Optometrist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

To ensure safe and effective clinical practice

To enhance the patients experience

To manage and develop the performance of the team

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisations objectives

Clinical

To assist in a wide range of sub-specialty clinical services involving optometric extended roles. These include working as a part of a team in corneal, cataract, glaucoma, macular and paediatric ophthalmic services. This work requires frequent, prolonged periods of intense concentration and frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. An extensive personal clinical commitment to these services is required.

Extended role clinical activities require highly developed skills involving both precision and speed, where significant levels of hand eye and sensory co-ordination are essential. This often involves working in certain restricted positions / posture that cannot easily be changed.

To undertake extensive core optometry services. These include refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric), specialist medical contact lens management, corneal topography, visual impairment rehabilitation and baseline ophthalmic screening.

Work to support research in the Division as part of a team conducting clinical trials into Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy and Vein Occlusion etc

To work closely with the line manager to ensure professional standards are achieved and maintained at all times, for the provision of highest quality hospital optometry services.

Managerial

To contribute to delivering income generation and cost improvement programs.

Management of certain aspects of the departmental information and information systems as delegated by the line manager to ensure the accurate collection of appropriate data within the Department.

To work closely with the line manager in order to implement and encourage best practice wherever possible. The post holder is guided by principles and broad occupational policies, regulations and guidance provided by the line manager.

To work closely with the line manager in developing professional clinical performance and audit these on a regular basis.

To maintain harmonious working relationships and efficient communication with all staff throughout the Directorate, Trust and outside agencies.

To contribute to operational planning for the Department. This may involve dealing with some complex, sensitive and contentious information. The post holder will be expected to provide advice, instruction or training to groups where the subject matter is generally straightforward.

Responsibility to ensure that the Department abides by all Trust corporate policies and that all Health and Safety and COSHH regulations are complied with.

To supply accurate information to the line manager when requested in order to deal with complaints at a departmental level.

To contribute to the planning and organisation of a broad range of complex activities, some of which may be on going, which require regular review.

Delegated responsibility by the line manager for the management, supervision and administration of certain activities within the Department and its personnel. These include COSHH, Health and safety issues and low vision stock monitoring.

Teaching and Training

Responsibility for the clinical actions of pre-registration optometrists.

To undertake teaching and training of registered optometrists, pre-registration optometrists (including external students), final year optometry students, orthoptic students and medical students.

To undertake optometric training of post graduate medical staff (ie Senior House Officers and Specialist Registrars) in preparation for The Royal College of Ophthalmologists examinations.

To participate in continuing education and training (CET) as required by The General Optical Council (GOC).

To personally participate in continuing professional development (as required by The General Optical Council). This is through approved study leave procedures where necessary.

Clinical Governance and Clinical Audit

To undertake systematic and critical analysis of the quality of care in the Optometry Department (including diagnosis, treatment, outcomes and quality of life for patients) as delegated by the line manager.

To participate in clinical audit and contribute to collaborative undertakings with other departments providing ophthalmology services.

Delegated Duties

To undertake delegated duties from the line manager commensurate with this post, following discussion with the post holder.

Weekly Timetable

To personally provide up to 6clinics and core optometry clinics per week: predominantly Monday to Friday.

Research

To participate in original research programs and clinical trials in collaboration with other medical and research staff.

Presentation of scientific material at local and national meetings which requires tact or persuasive skills or where there may be barriers to understanding.

External Commitments

To undertake delegated collaborative work with outside agencies as required.

Person Specification

Registered with the General Optical Council

Essential

• Registered with the General Optical Council

Optometry undergraduate degree

Essential

• Achieved BSc or MOptom / BOptom in Optometry

Experience of working in HES

Desirable

• Working is hospital Eye Service setting
• Understanding and insight into the clinical role of an Optometrist in the Hospital Eye Service

Complex refraction

Desirable

• Experience of complex refraction in adults.

Paediatric refractions

Desirable

• Experience of paediatric refractions including very young children. Understanding of clinical management and appropriate prescribing in complex paediatric caseload.

Low vision experience

Desirable

• Working in a low vision clinic, and/or with visually impaired patients or Low vision qualification..

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

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Address

Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

New Cross Hospital

Wolverhampton

WV100QP

Employer's website

https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)