Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Senior Clinical Fellow Oculoplastic surgery

The closing date is 26 August 2025

Job summary

Applications are invited for a 12-month fixed-term Oculoplastics Fellowship at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. This post offers broad exposure to the management of eyelid and lacrimal disorders, periocular tumours, and medical orbital disease, with joint lacrimal clinics and operating lists alongside ENT. The department is also developing a joint working with General Plastic Surgery and a facial skin cancer pathway in collaboration with ENT. The successful candidate will work with three experienced Oculoplastic Consultants across both main Trust sites, within a well-established and high-volume service. While orbital surgery is referred to tertiary centres, the fellow will gain experience in dedicated thyroid eye disease clinics run jointly with orthoptists. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge and operative skills in Oculoplastics equivalent to ST5 or above. This is a non-training post and is not recognised for Deanery-approved training. The post includes protected time for research, audit, and departmental teaching.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients you personally care for. To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care. To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the speciality, to provide high-quality health care to the Trust's patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust's strategic direction. To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the specialty. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan.To participate actively in departmental audits which may be included in the work you undertake.To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Council's published guide "Good Medical Practice" including the Duties of a Doctor.To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group.To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.

About us

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has one of the largest eye unit in the SE of England, offering a full range of sub-specialities and an emergency service. The Eye Ear and Mouth Unit (EEMU) is a major training and teaching centre for the Kent Surrey and Sussex Deanery with an outstanding reputation for expertise in ophthalmic care. EEMU is closely associated with the adjacent Postgraduate Centre with modern facilities and a strong R&D department both of which foster a unique mixture of teaching and research. The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is responsible for the provision of ophthalmology services for the people of Mid and West Kent, covering over 1 million population. The large population served presents a wide and interesting selection of cases. General and sub-speciality ophthalmology services are provided at the Eye, Ear, and Mouth Unit (EEMU), a modern, purpose- built facility attached to Maidstone Hospital, with outpatient facilities also provided at Tunbridge Wells Hospital (TWH), Medway Maritime, Sittingbourne, Sevenoaks, and Edenbridge Hospitals on a "hub and spoke" model. There are 3 operating theatres at Maidstone and one at TWH.EEMU has a busy rapid access department (Eye Casualty), with optometric and orthoptic services and in-patient facilities. Staffing is provided by specialist nurses in the clinics, Eye Day Care, and the dedicated ophthalmic operating theatres.

Details

Date posted

12 August 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

£65,048 to £73,992 a year per annum/ pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359MSD7351237Oph

Job locations

Maidstone hospital

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

ME15 9QQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients cared for by you personally.

To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care.

To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trusts patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trusts strategic direction.

To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the specialty. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan.

To participate actively in departmental audits which may be included in the work you undertake.

To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Councils published guide Good Medical Practice including the Duties of a Doctor.

To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group.

To ensure that you respond promptly and efficiently to all complaints related to any patient care you have been involved with, assisting the Trusts corporate responsibility to reply to complaints within a specified time frame.

To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.

You are required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do while at work. You must adhere to Trust IRMER Regulations.

The post holder will be required to also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the Clinical Director or General Manager for Ophthalmology.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients cared for by you personally.

To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care.

To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trusts patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trusts strategic direction.

To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the specialty. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan.

To participate actively in departmental audits which may be included in the work you undertake.

To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Councils published guide Good Medical Practice including the Duties of a Doctor.

To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group.

To ensure that you respond promptly and efficiently to all complaints related to any patient care you have been involved with, assisting the Trusts corporate responsibility to reply to complaints within a specified time frame.

To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.

You are required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do while at work. You must adhere to Trust IRMER Regulations.

The post holder will be required to also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the Clinical Director or General Manager for Ophthalmology.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable interest and experience in Vitreoretinal surgery and Medical retina
  • Independent Cataract surgery - demonstrate numbers
  • Use of Argon and YAG lasers
  • Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinics and theatre lists
  • Willingness to participate on on-call rota

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience in Clinical Audit and Research
  • Experience of risk management

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work in efficient, well run clinics and theatre lists, under pressure
  • Ability to teach junior doctors and other clinical staff
  • Ability to organize and manage clinical as well as administrative workload.

Desirable

  • Staff management: delegating, appraisal of performance, dealing with poor performance, motivating staff

Education

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration

Desirable

  • Higher Degree
  • Publications
  • GCP training
  • FRCOphth/ equivalent

Personal

Essential

  • Good Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Caring attitude to patients
  • Flexible

Desirable

  • Adaptable and willing to initiate and develop new ways of running clinical services.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable interest and experience in Vitreoretinal surgery and Medical retina
  • Independent Cataract surgery - demonstrate numbers
  • Use of Argon and YAG lasers
  • Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinics and theatre lists
  • Willingness to participate on on-call rota

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience in Clinical Audit and Research
  • Experience of risk management

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work in efficient, well run clinics and theatre lists, under pressure
  • Ability to teach junior doctors and other clinical staff
  • Ability to organize and manage clinical as well as administrative workload.

Desirable

  • Staff management: delegating, appraisal of performance, dealing with poor performance, motivating staff

Education

Essential

  • Full GMC Registration

Desirable

  • Higher Degree
  • Publications
  • GCP training
  • FRCOphth/ equivalent

Personal

Essential

  • Good Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Caring attitude to patients
  • Flexible

Desirable

  • Adaptable and willing to initiate and develop new ways of running clinical services.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Maidstone hospital

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

ME15 9QQ


Employer's website

https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Maidstone hospital

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

ME15 9QQ


Employer's website

https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant

Sarju Athwal

sarju.athwal@nhs.net

01622729000

Details

Date posted

12 August 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Doctor - other

Salary

£65,048 to £73,992 a year per annum/ pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359MSD7351237Oph

Job locations

Maidstone hospital

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

ME15 9QQ


Supporting documents

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