Optometristin317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmaryin317 02 Royal Victoria InfirmaryPUBLISHED TUE 11 FEB 2025

As one of the country's leading Ophthalmology units in the country, the Newcastle Eye Centre continually improves how it offers high quality services for patients, and excellent career satisfaction for its staff.

Our Optometry Department is no exception and we are delighted to be in a position to seek 1.8 WTE Optometrist to join the team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. We do welcome applications from registered Optometrists with a range of experience including newly qualified Optometrists with the ambition and drive to excel in hospital optometry. Having the right work/life balance is a key priority for us and as such applications are welcome from those seeking both full and part time employment.

Our visionary approach includes working closely with our consultant colleagues and other eye care professionals to ensure we can provide healthcare at its best with people at our heart and we would love to hear from those who share our vision.

We have a diverse clinical workload including paediatrics, glaucoma, eye emergency, corneal, YAG capsulotomy, cataract and research clinics as well as core optometry clinics such as specialised contact lens fitting (adult and paediatric) and low visual aids. Our research activity continues to increase as we support our colleagues in the Sir Bobby Robson Oncology Unit and there are significant opportunities for successful candidates to develop their knowledge and skills in this area.

Having a comprehensive range of services means we are in the enviable position of being able to offer exclusive opportunities for specialisation in specific areas of interest, according to service need, plus exceptional opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) as we seek to ensure every member of our staff is provided with the relevant training and support needed to liberate their potential.

Successful candidates will have highly specialised knowledge as demonstrated by either an extensive, relevant portfolio and/or further qualifications such as Independent Prescribing, College of Optometrist Higher Certificates or other relevant qualifications We also welcome applications from candidates who cannot yet demonstrate highly specialized knowledge/higher qualifications, they would start on Band 6 and progress to Band 7 when this is achieved. This would be expected to be achieved within 2 years of starting employment and support will be given to obtain the specialised knowledge required and makes this an excellent opportunity for newly qualified optometrists who would like to pursue a career in hospital optometry.

Other duties include provision of post graduate training across a wide range of disciplines including pre-registration and qualified Optometrists, nursing staff, and junior medial staff preparing for Royal College of Ophthalmologists exams as well as participation in clinical and medical audit.

About us

Hospital Eye Service experience is desirable but not essential.

• Interview Date: 14 March 2025
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy

Band 7 (£46,148-£52,809)

To deliver a quality of service matching clinical need to available resources within the focus of Specialist Optometrist practice.

To take a lead role in extending Optometrists involvement in highlyspecialised clinics, for example:

• Highly specialised medically necessary contact lenses.
• Low vision assessment.
• To work as an independent practitioner and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing an extensive range of advanced Optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care.
• To ensure that the patient is the central focus.
• Working as a Specialist Optometrist, provide a prompt response to calls from colleagues, prioritising importance and clinical need.
• Manage own caseload to include assessment, investigation, diagnosis and treatment within defined parameters and training.
• Provide immediate care management of patients including communication of plan to patients and significant others.
• Review and refer to appropriate person, e.g. Consultant Ophthalmologist.
• Liaise with Eye Clinic Liaison Officer for patients with untreatable sight loss.
• Provide specialist education and training at post-graduate level to qualified and pre-registration Optometrists and multiple disciplines in Ophthalmology.
• To undertake administrative responsibilities as determined by the Head or Deputy Head of Optometry.

Band 6 (£37,338-£44,962)

• To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing an extensive range of advanced Optometric services for patient care to the highest standards of quality and care and meeting the changing needs of the department
• To undertake administrative responsibilities as determined by the Head or Deputy Head of Optometry.
• To demonstrate Optometry techniques at post-graduate level for multiple disciplines within Ophthalmology

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.