Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Working Full time : 10 Sessions per week

Applications are invited for a 12-month fixed term Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

This post will be based on 10 Programmed Activities per week and presents an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated individual to join our department and work within our existing team of committed ophthalmic professionals.

Main duties of the job

The candidate will be expected to integrate within the team of existing consultants in order to provide a complete ophthalmology service. Sub-specialty interests will be accommodated where possible, and the successful candidate will be expected to work to support and further develop the management of Ophthalmology. They will also be expected to take part in the general consultant on-call rota.

The on-call commitment is shared with Arrowe Park Hospital Consultants and is currently 1 in 16. The post holder will also join the on-duty rota which is also 1 in 16.

You will be joining our team of 9 Consultants, 4 Specialty Doctors, 3 Specialty Trainees and 1 ST1/2 Trust doctor, plus our team of Ophthalmic nurses, Optometrists and Orthoptists.

The post will be based at The Countess of Chester Hospital site, but also includes outpatient clinic and theatre work for cataract surgery at the new Cheshire & Merseyside Surgical Centre at Victoria Infirmary Northwich (VIN).

The Countess of Chester Hospital is situated in a beautiful location on the outskirts of the historic Roman City of Chester. We are within easy access of Liverpool, Manchester Airport, North Wales and the Lake District. The Trust is committed to continued professional development, and to a culture of ongoing service improvement.

For further information, informal discussion or to arrange a department visit please contact Mr C Parkes, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead.

About us

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Details

Date posted

20 March 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£105,504 to £139,882 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

210-2025-108

Job locations

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Job description

Job responsibilities

For detailed description, please see Job Description.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For detailed description, please see Job Description.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Skills

Essential

  • FRCOphth or equivalent
  • On Specialist Register of the General Medical Council or within six months of anticipated CCT date on the date of interview

Desirable

  • MD/PhD

Clinical Experience and Effectiveness

Essential

  • Wide clinical experience in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • Experience in cataract surgery
  • Participation in on-call

Teaching & Training Experience

Essential

  • Experience / interest in teaching

Desirable

  • Attendance at teaching skills courses

Attendance at teaching skills courses

Essential

  • Demonstrable use of Clinical Audit within a Service
  • Demonstrable use of research and evidence base to practice
  • Understanding of importance of management skills

Desirable

  • Relevant experience in undertaking and organisation of Audit
  • Research and publications relevant to Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • Attendance at relevant courses

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to integrate within, motivate, and provide professional leadership in a multi-disciplinary team
Person Specification

Qualifications & Skills

Essential

  • FRCOphth or equivalent
  • On Specialist Register of the General Medical Council or within six months of anticipated CCT date on the date of interview

Desirable

  • MD/PhD

Clinical Experience and Effectiveness

Essential

  • Wide clinical experience in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • Experience in cataract surgery
  • Participation in on-call

Teaching & Training Experience

Essential

  • Experience / interest in teaching

Desirable

  • Attendance at teaching skills courses

Attendance at teaching skills courses

Essential

  • Demonstrable use of Clinical Audit within a Service
  • Demonstrable use of research and evidence base to practice
  • Understanding of importance of management skills

Desirable

  • Relevant experience in undertaking and organisation of Audit
  • Research and publications relevant to Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • Attendance at relevant courses

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to integrate within, motivate, and provide professional leadership in a multi-disciplinary team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead

Mr Craig Parkes

cparkes@nhs.net

01244362238

Details

Date posted

20 March 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£105,504 to £139,882 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

210-2025-108

Job locations

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)