Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Optometrist to work at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust for 7.5 hours per week on a permanent contract. The appointed Optometrist will be required to run Core Optometry clinics at Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are motivated and want to develop their skills, knowledge and experience, whilst working as part of a friendly and diverse Ophthalmic team.
Maidstone Eye Unit is a dynamic training environment for a wide range of Ophthalmic Professionals. The Opticians Department is situated adjacent to the Orthoptic department and works closely with other professionals in the eye unit including 11 Consultant Ophthalmologists, who offer specialist services in: Glaucoma, Anti-VegF, Oculoplastics, Vitreo-Retinal, Medical Retina & Diabetes, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Cornea and Ophthalmic A&E.
Main duties of the job
The department is currently staffed by 8 Optometrists and a pre-registration Optometrist across 3 sites, each with their own interest and sub-specialities. Collectively the department provides an extensive range of Optometric Services including:
1. Low Vision Services
2. Complex Contact Lens Service
3. Complex Refractions (& dispensing)
4. Paediatric Refractions
5. Ocular B-Scan Ultrasound
6. Extended roles on ophthalmology clinics
7. Research
Working for our organisation
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: TBC
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry.
9. General Optical Council registered.
10. MC Optom or Equivalent
Desirable criteria
11. Professional Higher Qualifications in Optometry e.g. MSc in Clinical Optometry
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Extensive and advanced post graduate theoretical & practical knowledge and experience within the field of optometry
Desirable criteria
13. College of Optometrists Diploma
14. Experience with Hospital Paediatric refractions, Complex Contact Lenses and Low Vision assessments.
15. Post Pre-Registration experience
Skills
Essential criteria
16. Excellent communication skills Excellent written and spoken English
17. Professional outlook to role and responsibilities
18. Demonstrates clear evidence of ongoing professional development
19. Knowledge of clinical issues and their implications for practice.
20. Able to demonstrate level of organisational skills
21. Evidence of self development
22. Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
23. IT literate
24. The ability to communicate and record data through various IT systems and packages.
25. Ability to communicate complex and at times sensitive information to patients and other professional groups.
26. Ability to problem solve, anticipate and forward plan
27. Demonstrate Analytical skills
28. Ability to undertake expanded role activities