Job summary
Employer heading
Optometrist Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
Fixed Term Contract until October 2025 - 7.5 hours per week
We have a fantastic opportunity at The Great Western Hospitals (GWH) NHS Foundation Trust for an experienced Optometrist looking for a fresh challenge within our busy Ophthalmology department. GWH is located next to the A419 and M4 providing quick commuting links to London, Reading, Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. It is in the midst of beautiful countryside sitting at the foot of the Marlborough Downs and just south of the Cotswolds.
You would be working in a friendly environment where staff pride themselves on supporting each other and delivering the highest quality of service and care. This is a great opportunity to join a highly regarded organisation who can offer very competitive pay rates, training and development opportunities, and benefits. At GWH, we are focused on providing the best possible, personalised care to the people of Swindon, Wiltshire and within close proximity to our borders as well as to the wider community. We believe in treating patients as quickly as possible, helping them to get better faster by offering a range of; outpatient clinics, day case, and in-patient surgery across the whole Ophthalmology arena. This is a fixed term contract.
Main duties of the job
The role is to provide core (complex refraction for adults and paediatrics, low vision assessment, medical contact lens management) and extended role (glaucoma, AMD, pre/post operative assessment) optometry services contributing to the clinical management of patients in collaboration with the ophthalmology team in order to improve patient care.
The successful candidate will be proactive in involvement with teaching, research and audit programmes as well as providing operational leadership within the department.
Working for our organisation
“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To undertake refractive assessment and ocular examination for paediatric and adult patients including those with significant visual loss and/or communication difficulties.
2. To assess for and dispense low vision aids and contact lenses to patients of all ages.
3. To work in an extended role capacity in the Glaucoma, AMD and other ophthalmology clinics alongside medical staff.
4. To work closely with colleagues in optometry, orthoptics and ophthalmology for the best management of
the patient.
5. To undertake other clinical duties fundamental to the running of the service.
6. To appropriately explain, instruct, motivate and manage patients and the carers during examination and treatment.
7. To provide advice and support to patients and those clinical and non-clinical parties affected by the diagnosis and management.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc or equivalent in Optometry.
- Completion of pre-registration year.
- Evidence of appropriate on going professional development.
- Professional registration with the General Optical Council (GOC).
Experience
Essential criteria
- Minimum of 3 years post qualification experience
- Evidence of ability to work alone and prioritise workload.
- Use of a wide range of optometric skills in clinical practice
Desirable criteria
- Post qualification experience in hospital optometry
- Previous involvement in clinical audit
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to apply specialist knowledge in a variety of healthcare settings
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Evidence of flexibility and dealing with difficult situations
Desirable criteria
- Experience of teaching in practice
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
- Jennifer McMahon
- Job title
- Head of Ophthalmology Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 604862
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