Job summary
Following the retirement of the Head of Optometry within the Ophthalmology Directorate at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a rare opportunity has arisen for an outstanding Optometrist with exemplary leadership skills and a dynamic approach to apply for the position.
The Head of the Optometry Service is a key role within the Ophthalmology Directorate providing engaging, professional leadership for all optometry staff and accountability for the effective and efficient delivery of core optometry activities.
You will have the opportunity to review and redesign the structure within the service to enhance leadership and clinical accountability within core and extended optometry practice in alignment with the vision for multiprofessional advanced clinical practice within ophthalmology.
The Head of Optometry will provide strong, visible, and professional leadership to the optometry team and provide highly specialist and expert advice for all professional matters within Ophthalmology.
The optometry service comprises c16 registered optometrists, a Pre Registration Optometrist, Telephone Triage Optometrists for the Eye Emergency Service, 3 Dispensing Opticians, an ECLO and Optometry Technicians. The Optometry Service sees XX patients per year delivering core optometry and contributes extended practice to a range of ophthalmology clinics including AMD, Medical Retina, Glaucoma, Paediatrics and Eye Emergencies.
Main duties of the job
As a specialist Optometrist, with an ongoing clinical portfolio, the post holder will need to have significant operational leadership experience and knowledge of the breadth of optometry services as well as an understanding of wider issues within ophthalmology and healthcare provision in both primary and secondary care systems.
The post holder will be required to work collaboratively and effectively with the Ophthalmology Directorate Triumvirate (Clinical Director, Matron and Operational Services Manager), other heads of service and senior clinicians within ophthalmology to contribute to and inform the strategic planning for workforce, training, service delivery, finance, and capital. The post holder will be expected to lead on this for optometry and be accountable for delivering in these areas.
The post holder will be accountable for delivering the clinical governance agenda, ensuring a safe, efficient, and effective optometry service, compatible with professional and national clinical standards and in alignment with Trust policies and procedures.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
Job description
Job responsibilities
(Please see Job Description for full details of role and responsibilities)
To be professional and management lead for the Department of Optometry.
To provide leadership for the evolving department restructure, optimising direct line management, accountability, and governance within the team.
To drive the strategic development of the optometry department, working with local and national stakeholders and other professional groups
Responsible for provision and delivery of a broad and comprehensive range of core and highly specialist optometric services at central and peripheral locations.
To plan and implement short term and long-term strategic adjustments to this service provision as needed to meet changing skill mix and demands on service and make adaptations to meet conflicting service requirements as necessary.
To ensure provision and delivery of teaching and training for all members of the Department.
To personally deliver specialist training in area of expertise.
To take full management responsibility for all aspects of the service for the Department including budgetary, human resources, and clinical governance.
To proactively embrace NHS improvement policies, local and national, and instigate change. Work closely with the Directorate Triumvirate, lead Ophthalmologist and other heads of service to provide a flexible and adaptable service that is responsive to changes in requirements.
To build on research relationships within the Oxford Eye Hospital linking with other disciplines, Consultant Ophthalmologists and Eye Research Group Oxford. Encourage research ideas within the department and the presentation and publication of results to relevant national professional forums.
Job description
Job responsibilities
(Please see Job Description for full details of role and responsibilities)
To be professional and management lead for the Department of Optometry.
To provide leadership for the evolving department restructure, optimising direct line management, accountability, and governance within the team.
To drive the strategic development of the optometry department, working with local and national stakeholders and other professional groups
Responsible for provision and delivery of a broad and comprehensive range of core and highly specialist optometric services at central and peripheral locations.
To plan and implement short term and long-term strategic adjustments to this service provision as needed to meet changing skill mix and demands on service and make adaptations to meet conflicting service requirements as necessary.
To ensure provision and delivery of teaching and training for all members of the Department.
To personally deliver specialist training in area of expertise.
To take full management responsibility for all aspects of the service for the Department including budgetary, human resources, and clinical governance.
To proactively embrace NHS improvement policies, local and national, and instigate change. Work closely with the Directorate Triumvirate, lead Ophthalmologist and other heads of service to provide a flexible and adaptable service that is responsive to changes in requirements.
