Job summary
Expected Shortlisting
Date
17/03/2026
Planned Interview
Date
24/03/2026
The
post is a permanent contract providing core optometry activity for adults and
children in our refraction, contact lens, low vision and keratoconus
monitoring clinics. It is primarily based at St. James's University Hospital
but may include work at other Trust sites and at the Children's Community Eye
Clinics.
The
post also provides the opportunity to gain experience in an enhanced
optometric role - including glaucoma, corneal, medical retina, corneal,
vitreo-retinal or eye casualty, in research and in departmental teaching and
audit.
This
post is suitable for registered optometrists who have experience or
enthusiasm to work within hospital optometry. A degree in Optometry and GOC
registration is essential and an interest in pursuing higher clinical
qualifications is desirable.
Main duties of the job
This
post allows you to gain experience and develop skills in all our core
optometric activities for adults and children. You will assist in the
delivery of a broad range of core optometric services to the highest
standards of quality and care for Leeds teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)
and its clinics. You will also develop skills in enhanced clinics with
support from senior colleagues. You will undertake delegated administrative
responsibilities as determined by the Head of Optometry or senior colleagues.
You
may be required to examine and manage up to eight refraction patients a
session and up to six low vision, dispensing or contact lens patients a
session. You may be required to examine and manage up to six patients with
support in enhanced optometric clinics.
About us
You
will join our busy, friendly Optometry team working at the centralised eye
department at St. James's University Hospital. The Optometry department
currently consists of 19 optometrists, one dispensing optician manager and
optometry administration staff. The Optometry Department supports the
Ophthalmology Department consisting of twenty eight Consultant
Ophthalmologists with full supporting medical staff. Optometry services are
provided at St. James's University Hospital, Seacroft Hospital, Wharfedale General
Hospital and at the Children's Community Eye Clinics. There is a large
Orthoptic Department which is involved with the training of under-graduate
orthoptic students.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
work in all core optometry services at LTHT including refraction, specialist
contact lens management, corneal topography and keratoconus monitoring,
visual impairment rehabilitation, toxic baseline ophthalmic screening and
in-house spectacle dispensing.
To
gain experience working in enhanced roles with support, including glaucoma,
eye casualty, corneal, vitro-retinal and medical retina.
To
be involved in departmental clinical research, audit and teaching.
To
participate in the development of personal clinical expertise, autonomous
working, and gaining higher qualifications in preparation for more senior
roles in the future.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To
work in all core optometry services at LTHT including refraction, specialist
contact lens management, corneal topography and keratoconus monitoring,
visual impairment rehabilitation, toxic baseline ophthalmic screening and
in-house spectacle dispensing.
To
gain experience working in enhanced roles with support, including glaucoma,
eye casualty, corneal, vitro-retinal and medical retina.
To
be involved in departmental clinical research, audit and teaching.
To
participate in the development of personal clinical expertise, autonomous
working, and gaining higher qualifications in preparation for more senior
roles in the future.
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Willingness to learn
- Professional attitude to work
- Ability to work in a team and willingness to help others
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Keen to pursue higher clinical qualifications
- Well developed interpersonal mental and emotional empathy skills where barriers exist because of age, special needs, physical or language difficulties
Desirable
- Able to work independently upon own initiative.
- Understanding of NHS IT systems
Experience
Essential
- Practical working knowledge of adult and paediatric refraction
- Practical working knowledge of fitting rigid and soft contact lenses
- Practical and theoretical knowledge of low vision aids and dispensing
Desirable
- Previous Hospital optometry role
- Experience of complex refractions
- Experience of complex contact lens fitting
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Precise manual dexterity skills
- Instillation of ophthalmic drugs.
- Practical refraction, contact lens fitting and low vision aid dispensing skills.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry and GOC full registration
Desirable
Person Specification
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Willingness to learn
- Professional attitude to work
- Ability to work in a team and willingness to help others
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Keen to pursue higher clinical qualifications
- Well developed interpersonal mental and emotional empathy skills where barriers exist because of age, special needs, physical or language difficulties
Desirable
- Able to work independently upon own initiative.
- Understanding of NHS IT systems
Experience
Essential
- Practical working knowledge of adult and paediatric refraction
- Practical working knowledge of fitting rigid and soft contact lenses
- Practical and theoretical knowledge of low vision aids and dispensing
Desirable
- Previous Hospital optometry role
- Experience of complex refractions
- Experience of complex contact lens fitting
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Precise manual dexterity skills
- Instillation of ophthalmic drugs.
- Practical refraction, contact lens fitting and low vision aid dispensing skills.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry and GOC full registration
Desirable
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).
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).
