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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Optometrist to join our Hospital Optometry team on a part time 9-month fixed-term basis.
This post will provide valuable experience within hospital optometry across both University Hospital Coventry and Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, working closely with our multidisciplinary team of Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, and Nursing staff.
This is an ideal role for Optometrists seeking to expand their clinical skills and experience within a hospital setting. The post is open to both newly qualified and experienced Optometrists.
Please see attached band 6 job description
For further information and enquiries, please contact Claire Lloyd 02476966516
Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday 19th August. We look forward to finding the right fit for our team!
Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.
Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.
Main duties of the job
As a vital member of our team, you will collaborate closely with the Principal Optometrist to deliver a comprehensive range of Optometric services, ensuring the highest standards of quality and care across our two hospital sites: UHCW and Rugby St Cross.
We are hiring to a part time position, 22.5 hours and additional Saturday morning working on a rotational basis.
The role will mainly involve working in Core optometric services. This includes refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric) theatre refractions, specialist medical contact lens management (keratoconus, post-graft, high myopia/hyperopia, cosmetic, diagnostic), visual impairment rehabilitation, in-house spectacle dispensing and eye casualty triage service.
The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting our educational program and will actively train ophthalmologists, nurses, and other professionals within our organisation.
Additionally, due to recent changes in service provision, the candidate must be prepared to contribute to the Saturday morning Eye Casualty Triage service.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To work as an autonomous independent practitioner managing patient caseloads presenting in Core optometric services. This includes refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric) theatre refractions, specialist medical contact lens management (keratoconus, post-graft, high myopia/hyperopia, cosmetic, diagnostic), visual impairment rehabilitation, in-house spectacle dispensing. Due to a change in service provision, Saturday morning working in Eye Casualty triage will also be required as part of this post.
- To work closely with the Principal and Lead Optometrists, to deliver a comprehensive range of Core Optometric services and advanced extended role clinics, to the highest standard of quality and care.
- Promote best practice throughout Optometry and provide expert advice to Optometrist, Medical staff and Allied Health Professionals in the management of complex cases.
- Responsibility for overseeing training for and to personally undertake specialist clinical activity requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise. For example, foreign body removal from the cornea.
- Responsible for applying advanced specialised clinical techniques including corneal pachymetry, ocular B-scan and corneal topography to provide specialised clinical interpretation for the consultant.
- To participate in the audit frameworks within the department and cooperate fully in any audit of clinical work and competency assessments undertaken by the leads and management. To assist in implementing any change identified.
For further details of the role please see the attached job description.
Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- • Safe use of complex expensive equipment on a routine basis. • Able to effectively maintain small stock levels of appliances in satellite clinic (Rugby St Cross) to meet demands of the patient base. • Training, coaching and supervising skills to maximise potential from students • Able to co-ordinate with other agencies to deliver joint care to patients • Optometrist must be able to simplify highly complex information and communicate this effectively • Able to communicate in a sensitive manner –where there may be barriers to understanding (e.g. dementia/ learning difficulties) and the topics may be highly emotive (e.g. vision loss) • Communicate complex and sensitive information to staff. • Be able to use telephone and email effectively to convey information. • Computer skills • Write out order forms for stock • Work requires constant changing of seated and standing postures which includes twisting, bending, and crouching. • Requires a high level of manual dexterity to perform core diagnostic techniques. This may require working in restricted positions for prolonged periods. • Requires high level of hand eye co-ordination for fitting of contact lenses
Knowledge
Essential
- • To be able to deliver core hospital optometry clinics (diagnostic refraction, paediatrics, therapeutic contact lenses and visual rehabilitation.) • Clinical knowledge is gained by training, experience and formal study and examination. • Detailed knowledge of Pre-Registration year format and student competency criteria which must be reached.
Experience
Essential
- • Experience in core optometric services including adult and paediatric refraction, medical contact lens fitting and visual rehabilitation
Qualification
Essential
- • B.Sc. Optometry • GOC Registered Optometrist • MCOptom
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential
- • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below) • Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Optometrist with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust in Coventry, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Fixed term: 9 months (Working across two hospital sites of University Hospital Coventry and Hospital of St Cross). The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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