Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Principal Optometrist - Single Point of Access

The closing date is 16 March 2026

Job summary

Moorfields Eye Hospital has recently been successful with securing a contract with South West London to provide the Single Point of Access for Optometry referral management.

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated optometrist(s) already at band 8a for additional sessions as a principal Optometrist working within our Single Point of Access team. There are multiple sessions available. The posts will consist of delivering highly specialist clinical care. Applicants need to have prior experience / understanding of working in the hospital service and already have the relevant higher qualifications from the College of Optometrists or be working towards them (see Person Specification).

As well as joining the largest hospital optometry department that delivers sub-speciality care, research and education within the optometry sector. Moorfields provides high quality ophthalmology services across the full range of sub-specialities in hospital and community settings

Main duties of the job

The post holder(s) will provide clinical expertise including but not limited to, assessment of patient referrals across all ophthalmic sub-specialties, onward care decision making with any appropriate escalation to urgent or non-ophthalmic services.

The Single Point of Access service is rapidly growing and changing, and the post holder will make a significant contribution to this, including, but not limited to: insight generation from referral data at scale; identification of opportunities for service improvement; evidence generation to drive identified interventions; active participation in service redesign.

The successful applicants will report to the Clinical Lead for SPARC on a day to day basis as part of the wider SPARC team, with direct input from and accountability to the Executive Director of Digital Development for all clinical activities relating to the SPARC. The post holder is expected to also hold a hospital clinical position with accountability to the head of optometry.

The post holders will have responsibility for the clinical oversight of the pathway and clinical governance issues within the SPARC.

About us

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

  • Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement
  • Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
  • Free 24/7 independent counselling service
  • Learning and development opportunities
  • Easy and quick transport links
  • A range of attractive benefits and discounts
  • Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
  • Free Pilates classes
  • Full support and training to develop your skills
  • Flexible working friendly organisation

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

273-DC-7796316

Job locations

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT

162 City Road

London

EC1V 2PD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To deliver highly specialist clinical patient care requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management of ophthalmology referrals. This activity requires regular use of a wide range of advanced clinical techniques requiring dexterity, precision and intense concentration; and the judgement, analysis and interpretation of the complex clinical findings with a range of management options.

To have overall responsibility for the clinical care and supervision of patients managed in the Single Point of Access and future affiliated digitally-delivered clinical services.

To develop a deep understanding of clinical management pathways across multiple Integrated Care Systems, and be able to support best matching of patient clinical needs with available services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To deliver highly specialist clinical patient care requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management of ophthalmology referrals. This activity requires regular use of a wide range of advanced clinical techniques requiring dexterity, precision and intense concentration; and the judgement, analysis and interpretation of the complex clinical findings with a range of management options.

To have overall responsibility for the clinical care and supervision of patients managed in the Single Point of Access and future affiliated digitally-delivered clinical services.

To develop a deep understanding of clinical management pathways across multiple Integrated Care Systems, and be able to support best matching of patient clinical needs with available services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) Optometry
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Prof Cert Qualifications

Desirable

  • Specialist College of Optometrist Prof Cert Qualifications
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Higher Qualifications
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Diploma in Independent Prescribing
  • MSc/PhD in Optometry/Ophthalmology

Professional Registration

Essential

  • General Optical Council Registration

Experience

Essential

  • Post-qualification Hospital experience > 5 years
  • Hospital extended role experience >3 years
  • Experience of examining vulnerable groups of patients e.g. CYP / additional needs
  • Experience with clinical teaching

Desirable

  • Hospital extended role experience
  • Experience with line management and appraisal
  • Experience in research
  • Experience of dealing with quality and safety issues e.g. complaints, incidents, risk assessment

Skills

Essential

  • Competent use of a slit-lamp to examine the anterior and posterior eye with specialist lenses
  • Competent performance of retinoscopy
  • Ability to analyse and interpret ocular imaging e.g. OCT, visual fields, topography to an expert clinical level e.g diagnosis and formulate management plans

Desirable

  • Ability to write detailed clinical summaries
  • Excellent interpersonal skills highlighting the complexity of multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work environments, and the overall needs of the service. multidisciplinary working
  • Ability to sensitively manage staff and patients with respect to their emotional well being
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) Optometry
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Prof Cert Qualifications

Desirable

  • Specialist College of Optometrist Prof Cert Qualifications
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Higher Qualifications
  • Specialist College of Optometrist Diploma in Independent Prescribing
  • MSc/PhD in Optometry/Ophthalmology

Professional Registration

Essential

  • General Optical Council Registration

Experience

Essential

  • Post-qualification Hospital experience > 5 years
  • Hospital extended role experience >3 years
  • Experience of examining vulnerable groups of patients e.g. CYP / additional needs
  • Experience with clinical teaching

Desirable

  • Hospital extended role experience
  • Experience with line management and appraisal
  • Experience in research
  • Experience of dealing with quality and safety issues e.g. complaints, incidents, risk assessment

Skills

Essential

  • Competent use of a slit-lamp to examine the anterior and posterior eye with specialist lenses
  • Competent performance of retinoscopy
  • Ability to analyse and interpret ocular imaging e.g. OCT, visual fields, topography to an expert clinical level e.g diagnosis and formulate management plans

Desirable

  • Ability to write detailed clinical summaries
  • Excellent interpersonal skills highlighting the complexity of multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work environments, and the overall needs of the service. multidisciplinary working
  • Ability to sensitively manage staff and patients with respect to their emotional well being

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.

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.

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

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT

162 City Road

London

EC1V 2PD


Employer's website

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT

162 City Road

London

EC1V 2PD


Employer's website

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead SPoA

Rachel Thomas

rachel.thomas31@nhs.net

07730876981

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

273-DC-7796316

Job locations

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT

162 City Road

London

EC1V 2PD


Supporting documents

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