Job summary
- Main area
- Ophthalmology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 230-50493889-SURG-SO-A
- Employer
- George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- George Eliot Hospital
- Town
- Nuneaton
- Salary
- £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/01/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Optometrist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust opened in 1948 and provides a range of elective, non-elective, surgical, medical, women’s, children’s, diagnostic and therapeutic services to a population of more than 350,000 people.
The hub of the Trust is located on the outskirts of Nuneaton and its services cover a large footprint, including north Warwickshire, south west Leicestershire, and north Coventry. We also provide primary and community services across Coventry, Warwickshire and Leicestershire.
Our vision is "to EXCEL at patient care". If you think you've got what it takes, help us realise this and join #TeamEliot.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour aren’t as likely to apply unless they meet every qualification of non specialist roles.
We’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role and meet our values, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with everything in the Job Description or Person Specification– apply anyway or email the Recruiting Manager to discuss the role further
We are proud to support the Armed Forces community. We are a Veteran Aware and Reservist Friendly organisation and welcome applications from Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Instructors, and family members of serving personnel.
Job overview
** We are happy to support candidates who are either interested or have started their independent prescribers course. **
Job Title: Specialist Optometrist
Hours per week: 37.5 hours per week
Perm/Fixed Term: Permanent
Salary: £53,755 - £60,504 per annum
Closing Date: 5th January 2025
Interview Date: TBC
**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly. **
All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.
A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.
#JoinTeamEliot
The post holder will have clinical responsibility for the specialist paediatric and adult refraction clinics.
To be an autonomous practitioner providing highly skilled and specialised HES optometric services to George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton (GEH).
The post holder will participate in multi-disciplinary Glaucoma & Medical retina diagnosis and management clinics, working under the direction of the lead Consultants assessing both new and follow up patients.
To work closely with the Ophthalmology Management to deliver a comprehensive range of specialist optometric services to the highest standards of quality and patient care.
Main duties of the job
- To undertake full range of optometry services as required, providing expert treatment and advice.
- To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients resulting in the safe management of patients, autonomously formulate appropriate management plans for patients.
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of own level of responsibility and autonomy and the limits of own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty and incomplete information.
- Prescribe and review medication (as an independent prescriber) for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient need and in accordance with best/evidence-based practice and national and local protocols and within the role’s scope of practice and legal framework.
- Ability to order and interpret diagnostic pathological, microbial, and/or radiographic investigations (e.g. blood tests, ocular swabs, MRI etc) using findings to initiate treatment.
- To develop virtual clinics, within own advanced sub-specialty role, in line with the service demands. Developed scope of advanced clinical skills and practice to meet changing needs of service.
- Need for high levels of continuous concentration requiring working under significant pressure, with frequent interruptions from other clinical staff requiring advice.
- To support consultants on the day of surgery by conducting slit lamp examinations to ensure all patient history remains up to date.
Working for our organisation
Here at George Eliot our vision to ‘excel at patient care’ takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:
Effective Open Communication
excellence and safety in everything we do
Challenge but support
Expect respect and dignity
Local health that inspires confidence
Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- The post holder is required to contribute to the teaching, audit, and clinical governance requirements of the Ophthalmology service. Ophthalmology staff work as part of a multidisciplinary team and all members contribute to providing a high-quality service for its users.
- If the post holder is a registered independent non- medical prescriber, to prescribe medicines for patients, working within the GEH Policy and Procedure for Non- medical Prescribing and Directorate’s local guidelines/procedures.
- To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and HCPC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To maintain competence under the National Competency Framework for all Prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development.
- To be an autonomous practitioner providing highly skilled and specialised HES optometric services to George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton (GEH).
- To work closely with the Ophthalmology Management to deliver a comprehensive range of specialist optometric services to the highest standards of quality and patient care.
- The post holder will have clinical responsibility for the specialist paediatric and adult refraction clinics.
- Patients may have specific learning difficulties, special needs, various degrees of visual disability and varying communication skills.
- The post holder will participate in multi-disciplinary Glaucoma & Medical retina diagnosis and management clinics, working under the direction of the lead Consultants assessing both new and follow up patients.
- The post holder is required to contribute to the teaching, audit, and clinical governance requirements of the Ophthalmology service. Ophthalmology staff work as part of a multidisciplinary team and all members contribute to providing a high-quality service for its users.
- If the post holder is a registered independent non- medical prescriber, to prescribe medicines for patients, working within the GEH Policy and Procedure for Non- medical Prescribing and Directorate’s local guidelines/procedures.
- To ensure prescribing activities comply with legal requirements and HCPC guidance for non-medical prescribers. To maintain competence under the National Competency Framework for all Prescribers. To monitor own prescribing activities and participate in the evaluation of this service development.
For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience at Band 7 or above
- Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix
- Evidence of organisational and leadership skills
- Documented evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience in change management and problem solving
- Working across organisational boundaries
- Team building and staff development
- Experience of clinical leadership and operational management experience
- Portfolio of evidence showing A) Achievements in Specialist practice B) Research & audit experience C) Team leadership experience D) Financial awareness E) Experience of assessing mental capacity F) Experience of service development
Desirable criteria
- Lead in audit or research projects
- Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience
Qualifications / Training
Essential criteria
- Registered Optometrist with General Optical Council (GOC)
- BSc in Optometry or equivalent qualification
- Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry
- Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification
- Management qualification completion of management programme
Desirable criteria
- Teaching and assessing qualification
skills / Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas
- Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
- Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team
- Highly developed analytical and judgement skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Negotiation and diplomacy skills
- Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate
- Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers
- Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to work autonomously
- Practical and calm under pressure
- Motivated and enthusiastic
- Adaptable and flexible
- Innovate and intuitive
- Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to manage and lead a team
- Excellent role model
- Able to express self clearly and confidently – verbal and written
- Demonstrates commitment and ability to teach others
- Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances
- Able to achieve personal objectives
Other
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
- Ability to influence and negotiate at all levels
- Independent means of transport
- Flexible to meet the needs of the service
- Aware of current NHS issues and priorities
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
- Afnan Akhtar
- Job title
- Operational Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07392194746
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