Job summary
We have an opportunity for an experienced Optometrist or Ophthalmic Nurseto join us as a Clinical Optimisation Lead. This is a full-time remote role but will require weekly national travel (a minimum of once a week) as well as to meetings in our offices in Nottingham and London.
Reporting into the Head of Clinical Proposition, you will support the delivery of efficient, optimized and standardized optometrist and ophthalmic nurse led pathways within Newmedica. This role will predominantly focus on medical retina and as such you will be responsible for the ongoing review and improvement of the delivery of this pathway within the organization, working alongside the Medical Retina Lead, Medical Director, National Theatre Lead and other functions.
Main duties of the job
As Clinical Optimisation Lead, you will design, review and implement standardised clinical pathways across medical retina services and support with other ophthalmology specialties such as cataract, glaucoma, AMD and oculoplastic. You will also support clinics with identifying areas for pathway optimisation, acting as a central point of expertise and guidance and providing clinical leadership to our optometrists and ophthalmic Nurses.
You will work with our Partners to recruit high calibre optometrists and ophthalmic Nurses, identify training and resourcing needs and work with the Learning and Development team to develop and deliver training programmes to clinical and non-clinical staff.
About us
Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatient appointments, diagnostic testing and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.
We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country. We have significant growth plans over the next few years as we look to establish a national footprint and open many new sites across the UK.
We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues to tell us what its like to work here, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the second year running. The feedback has directly contributed to Newmedica being listed among the UKs top 50 Best Workplace for 2025.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role Summary
They will also be responsible for providing clinical and professional leadership and supporting the recruitment and engagement of all nurses and optometrists across the business, by working closely with Clinical and Operational Partners to identify where support is required.
The role will report into the Head of Clinical Proposition and work closely with the Head of Clinical Programmes Development and Head of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety (Operational)to support the development and delivery of eye care services within Newmedica.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Pathway Development, Optimisation and Standardisation
- Design, review, and implement standardised clinical pathways across medical retina services and support with other ophthalmology specialties (e.g., cataract, glaucoma, medical retina, oculoplastic).
- Works closely with HR, Finance, Central Operations and the Clinical Quality and Governance team as part of a broader cross functional team
- Act as a central point of expertise and guidance for our services.
- Ensure consistent delivery of robust ophthalmic pathways across the estate using evidence-based practices.
- Develop actions plans for improvement with each OJV
- Encourage and enable Pay It Forward of best practice
- Collaborate with other subject matter experts and our Clinical Partners to ensure pathways are efficient, patient-centred, and align with regulatory standards.
- Continuously monitor and optimise pathways for consistency and improved outcomes.
- To work closely with the National Theatre Lead to identify areas for improvement and collaborate with local teams to implement corrective actions.
Training and Education
- Identify training and resourcing needs to feed into HR & L&D to ensure sustainable and ongoing improvement in pathway delivery through effective resourcing
- Ensures the optimisation and productivity of optometrists and ophthalmic nurses, as well as expanding other registrants' scope of practice to support pathway development and optimizing the ophthalmologist time.
- Ensuring all training aligns with Newmedicas policies and national standards.
- Work with L&D to develop and deliver training programmes clinical and non-clinical staff
- Provides clinical leadership to optometrists and ophthalmic nurses.
- Supports Partners to recruit high calibre optometrists and ophthalmic nurses by working with the recruitment team to define the selection criteria and process and providing interview support as required.
- Is conversant with Newmedica policies and guidelines and ensures compliance across optometrist and ophthalmic nurse delivered services.
- Maintains standards and practice in accordance with the GOC Code of Professional conduct, Newmedica and national guidelines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role Summary
They will also be responsible for providing clinical and professional leadership and supporting the recruitment and engagement of all nurses and optometrists across the business, by working closely with Clinical and Operational Partners to identify where support is required.
The role will report into the Head of Clinical Proposition and work closely with the Head of Clinical Programmes Development and Head of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety (Operational)to support the development and delivery of eye care services within Newmedica.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Pathway Development, Optimisation and Standardisation
- Design, review, and implement standardised clinical pathways across medical retina services and support with other ophthalmology specialties (e.g., cataract, glaucoma, medical retina, oculoplastic).
- Works closely with HR, Finance, Central Operations and the Clinical Quality and Governance team as part of a broader cross functional team
- Act as a central point of expertise and guidance for our services.
- Ensure consistent delivery of robust ophthalmic pathways across the estate using evidence-based practices.
- Develop actions plans for improvement with each OJV
- Encourage and enable Pay It Forward of best practice
- Collaborate with other subject matter experts and our Clinical Partners to ensure pathways are efficient, patient-centred, and align with regulatory standards.
- Continuously monitor and optimise pathways for consistency and improved outcomes.
- To work closely with the National Theatre Lead to identify areas for improvement and collaborate with local teams to implement corrective actions.
Training and Education
- Identify training and resourcing needs to feed into HR & L&D to ensure sustainable and ongoing improvement in pathway delivery through effective resourcing
- Ensures the optimisation and productivity of optometrists and ophthalmic nurses, as well as expanding other registrants' scope of practice to support pathway development and optimizing the ophthalmologist time.
- Ensuring all training aligns with Newmedicas policies and national standards.
- Work with L&D to develop and deliver training programmes clinical and non-clinical staff
- Provides clinical leadership to optometrists and ophthalmic nurses.
- Supports Partners to recruit high calibre optometrists and ophthalmic nurses by working with the recruitment team to define the selection criteria and process and providing interview support as required.
- Is conversant with Newmedica policies and guidelines and ensures compliance across optometrist and ophthalmic nurse delivered services.
- Maintains standards and practice in accordance with the GOC Code of Professional conduct, Newmedica and national guidelines.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post graduate experience in ophthalmology
- Proven experience in clinical pathway development
- Experience working across organisational and professional boundaries
- Project management experience
- Strong leadership experience
Desirable
- Experience in medical retina
Qualifications
Essential
- NMC Registered Nurse
- GOC Registered Optometrist
- Post graduate qualification in clinical specialty (MSc, Higher qualifications)
- Leadership and management qualification or evidence of equivalence
Desirable
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Familiarity with NHS and independent sector standards for ophthalmology services.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication/ engagement skills
- Knowledge of ophthalmology, training and competency requirements
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and audit
- Ability to influence at all levels
- Confident presentation skills
- Excellent organisational skills and plans ahead
- Ability to make confident and swift judgements
- Ability to work cross functionally
- Approachable, empathetic and able to offer practical solutions
- Prompt responder
- Works as a team player, provides insight and appropriate challenge to partners
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post graduate experience in ophthalmology
- Proven experience in clinical pathway development
- Experience working across organisational and professional boundaries
- Project management experience
- Strong leadership experience
Desirable
- Experience in medical retina
Qualifications
Essential
- NMC Registered Nurse
- GOC Registered Optometrist
- Post graduate qualification in clinical specialty (MSc, Higher qualifications)
- Leadership and management qualification or evidence of equivalence
Desirable
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Familiarity with NHS and independent sector standards for ophthalmology services.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication/ engagement skills
- Knowledge of ophthalmology, training and competency requirements
- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and audit
- Ability to influence at all levels
- Confident presentation skills
- Excellent organisational skills and plans ahead
- Ability to make confident and swift judgements
- Ability to work cross functionally
- Approachable, empathetic and able to offer practical solutions
- Prompt responder
- Works as a team player, provides insight and appropriate challenge to partners
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).
