Job summary
Maidstone Eye Unit is a dynamic training environment for Ophthalmic Professionals. The Opticians Department is adjacent to the Orthoptic department and works closely with other professionals in the eye unit including 17 Consultant Ophthalmologists, who offer specialist services in: Glaucoma, Anti-VegF, Oculoplastics, Vitreo-Retinal, Medical Retina & Diabetes, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Cornea and Ophthalmic A&E.
The department is staffed by 8 Optometrists across 3 sites, each with their own interest and sub-specialities. All are experienced in working with Pre-Registrations and are actively involved in the supervision and training for the Pre Registration Optometrist. The department provides a range of Optometric Services including:
- Low Vision Services
- Complex Contact Lens Service
- Complex Refractions (& dispensing)
- Paediatric Refractions
- Ocular B-Scan Ultrasound
- Optometric Shared Glaucoma, Cornea & Neuro-ophthalmology Clinics
- Research
Main duties of the job
Throughout the year we accommodate visiting Pre-registered Optometrists from community opticians, who attend the Opticians department. We find this helps Pre-Registered Optometrists in their learning experience within the department.
You are expected to complete 8 Sessions in the department examining patients attending the clinics. You are fully supervised by the Senior Optometrists who are able to help with any queries. We like our Pre-Registered Optometrists to be hard working, to take initiative in their work.
Our Optometrists (some of which previously completed their training at Maidstone Hospital) are approachable and friendly; we encourage our Pre Registered Optometrists to take on challenging refractions early on and constantly ask questions that will help increase their knowledge and competence. Each patient examined by the Pre-Reg Optometrists should be discussed with the Supervising Optometrist and then signed off. Our main focus is learning from each patient experience.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please emailmtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.netif this is problematic)and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check atEnhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: 15th July 2024
Job description
Job responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trusts 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please emailmtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.netif this is problematic)and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check atEnhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: 15th July 2024
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- General Optical Council registered (as student)
- BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry
Experience
Essential
- University Experience dealing with patients
- Theoretical knowledge from the degree
Desirable
- Work experience in community practice and/or Hospital eye service
Skills
Essential
- Professional outlook to role and responsibilities
- Ability to communicate complex and at times sensitive information to patients and other professional groups.
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent written and spoken English
- IT Skills including Word Processing & use of Spreadsheets
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- General Optical Council registered (as student)
- BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry
Experience
Essential
- University Experience dealing with patients
- Theoretical knowledge from the degree
Desirable
- Work experience in community practice and/or Hospital eye service
Skills
Essential
- Professional outlook to role and responsibilities
- Ability to communicate complex and at times sensitive information to patients and other professional groups.
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent written and spoken English
- IT Skills including Word Processing & use of Spreadsheets
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).
