Job summary
Employer heading
Specialist Optometrist
Band 7
At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do, by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this and we welcome applicants who share our values
Job overview
The Optometrist will form part of the Ophthalmology team and is responsible for delivering the highest quality, patient focused care as well as contributing to the highest standards of clinical governance.
The post holder will participate in the assessment and management of patients attending the paediatric refraction service under the direction of the Clinical Lead.
The post holder is expected to work without direct supervision. This involves taking action based on the post holders own interpretation of the NHS, Trust, College of Optometrists and General Optical Council policies and guidelines
The post holder will support the development of extended roles for optometrists, orthoptists and nurses within Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS trust.
The post holder will ensure the service meets the highest standards. The successful candidate will be encouraged to participate in further training and development.
The post holder will be expected to autonomously partake in wider Ophthalmology clinics within the Glaucoma and Acute Eye Service.
Main duties of the job
- The post holder will undertake a range of core optometry services as required including:routine and complex retinoscopy, refraction and optical assessment of both paediatric and adult patients including those with significant visual loss and/or communication difficulties.
- The post holder will use highly developed specialist knowledge and analytical skills to interpret specialist ophthalmology test results including visual fields, OCT, HRT, Optos imaging and topography and will act upon these appropriately or discuss with the clinician.
- The post holder will work primarily within the hospital refraction service, Glaucoma and Acute Eye Service. These clinics involve responsibility for decision-making with support from consultants and the provision of assessment, management and education of patient.
- The post holder will be expected to assess and manage their own caseload of routine paediatric refraction, liaising with the Orthoptic team where necessary to ensure seamless clinical management of patients.
- The post holder will be expected to undertake Glaucoma clinics under the supervision of the consultant or clinical fellow. This will involve interpretation of visual fields, optic disc assessment and decision making on treatment.
- The post holder will be expected to work within the Acute Eye Service along with the consultant, doctor, triage nurse and administrative staff.
Working for our organisation
The Ophthalmology team consists of 128 members of staff consisting off: Consultants, Doctors, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Nurses, Ophthalmic Technicians, HCA's, Reception and Admin staff. The department is split across two sites; St Helier Hospital and Epsom General Hospital. The department also holds an emergency eye service at the St Helier which is both a referral and walk in service. The team works cohesively and with respect to deliver high quality patient centred care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the role will be to work within the glaucoma, emergency eye and paediatric refraction service. The expectation is that the successful candidate will autonomously work in the paediatric refraction service, undertaking cycloplegic refractions and fundus examinations. For the glaucoma clinics and emergency eye services there will be support available with consultant and fellow supervision.
Person specification
IP Certifcation
Essential criteria
- 2 years experience
Desirable criteria
- Achieved
Glaucoma Certification
Essential criteria
- Achieved
Desirable criteria
- Experience
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Arinder Channa
- Job title
- Interim Deputy General Manager for Ophthalmology
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07982812560
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