Job summary
An exciting vacancy has become available for a part-time role as Senior Optometrist which involves working within the core clinics including the Low Vision clinic and Paediatrics at Whipps Cross. We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Optometrist to join our teams for this fixed-term contract starting from April 2025.
The post-holder will work two Wednesdays per month as part of the multi-disciplinary Optometry and Ophthalmology teams that provide comprehensive and quality ophthalmology services for the Trust.
You will be based in the Eye Treatment Centre at Whipps Cross University Hospital. The Eye Treatment Centre is a dedicated unit covering all ophthalmology specialties including vitreo-retinal, medical retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculo-plastics, paediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology and we also have a busy eye emergency service.
You will participate in the educational activities run by and for the Optical Services and Ophthalmology Departments. This includes the teaching of other health care professionals, medical undergraduates and junior doctors.
There are significant opportunities to develop within the role gaining experience in extended roles and a being involved in audit and research
Main duties of the job
We are a friendly, close-knit multidisciplinary team consisting of full-time and part-time 12 Orthoptists,18 Optometrists, 1 Contact Lens Practitioner, 13 Consultants across paediatrics and adult services, a nursing team including HCA's, an ECLO, photography and administrative teams.
We will support you in both your clinical and leadership roles to develop your skills and knowledge. We are in a position to fund courses both in leadership and in clinical areas such as attaining Independent Prescribing and other areas. The extensive range of clinics you can be involved in will also allow you to develop and progress in the areas you enjoy.
We are open to considering applications from Optometrists who would be interested in doing this post as a job share. Working hours and days to be agreed with the successful candidate.
For further information or to visit the departments please contact Laura Grant (Head Orthoptist, WX & NUH) 020 8535 6710 email: laura.grant1@nhs.net or Sejal Vithlani (Principal Optometrist) sejal.vithlani1@nhs.net
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Although this position is a 6 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 6 months.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Although this position is a 6 months fixed-term contract, the actual contract duration will be adjusted to account for the time taken to advertise the post, complete the hiring process, and finalise pre-employment checks. This means the contract will begin when the candidate starts the role and may be slightly shorter than 6 months.
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Community eye service experience
- Sound clinical experience and judgment underpinned by specialist theoretical knowledge base
- Knowledge/understanding of the optometry profession
Desirable
- Hospital ophthalmology clinical attachment or experience elsewhere
- Research experience
- Audit experience
- Teaching experience
Skills
Essential
- Ability to offer super-user status on at least one aspect of specialist optometric instrumentation and/or to undertake extended clinical role
- Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
- Ability to analyse and prioritise complex medical information to help devise appropriate specialize care plans
- Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Keyboard skills
- Ability to pass on knowledge and deliver training
- Ability to undertake highly accurate record keeping using electronic systems
- Time management skills
- Ability to organize, plan and prioritise workload
- Team working and people skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to present information both orally and written in a clear, logical manner
- Presentation skills Flexible and reliable approach to working patterns
- Caring and considerate attitude
- Well motivated and enthusiastic
- Confident
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to carry out moderate to intense effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities with frequent interruptions
- Demonstrates attention and accuracy to detail
- Commitment to non-discriminatory practice
- Professional approach in difficult or emotional situations
Knowledge
Essential
- Developed knowledge of current best practice in Optometry in the relevant setting
- Understanding legal responsibilities of the profession and the associated code of ethics
- Keen to invest in continued professional development
- Audit and research experience & knowledge
- Demonstrates understanding of clinical governance
- Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Keyboard skills
- Knowledge of Cerner Millennium/equivalent system Knowledge of electronic patient records e.g. MediSight Ophthalmology
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with the General Optical Council (GOC)
- BSc(Hons)Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry (2i or above), completion of 12-month clinical postgraduate training post and achievement of all General Optical Council competencies as assessed by the College of Optometrists
Desirable
- MOptom (master of Optometry) specialist optometry degree, achieving all General Optical Council competencies
- Further postgraduate Optometric qualification relating to highly specialist aspects of clinical and technical expertise (taught course)
- Independent Prescribing qualification DipTp(IP)
Other
Essential
- Sufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Community eye service experience
- Sound clinical experience and judgment underpinned by specialist theoretical knowledge base
- Knowledge/understanding of the optometry profession
Desirable
- Hospital ophthalmology clinical attachment or experience elsewhere
- Research experience
- Audit experience
- Teaching experience
Skills
Essential
- Ability to offer super-user status on at least one aspect of specialist optometric instrumentation and/or to undertake extended clinical role
- Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
- Ability to analyse and prioritise complex medical information to help devise appropriate specialize care plans
- Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Keyboard skills
- Ability to pass on knowledge and deliver training
- Ability to undertake highly accurate record keeping using electronic systems
- Time management skills
- Ability to organize, plan and prioritise workload
- Team working and people skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to present information both orally and written in a clear, logical manner
- Presentation skills Flexible and reliable approach to working patterns
- Caring and considerate attitude
- Well motivated and enthusiastic
- Confident
- Ability to work under pressure
- Able to carry out moderate to intense effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities with frequent interruptions
- Demonstrates attention and accuracy to detail
- Commitment to non-discriminatory practice
- Professional approach in difficult or emotional situations
Knowledge
Essential
- Developed knowledge of current best practice in Optometry in the relevant setting
- Understanding legal responsibilities of the profession and the associated code of ethics
- Keen to invest in continued professional development
- Audit and research experience & knowledge
- Demonstrates understanding of clinical governance
- Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Keyboard skills
- Knowledge of Cerner Millennium/equivalent system Knowledge of electronic patient records e.g. MediSight Ophthalmology
Qualifications
Essential
- Registration with the General Optical Council (GOC)
- BSc(Hons)Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry (2i or above), completion of 12-month clinical postgraduate training post and achievement of all General Optical Council competencies as assessed by the College of Optometrists
Desirable
- MOptom (master of Optometry) specialist optometry degree, achieving all General Optical Council competencies
- Further postgraduate Optometric qualification relating to highly specialist aspects of clinical and technical expertise (taught course)
- Independent Prescribing qualification DipTp(IP)
Other
Essential
- Sufficient to perform the duties of the post with any aids and adaptations
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).
