Job summary
- Main area
- Optometry
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 273-DN-5507
- Employer
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHSFT
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £30,571 - £34,409 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/08/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Principal Optometrist Glaucoma - Bedford
Band 8a
Moorfields - A global leader in Ophthalmology
We are Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Founded in 1804, Moorfields Eye Hospital is a world-class centre of excellence for eye health services, ophthalmic research, and education.
With more than 2,300 staff we are proud to be supported by one of the most diverse workforces in the NHS. Every year we treat more than 700,000 patients at City Road in central London and at our 22 satellites sites, and, in partnership with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre we lead one of the most impactful ophthalmic research programmes in the world.
We train many of the leading eye care clinicians in the UK and internationally and have a global reputation for quality and professionalism in ophthalmic care. In addition, we also operate commercial divisions that provide care to private patients in both London and the Middle East.
This is an exciting time to join Moorfields. The pandemic fast-tracked a huge amount of innovation which is changing the way we work and deliver care. Construction is under way on Oriel, our new eye care, research, and education centre being built in Camden. The new centre will be flexible and modern, enabling us to bring together healthcare, eye research and education under one roof for the first time.
If you want to be part delivering world class eye health services and you share our values: excellence, equity, and kindness, then we would love to hear from you!
Job overview
We are looking for highly skilled and motivated optometrists for three days a week, to support the glaucoma service. The post will primarily consist of delivering highly specialist clinical care reviewing glaucoma virtual patients. Applicants must have prior experience working in the hospital glaucoma service and have the relevant higher qualifications from the College of Optometrists or be working towards them (see Person Specification).
Main duties of the job
To be responsible for and personally deliver a wide range of highly specialised optometric care in an advanced extended role requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in glaucoma management across the 3 elements of the Glaucoma service delivery model:
Consultant-Led Clinic
Optometrist – Led Clinic
Remote review (Virtual) Clinic
To be able to be the Clinical Lead Optometrist in the designated clinic and to have overall responsibility for the clinical care of the patients seen in the clinic.
To participate in clinical audit, teaching, research as required
To provide teaching and supervision to registered Optometrists / other clinical staff if required, supporting the Consultant in the supervision and training of junior staff as required.
Working for our organisation
At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:
Salary excluding 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To deliver highly specialist clinical patient care requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management that includes a high proportion of tertiary 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.
Patient examinations will be comprehensive and commensurate with clinical experience beyond Masters Level (i.e. College of Optometrists Diploma in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing). Skills and knowledge are commensurate with those of sub-specialty medical ophthalmology staff.
To make independent, patient-centred clinical decisions on management in the presence of uncertainty (for example where patients are unable to cooperate fully in clinical assessments or the evidence for management options is unclear).
To be autonomously responsible for medical treatment (including prescribing) and management of patients. To recognise when patient clinical findings require Consultant Ophthalmic opinions (eg regarding surgery). To refer patients with ocular comorbidity to other ophthalmological services appropriately.
As Clinic Lead in Optometrist-Led Glaucoma clinics, to supervise all patient examinations carried out by the support/resident/placement/new to clinic Optometrist unless/until such time that the support/resident/new to clinic Optometrist has attained the appropriate College of Optometrists certificate or completed their competency sign off. To review all prescribing decisions unless the prescribing optometrist has the correct qualifications together with The College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing and their scope of practice /area of prescribing is in that service.
To organise the session by reviewing all clinical records at the start of an Optometrist-led clinic to determine necessary additional clinical tests (eg: visual fields, imaging, auto-refraction) utilising the different staff groups efficiently (admin, technical, optometric).
To provide expert opinion to optometric and non-optometric colleagues on the management of complex cases within the designated Clinics and the Optometry Department.
To undertake a comprehensive range of complex optometry services at Moorfields and out-reach clinics. These include refraction (complex, diagnostic and paediatric), low vision clinics (paediatric, complex, employment). The post holder maintains a personal clinical workload within these services.
To refer patients for appropriate appliances (contact lenses, spectacles, low vision aids) and provide appropriate advice to patients on needs, treatment and corrective aids.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc (Hons) Optometry
- College of Optometrist Diploma in Independent Prescribing
Desirable criteria
- Fellowship of the College of Optometrists
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
- General Optical Council Registration
Desirable criteria
- Registered Examiner of the College of Optometrists
Skills and Experience
Essential criteria
- Advanced theoretical & practical knowledge in the clinical assessment and management of patients within Glaucoma setting
- Minimum of 5 years post registration clinical experience with at least 3 years in a hospital specialist glaucoma clinic.
- Experience working with adult patients who are visually impaired & patients with learning disabilities.
Desirable criteria
- Comprehensive knowledge of ocular therapeutics
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rachel Thomas
- Job title
- Lead Optometrist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
List jobs with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors