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Job summary

Main area
Optometry
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
37.5 hours per week (& 30 hours per week)
Job ref
287-OPHT-20-24-A
Employer
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£43,742 - £50,056 per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Specialist Optometrist

Band 7

Job overview

Further to our recent restructure of optometry services we have vacancies for additional specialist optometrist posts ideally suited to colleagues who wish to further develop and use their clinical skill set joining a multidisciplinary team working in a busy modern hospital environment.

St Paul's Eye Unit is the largest eye care provider in Cheshire and Merseyside and is a centre of excellence for ophthalmic care serving the North West and beyond. We provide the full range of eye services with hospital optometrists involved in most of our services.

We work with a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to deliver this full range of ophthalmology services. We support and encourage career development and the attainment of higher professional qualifications and IP qualifications. The successful applicants will be based in purposed designed facilities at the new Royal Liverpol University hospital, which opened in October 2022.

Main duties of the job

St Paul's Eye Unit is a Division within Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We are a tertiary referral centre with around 370 staff including 44 Consultant Ophthalmologists working at Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Aintree University Hospital and satellite sites. We delivery eye emergency and general ophthalmology services along with all subspecialty services including: cornea, glaucoma, medical retina, vitreo-retina, ocular motility, ocular neurology, ocular plastics and ocular oncology.

In addition to traditional core optometry activities, which include refraction, biometry, medical contact lens practice and low vision services, hospital optometrists are involved in: eye emergency, cornea, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic, medical retinal and clinical research activities. The post holder will personally deliver direct patient care, and may undertake research activity, clinical audit and teaching / training as required.

These posts are particularly suitable for optometry colleagues wishing to expand and consolidate their knowledge and clinical skills. Previous hospital experience is an advantage but not essential

Working for our organisation

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.

The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.

To hear more about our achievements click here https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf

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Facebook – Liverpool University Hospitals Careers

Instagram - @LUHFTcareers

Twitter - @LUHFTcareers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the detailed Job Description document attached

1. To work closely with the Head of Department in order to deliver a
comprehensive range of specialist optometric services to the highest standards of quality and patient care.
2. To work as an autonomous practitioner in providing optometric assessment, diagnosis and management of patients of all ages, including the elderly, those who have various degrees of visual disability and those who have varying communication skills.
3. To personally deliver complex specialist optometric services that meet the changing needs of the Directorate and other outside agencies.
4. To undertake the role of lead clinician for at least one specific optometric
service such as: the contact lens service, low vision service, or ultrasound
biometry service.
5. To coordinate and ensure the appropriate deployment of staff and evaluate service delivery, liaising with the Head of Optometry Department regarding changes to the service. To work as an independent practitioner and be a source of clinical expertise for junior staff in the assessment / practice of these clinical specialties.
6. To undertake specific administrative duties as agreed with the Head of
Optometry Department in particular tasks associated with lead role for a
specific optometric service and any other administrative task that may be
delegated.
7. To undertake clinical audit and research as agreed with the Head of Optometry Department.
8. To participate in an audit team, coordinating and advising within the service as necessary.
9. To be a registered supervisor with the College of Optometrists for Preregistration Optometrists.
10. To provide teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels for various disciplines within ophthalmology (ophthalmologists, medical students, ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists and other health professionals) visiting the Optometry Department.

11. To take a major role in the preparation, organisation and delivery of teaching programmes provided by the Optometry Department.

The role/duties of the post are outlined above. In undertaking this role, the employee will be expected to behave at all times in a way that is consistent with and actively supports the Trust’s values, and observes all Trust Policies and Procedures.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Registered as an Optometrist with the General Optical Council.
Desirable criteria
  • Specialist knowledge across a range of optometric procedures and practices supported by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • To record and analyse own clinical data in a range of activities and to take responsibility at service level for the operation of information systems in relation to one service
  • To regularly carry out a range of formal Research & Development activities as a significant job requirement
  • Ability to act as an independent practitioner guided by broad occupational policies / regulations and to interpret policy, advise and guide others.
  • Physical ability to move major clinical equipment, usually on wheels, in order to examine patients, to pump exam chairs, move wheelchairs etc - ongoing basis through out the working day,
  • Ability to perform frequent concentration determining appropriate clinical decisions at regular intervals whilst managing parallel activities and with frequent interruptions
  • Ability to work with patients, carers and colleagues in highly distressing or emotional circumstances including ocular injury, trauma, the irreversible loss of sight - affecting ability to work, educate, drive, carry out essential daily living skills etc
  • Ability to work in an indoor confined environment largely in semi darkness for prolonged periods with some exposure to hazards.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • To take responsible for specialist equipment, and any physical stock held in the optometry department associated with the specialist service managed.
  • To take responsibility for the day-to-day management of junior staff including specialist training in a range of optometry subjects

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with professionals (across various disciplines), patients, carers and others both within & without the organisation where emphatic or reassurance skills are required
  • Ability to manage and resolve routine, enquiries and complaints within Directorate and Trust operating procedures
  • Ability to make judgements involving complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options and determine appropriates outcomes.
  • Organisational ability to plan and organise a number of complex activities / programmes which require formulation and adjustment of plans
  • Ability to regularly perform highly developed physical skills with high precision & speed. Includes performing stereo bio-microscopy on the eye, positioning ultrasound probes / tonometers on the eye, making measurements to 0.01mm.
  • Ability to personally deliver a range of specialist clinical technical services directly to patients and to be accountable for the management of one of the specialist provided by the Optometry Department.
  • Able to implement policies for own work area and contribute to policy and service reviews which impact upon the Optometry Department and beyond.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Fair Employment Charter Status - Aspiring LevelNHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident committedStep into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Andrew Tompkin
Job title
Divisional Head Ophthalmology Support Services
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 706 3901
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