Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for two Band 8a optometrists to join our team at the Royal Eye Infirmary in Plymouth. These posts will suit experienced, highly motivated, optometrists with additional post qualification demonstrable experience. The roles will involve working in urgent care, glaucoma and macula clinics and the post holders will have significant responsibilities in developing the extended roles of the department.
Full time (37.5 hours per week) or part time 2 or 3 days / job share will be considered.
For an informal discussion about the posts please contact :
Kath Refson, Deputy Head Optometrist: 01752 439325 kathleen.refson@nhs.net
Gill Nicholson, REI Service Line Manager: gillnicholson@nhs.net
The REI will soon be relocating to a purpose-built new unit comprising of theatres, urgent care, expanded outpatient and optometry clinical facilities, imaging hub and spectacle dispensary. We are a large team currently comprising 10 consultants, 5wte optometrists, orthoptists, ACPs and imaging technicians.
Plymouth is a vibrant city with easy access to both coast and moors and there are excellent heath and leisure services at our main site.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
Main duties of the job
To provide highly specialised optometry services in extended roles. IP qualification is essential. The post holders will be independently managing patients in glaucoma, medical retina and urgent care clinics.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GOC registered (General Optical Council)
- BSc (hons) Optometry or equivalent degree
- Post graduate (College of Optometrists) qualification (e.g. Glaucoma, Medical retina).
- Independent prescribing qualification (IP).
Desirable
- Member of College of Optometrists
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post qualification experience
- Theoretical and practical demonstrable experience with a broad range of optometric skills, including managing glaucoma, wet AMD, anterior eye disorders.
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, acquired through degree, preceptorship or advanced clinical training equivalent to Masters level.
- Proven evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with patients with special needs, children and others, requiring high levels of communication skills and use of special techniques.
- Proven knowledge of networking across other professional agencies within the area
Primary duties and areas of responsibility
- To initiate, evaluate and independently plan the management and discharge of individual patients (glaucoma, MTC, Urgent Care), based on evidence.
- To manage independently sight threatening conditions including glaucoma, wet macular degeneration, eye casualty and corneal/anterior eye conditions.
- To be able to prescribe independently (IP qualified) or be able to work towards this qualification.
- To independently carry out highly skilled diagnostic tests, ocular examinations and assess diagnostic imaging as necessary for management of glaucoma, MTC and Urgent Care patients.
- To provide highly skilled refraction data necessary to improve vision by means of spectacles and/or highly specialised contact lenses, low vision aids, etc.
- To provide highly skilled pre-operative refractions, topographic and biometric data aimed at the measurement, assessment and evaluation necessary to prioritise surgery.
- To provide post-operative refraction and eye examinations following surgery, including intra-ocular pressure measurement, anterior chamber and fundus examination to reduce workload in post-op. ophthalmology clinics.
- To deliver a high-quality service by use of specialised techniques: low vision aids, lighting and VDU assessment, perimetry, complex therapeutic contact lenses, topography, tonometry, fundus examination, colour vision testing, etc.
- To prescribe and advice on use of eye-drops, contact lens solutions.
- To coordinate and supervise the activities of other departmental members, field technicians, pre-registration optometrists, and dispensing opticians.
- To help and advice other hospital staff in the correct use and calibration of complex machineries.
- To act as a valuable link between the trust and other organisations with regards to delicate issues.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and compliance with health and safety regulations/procedures that apply to staff, patients, and visitors within Trust premises.
- Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and clinical excellence and play an active role in the introduction of this evidence to improve patient centered care.
- Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate and initiate appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.
- Proactively and positively contribute to the achievement of clinical outcomes through individual and team effort.
- Ensure that resources are used effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures
- Promote health education both within and outside the Trust and advise patient, family, and others in health promotion issues.
- Report and manage untoward incidents such as complaints, clinical emergencies, and injury or drug administration errors as detailed in Trust-wide and local protocols and procedures.
- IP qualified able to independently prescribe topical and systemic drugs in relation to the treatment of ocular disorders including glaucoma medication, steroids and antibiotics for outpatient, Urgent Care and optometric clinics.
- Management of patients and their need with relation to other health care professionals involving highly complex decisions as to follow up.
- Assessment of patient compliance/ability to comprehend and selection of the appropriate treatment/device accordingly.
