Optometrist Specialist

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

Specialist Optometrist - Band 7

This role is offered on a part time basis of 15 hours per week, this means that candidates interested in working part time are encouraged to apply and will receive a salary on a pro rata basis.

It is in the midst of beautiful countryside sitting at the foot of the Marlborough Downs and just south of the Cotswolds.

At GWH, we are focused on providing the best possible, personalised care to the people of Swindon, Wiltshire and within close proximity to our borders as well as to the wider community. We believe in treating patients as quickly as possible, helping them to get better faster by offering a range of; outpatient clinics, day case, and in-patient surgery across the whole Ophthalmology arena.

Main duties of the job

The role is to provide core (complex refraction for adults and paediatrics, low vision assessment, medical contact lens management) and extended role (glaucoma, AMD, pre/post operative assessment) optometry services contributing to the clinical management of patients in collaboration with the ophthalmology team in order to improve patient care.

The successful candidate will be proactive in involvement with teaching, research and audit programmes as well as providing operational leadership within the department.

Working for our organisation

Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

1. To undertake refractive assessment and ocular examination for paediatric and adult patients including

1. To assess for and dispense low vision aids and contact lenses to patients of all ages.
2. To work in an extended role capacity in the Glaucoma, AMD and other ophthalmology clinics alongside

1. To work closely with colleagues in optometry, orthoptics and ophthalmology for the best management of

1. To undertake other clinical duties fundamental to the running of the service.
2. To appropriately explain, instruct, motivate and manage patients and the carers during examination and

1. To provide advice and support to patients and those clinical and non-clinical parties affected by the

diagnosis and management.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc or equivalent in Optometry.
• Completion of pre-registration year.
• Evidence of appropriate on going professional development.
• Professional registration with the General Optical Council (GOC).

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years post qualification experience
• Evidence of ability to work alone and prioritise workload.
• Use of a wide range of optometric skills in clinical practice

• Post qualification experience in hospital optometry
• Previous involvement in clinical audit

Knowledge

• Ability to apply specialist knowledge in a variety of healthcare settings
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Evidence of flexibility and dealing with difficult situations

• Experience of teaching in practice

Thank you for expressing interest in this role. For further employer guidance, please review the attached supplementary applicant information.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Not all roles in the Trust are eligible for sponsorship.

Eligibility for this role requires:

• Current right to work in the UK, subject to verification.
• Qualification of the eligibility sponsorship criteria

From 4 April 2024, UK immigration policy changes has increased minimum salary levels for skilled workers. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

Current employees should be aware that this position is advertised as a Great Western Hospitals position and appointment ends any TUPE protection.

Payment for DBS checks for bank posts must be settled prior to commencement. Apprentices are exempt from DBS payment.

We are committed to supporting our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements. Upon joining the Trust, you have the right to request flexible working, with an unlimited number of requests allowed.

Upon acceptance of a job offer, your information will be transferred to the national NHS Electronic Staff Records System. All communication regarding your application will be conducted via email; please ensure to check your junk/spam folders as emails may occasionally be filtered there.