To build on research relationships within the Oxford Eye Hospital linking with other disciplines, Consultant Ophthalmologists and Eye Research Group Oxford. Encourage research ideas within the department and the presentation and publication of results to relevant national professional forums.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MOptom (Master of Optometry) specialist optometry degree OR equivalent BSc(Hons) Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry (2i or above), completion of 12 month clinical postgraduate training post
- Registered with the General Optical Council (GOC)
- PhD in field of clinical specialty or equivalent level of expertise from formal qualification compounded by relevant years of clinical practice in area of expertise and advanced clinical training
- Postgraduate qualifications to MSc level embracing extensive theoretical knowledge in a range of highly specialist aspects of clinical expertise
- Registered College of Optometrists Supervisor for pre-registration graduate optometrist training post as required by the GOC
Desirable
- Formal management qualification
- College of optometrists examiner or experience of delivery of teaching to optometry undergraduates and postgraduates in University setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience in leadership and line management of groups of staff within an optometry team
- Relevant years of experience in autonomous management a broad range of secondary care and tertiary complex optometric cases in a hospital setting; involving ability to plan appropriate investigations, analyse test results and interpret all data relating to highly complex clinical presentations within area of expertise.
- Advanced theoretical knowledge, skills and clinical experience in specialist areas Previous experience of teaching theoretical knowledge and practical skills in both formal and informal setting
- Previous experience as a Senior Hospital Optometrist in leadership role in provision of specialist optometric service
- Skills and experience in planning improvement to aspects of a service
- Previous budget management experience
- Experience of leading service change
- Experience in design and execution of prospective/ retrospective clinical audit
Desirable
- Familiarity with databases and statistics
- Previous audit experience
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Essential
- Extensive knowledge/understanding of the wider optometry profession.
- Ability to undertake highly specialist extended clinical role and formulate specialist care plans in areas of expertise.
- Proficient in the use of MS Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) Keyboard skills
- Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
- Effective communicator and advisor at all levels with ability to develop constructive relationships at all levels
- A motivator and encourager
- Demonstrates attention and accuracy to detail
Desirable
- Ability to understand and interpret performance and activity data to present reports and determine service strategy
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MOptom (Master of Optometry) specialist optometry degree OR equivalent BSc(Hons) Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry (2i or above), completion of 12 month clinical postgraduate training post
- Registered with the General Optical Council (GOC)
- PhD in field of clinical specialty or equivalent level of expertise from formal qualification compounded by relevant years of clinical practice in area of expertise and advanced clinical training
- Postgraduate qualifications to MSc level embracing extensive theoretical knowledge in a range of highly specialist aspects of clinical expertise
- Registered College of Optometrists Supervisor for pre-registration graduate optometrist training post as required by the GOC
Desirable
- Formal management qualification
- College of optometrists examiner or experience of delivery of teaching to optometry undergraduates and postgraduates in University setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience in leadership and line management of groups of staff within an optometry team
- Relevant years of experience in autonomous management a broad range of secondary care and tertiary complex optometric cases in a hospital setting; involving ability to plan appropriate investigations, analyse test results and interpret all data relating to highly complex clinical presentations within area of expertise.
- Advanced theoretical knowledge, skills and clinical experience in specialist areas Previous experience of teaching theoretical knowledge and practical skills in both formal and informal setting
- Previous experience as a Senior Hospital Optometrist in leadership role in provision of specialist optometric service
- Skills and experience in planning improvement to aspects of a service
- Previous budget management experience
- Experience of leading service change
- Experience in design and execution of prospective/ retrospective clinical audit
Desirable
- Familiarity with databases and statistics
- Previous audit experience
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Essential
- Extensive knowledge/understanding of the wider optometry profession.
- Ability to undertake highly specialist extended clinical role and formulate specialist care plans in areas of expertise.
- Proficient in the use of MS Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) Keyboard skills
- Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
- Effective communicator and advisor at all levels with ability to develop constructive relationships at all levels
- A motivator and encourager
- Demonstrates attention and accuracy to detail
Desirable
- Ability to understand and interpret performance and activity data to present reports and determine service strategy
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).
