Job summary An opportunity arises to recruiting for a full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A) to be based at Aintree University Hospital, Elective Care Center. The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the Principal Optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists. This post is based at the Aintree University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary. 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. We delivery eye emergency and general ophthalmology services along with all subspecialty services including ocular neurology, ocular plastics and ocular oncology. In addition to core optometry activities hospital optometrists are involved in: eye emergency, cornea, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic, medical retinal and clinical research activities. The post holder will personally deliver patient care in at least one subspecialty, deliver research activity & clinical audit as required, and coordinate their service responsibilities ensuring that delivery of timely, safe, quality care is maintained. About us Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital. We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients. UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West. Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services. For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page. Date posted 11 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 287-OPHT-16-25 Job locations Aintree University Hospital Long Lane Liverpool L9 7AL Job description Job responsibilities An opportunity arises to recruiting for a full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A) to be based at Aintree University Hospital, Elective Care Center. The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the Principal Optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists. This post is based at the Aintree University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary. Job description Job responsibilities An opportunity arises to recruiting for a full time Clinical Lead Optometrist (Band 8A) to be based at Aintree University Hospital, Elective Care Center. The post holders will actively participate in delivery and management of direct patient care, and will undertake clinical audit, research and teaching / training as necessary. Successful candidates are likely to have significant hospital experience, and higher qualifications relevant to role. They will report to the Principal Optometrist and form part of our team of 4 Clinical Lead Optometrists and 20 Specialist Optometrists. This post is based at the Aintree University Hospital, and may also involve working at other Trust sites as necessary. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Optometrist Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification Desirable Management qualification completion of management programme Teaching and assessing qualification Experience Essential Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix Documented evidence of continuing professional development Portfolio of evidence showing achievements in Specialist practice Portfolio of evidence showing Research & audit experience Portfolio of evidence showing Team leadership experience Portfolio of evidence showing Financial awareness Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of assessing mental capacity Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of service development Desirable Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience Lead in audit or research projects Knowledge Essential Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team Skills Essential Highly developed analytical and judgement skills Excellent written and oral communication skills Negotiation and diplomacy skills Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development Other Essential Committed to training and development Flexibility in clinical case mix Vision to develop the service Person Specification Qualifications Essential Registered Optometrist Higher degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry Independent / non-medical prescriber qualification Desirable Management qualification completion of management programme Teaching and assessing qualification Experience Essential Highly developed Specialist experience across a wide range of Ophthalmic case mix Documented evidence of continuing professional development Portfolio of evidence showing achievements in Specialist practice Portfolio of evidence showing Research & audit experience Portfolio of evidence showing Team leadership experience Portfolio of evidence showing Financial awareness Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of assessing mental capacity Portfolio of evidence showing Experience of service development Desirable Evidence of lecturing / presenting and clinical teaching experience Lead in audit or research projects Knowledge Essential Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application Understand team dynamics with an ability to influence the building of effective relationships between staff, lead and motivate the team Skills Essential Highly developed analytical and judgement skills Excellent written and oral communication skills Negotiation and diplomacy skills Ability to work autonomously, plan, organise, prioritise and delegate Ability to work under pressure and cope in a stressful environment and with emotional / aggressive patients / carers Ability to understand and analyse professional and ethical issues and apply them to service development Other Essential Committed to training and development Flexibility in clinical case mix Vision to develop the service Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Aintree University Hospital Long Lane Liverpool L9 7AL Employer's website https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)