Note
This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current UHPNT policies & guidelines.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GOC registered (General Optical Council)
- BSc (hons) Optometry or equivalent degree
- Post graduate (College of Optometrists) qualification (e.g. Glaucoma, Medical retina).
- Independent prescribing qualification (IP).
Desirable
- Member of College of Optometrists
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable post qualification experience
- Theoretical and practical demonstrable experience with a broad range of optometric skills, including managing glaucoma, wet AMD, anterior eye disorders.
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, acquired through degree, preceptorship or advanced clinical training equivalent to Masters level.
- Proven evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with patients with special needs, children and others, requiring high levels of communication skills and use of special techniques.
- Proven knowledge of networking across other professional agencies within the area
Primary duties and areas of responsibility
- To initiate, evaluate and independently plan the management and discharge of individual patients (glaucoma, MTC, Urgent Care), based on evidence.
- To manage independently sight threatening conditions including glaucoma, wet macular degeneration, eye casualty and corneal/anterior eye conditions.
- To be able to prescribe independently (IP qualified) or be able to work towards this qualification.
- To independently carry out highly skilled diagnostic tests, ocular examinations and assess diagnostic imaging as necessary for management of glaucoma, MTC and Urgent Care patients.
- To provide highly skilled refraction data necessary to improve vision by means of spectacles and/or highly specialised contact lenses, low vision aids, etc.
- To provide highly skilled pre-operative refractions, topographic and biometric data aimed at the measurement, assessment and evaluation necessary to prioritise surgery.
- To provide post-operative refraction and eye examinations following surgery, including intra-ocular pressure measurement, anterior chamber and fundus examination to reduce workload in post-op. ophthalmology clinics.
- To deliver a high-quality service by use of specialised techniques: low vision aids, lighting and VDU assessment, perimetry, complex therapeutic contact lenses, topography, tonometry, fundus examination, colour vision testing, etc.
- To prescribe and advice on use of eye-drops, contact lens solutions.
- To coordinate and supervise the activities of other departmental members, field technicians, pre-registration optometrists, and dispensing opticians.
- To help and advice other hospital staff in the correct use and calibration of complex machineries.
- To act as a valuable link between the trust and other organisations with regards to delicate issues.
- Demonstrate an awareness of and compliance with health and safety regulations/procedures that apply to staff, patients, and visitors within Trust premises.
- Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and clinical excellence and play an active role in the introduction of this evidence to improve patient centered care.
- Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate and initiate appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.
- Proactively and positively contribute to the achievement of clinical outcomes through individual and team effort.
- Ensure that resources are used effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures
- Promote health education both within and outside the Trust and advise patient, family, and others in health promotion issues.
- Report and manage untoward incidents such as complaints, clinical emergencies, and injury or drug administration errors as detailed in Trust-wide and local protocols and procedures.
- IP qualified able to independently prescribe topical and systemic drugs in relation to the treatment of ocular disorders including glaucoma medication, steroids and antibiotics for outpatient, Urgent Care and optometric clinics.
- Management of patients and their need with relation to other health care professionals involving highly complex decisions as to follow up.
- Assessment of patient compliance/ability to comprehend and selection of the appropriate treatment/device accordingly.
Note
This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current UHPNT policies & guidelines.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Theoretical and demonstrable practical experience with a broad range of optometric skills, including managing glaucoma, wAMD, corneal dystrophies. Highly developed specialist knowledge, acquired through degree, preceptorship or advanced clinical training equivalent to Masters level
- Evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience working in a similar role
- Previous demonstrable experience of working with the severely visually impaired
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Optometry/Ophthalmic Optics
- Diploma in therapeutics
- GOC registration
Desirable
- Member British College of Optometrists
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Theoretical and demonstrable practical experience with a broad range of optometric skills, including managing glaucoma, wAMD, corneal dystrophies. Highly developed specialist knowledge, acquired through degree, preceptorship or advanced clinical training equivalent to Masters level
- Evidence of recent continuous professional development /training
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience working in a similar role
- Previous demonstrable experience of working with the severely visually impaired
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Optometry/Ophthalmic Optics
- Diploma in therapeutics
- GOC registration
Desirable
- Member British College of Optometrists
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
