Job summary
As one of the country's leading ophthalmology units in the country, the Newcastle Eye Centre continually improves how it offers high quality services for patients, and excellent career satisfaction for its staff.
Our Optometry Department is no exception and as we are currently expanding our service, we are delighted to be in a position to seek a Contact Lens Optician to join the team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Our visionary approach includes working closely with our consultant colleagues and other eye professionals to ensure we can provide healthcare at its best with people at our heart and we would love to hear from those who share our vision of collaborative working. This is an exciting and rare opportunity for a Contact Lens Optician to work within the Hospital Eye Service and expand their clinical skills.
- Interview Date Friday, 08 December 2023
- 22 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
Successful candidates will be registered with the General Optical council as a Dispensing Optician and hold the Contact Lens Specialty. Clinical work will include working in the low visual aid, medically necessary contact lens clinics both adult and paediatric and a small number of specialist spectacle dispenses such as for ptosis props and facial prosthesis. Other duties will include provision of post-graduate training across a wide range of disciplines including pre-registration Optometrists, Orthoptists, Nursing staff and junior Medical staff preparing for Royal College of Ophthalmologists examinations, participation in clinical and medical audit and management of stock control of Optometry supplies.
Previous experience in low visual aid and medically necessary contact lens clinics is desirable but not essential as full training and support will be given. We offer opportunities for continuing professional development as we seek to ensure every member of staff is provided with the relevant training and support needed to liberate their potential.
We welcome applications from candidates without the contact lens certificate with the expectation that they would achieve this within 2 years of starting employment. Support will be given to achieve this. Year 1 70 % of top of the Band and Year 2 75 %
There is huge scope for personal and professional progression here at the Newcastle Eye Centre. If you think this is a role you would relish then we would love to hear from you.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assess and diagnose adult and paediatric cases registered with the ophthalmologist
- Creating and delivering specialised individual treatment programmes as agreed with the patient
- To demonstrate optical theory and practices to optometry undergraduates, optometrists and other health professionals and junior medical staff
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assess and diagnose adult and paediatric cases registered with the ophthalmologist
- Creating and delivering specialised individual treatment programmes as agreed with the patient
- To demonstrate optical theory and practices to optometry undergraduates, optometrists and other health professionals and junior medical staff
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Qualified Dispensing and Contact Lens Optician registered with GOC
- Awareness of evidence based medicine and its impact upon clinical practice
Skills
Essential
- Good organisational skills
- Good time management
Desirable
- Basic IT skills
- Evidence of team working
- Ability to work single-handed/autonomously
Experience
Essential
- Practical working knowledge of spectacle dispensing
- Practical working knowledge of contact lens practice
- Experience of more unusual/novel dispensing
- Experience of performing stock taking/other administrative duties
Desirable
- Active involvement in clinical audit
- Experience of research methodology
- Experience of low visual aid clinics
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing/Level 6Diploma of Association of British Dispensing Opticians
- Post graduate contact lens certificate
- State registration with the General Optical Council as Dispensing Optician and Contact Lens Optician
Desirable
- UK recognised driving licence
- Post graduate low vision certificate
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Qualified Dispensing and Contact Lens Optician registered with GOC
- Awareness of evidence based medicine and its impact upon clinical practice
Skills
Essential
- Good organisational skills
- Good time management
Desirable
- Basic IT skills
- Evidence of team working
- Ability to work single-handed/autonomously
Experience
Essential
- Practical working knowledge of spectacle dispensing
- Practical working knowledge of contact lens practice
- Experience of more unusual/novel dispensing
- Experience of performing stock taking/other administrative duties
Desirable
- Active involvement in clinical audit
- Experience of research methodology
- Experience of low visual aid clinics
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing/Level 6Diploma of Association of British Dispensing Opticians
- Post graduate contact lens certificate
- State registration with the General Optical Council as Dispensing Optician and Contact Lens Optician
Desirable
- UK recognised driving licence
- Post graduate low vision certificate
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).
