Job summary
Applications are invited from enthusiastic and committed Optometry students to complete your pre-registration year with us in the Royal Eye Infirmary. This is a very exciting opportunity to train with us in our new REI building opening in August 2023.
We are a collaborative team of Optometrists, and work closely with our colleagues in orthoptics, imaging, advanced clinical practitioners, nurse practitioners, and ophthalmologists. We are also very fortunate to have our own dispensing service and team of excellent dispensing opticians.
As a department, we are dedicated to the development of a strong optometry team ready for the future. The post holder will ensure that the care provided is consistent and of a high standard throughout the patient care pathway, under the supervision of the Head and Deputy Head of Optometry.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will deliver a range of core optometric services including complex adult refraction, contact lens fitting (keratoconic RGPS and soft, reconstructive, high prescriptions), paediatrics (refraction, fundoscopy, spectacle dispensing), and low vision.
There will also be the opportunity to sit in on extended practice clinics, and ophthalmology clinics to broaden your knowledge.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responsibility for the delivery of a range of sub-speciality clinical services involving advanced optometric extended roles.
- Practitioner with own caseload of patients in the contact lens, low vision and refraction services.
- To personally undertake specialist clinical activity requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in new patient and review clinics.
- To provide Optometric cover for clinics at the Eye Unit and its out-reach clinics.
- These include routine, diagnostic and paediatric refraction.
- Specialist medical contact lens management.
- Low vision assessments and low vision rehabilitation, including an in-depth knowledge of all the current low vision aids, optical and electronic.
- The post holder maintains a personal clinical workload within these core services and undertakes complex cases referred by the Ophthalmologic staff for highly specialist optometric opinions.
- Provision of paediatric spectacle dispensing service. Selecting, measuring and adjusting specialist spectacle frames for the paediatric eye service.
- To work in close cooperation with other REI staff including Medical, Orthoptic, Imaging and Nursing staff, offering advice and guidance where necessary to provide enhanced patient care
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Responsibility for the delivery of a range of sub-speciality clinical services involving advanced optometric extended roles.
- Practitioner with own caseload of patients in the contact lens, low vision and refraction services.
- To personally undertake specialist clinical activity requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in new patient and review clinics.
- To provide Optometric cover for clinics at the Eye Unit and its out-reach clinics.
- These include routine, diagnostic and paediatric refraction.
- Specialist medical contact lens management.
- Low vision assessments and low vision rehabilitation, including an in-depth knowledge of all the current low vision aids, optical and electronic.
- The post holder maintains a personal clinical workload within these core services and undertakes complex cases referred by the Ophthalmologic staff for highly specialist optometric opinions.
- Provision of paediatric spectacle dispensing service. Selecting, measuring and adjusting specialist spectacle frames for the paediatric eye service.
- To work in close cooperation with other REI staff including Medical, Orthoptic, Imaging and Nursing staff, offering advice and guidance where necessary to provide enhanced patient care
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Theoretical and demonstrable practical experience across a range of optometric skills
- Evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of working with patients with special needs, children and others, requiring high levels of communication skills and use of special techniques.
- Demonstrable experience of working with the severely visually impaired.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc - Optometry
- MCOptom
- GOC Registration (General Optical Council)
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- Developed written and verbal communication skills, necessary to provide, receive and present sensitive or contentious information to peers, public or staff or in situations where there may be significant barriers to acceptance (e.g. in a hostile or antagonistic atmosphere).
- Ability to work within a busy environment, take own initiative and at the same time be an efficient team player.
- Accuracy and attention to details.
- Organisational and management skills
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of communicating with hearing and/or speech impaired patients and those with language problems and challenging behaviour.
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Theoretical and demonstrable practical experience across a range of optometric skills
- Evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of working with patients with special needs, children and others, requiring high levels of communication skills and use of special techniques.
- Demonstrable experience of working with the severely visually impaired.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc - Optometry
- MCOptom
- GOC Registration (General Optical Council)
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
- Developed written and verbal communication skills, necessary to provide, receive and present sensitive or contentious information to peers, public or staff or in situations where there may be significant barriers to acceptance (e.g. in a hostile or antagonistic atmosphere).
- Ability to work within a busy environment, take own initiative and at the same time be an efficient team player.
- Accuracy and attention to details.
- Organisational and management skills
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of communicating with hearing and/or speech impaired patients and those with language problems and challenging behaviour.
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).
