth, visual field interpretation, and HRT and OCT imaging of the optic nerve, and to discuss management of cases with the Consultant Ophthalmologist.
- Undertake assessment for patients with low vision, and support with a range of appropriate visual aids to enable normal activities of daily life.
- Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient needs, and administer medication in accordance with GOC registration, or independent prescribing rights.
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work autonomously, taking sole responsibility for the optometric assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients referred to the ophthalmology department.
- Carry out accurate cycloplegic refraction and fundus examinations.
- Formulate management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills.
- Undertake contact lens assessments for complex corneal patients referred to the service by the consultant ophthalmologists.
- Assess and interpret visual fields using the Humphrey visual field analyser.
- Work within the medical retina and AMD service, providing comprehensive care to patients including delivery of intravitreal injections to manage patients with age related macular degeneration.
- Undertake and interpret OCT images in patients with AMD, to determine requirement for treatment.
- Undertake assessment within the glaucoma service, including but not limited to intraocular pressure measurement, assessment of the anterior chamber depth, visual field interpretation, and HRT and OCT imaging of the optic nerve, and to discuss management of cases with the Consultant Ophthalmologist.
- Undertake assessment for patients with low vision, and support with a range of appropriate visual aids to enable normal activities of daily life.
- Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient needs, and administer medication in accordance with GOC registration, or independent prescribing rights.
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Optometry
- GOC Registration
Desirable
- IP qualification
- Professional Certificate MR/Glaucoma
- Teaching Qualification
Experience
Essential
- Contact lens experience
- Paediatric experience
Desirable
- Hospital Eye Service Experience
- Extended role experience
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Optometry
- GOC Registration
Desirable
- IP qualification
- Professional Certificate MR/Glaucoma
- Teaching Qualification
Experience
Essential
- Contact lens experience
- Paediatric experience
Desirable
- Hospital Eye Service Experience
- Extended role experience
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).
