Recognised as one of the largest NHS trusts -- University Hospitals Birmingham is at the forefront of clinical research and is recognised as a centre of excellence in the development of new treatments and complex care. Our Ophthalmology services is delivered across Solihull, Heartlands, Good Hope and Queen Elizabeth hospitals and accounts for 12% of all UHB's annual patient activity.

To support this key department and the patients who rely on us -- we are seeking Specialist Optometrists to join our expanding team who will be charged with delivering core and specialist optometry clinics, recommending defined care and treatment plans. We will provide you with training to succeed in specialist areas. Flexibility can be offered with the option of both full time or part time hours.

A passion for delivering high quality patient care and excellent communication skills will be essential in supporting and providing guidance to patients and clinical colleagues. In return you can expect to join colleagues who are committed to delivering excellence in their roles and to be able to access peer support and specialist guidance from our Principle Optometrists and Consultant Ophthalmologists.

We pride ourselves on being a supportive team, ensuring that staff satisfaction and a healthy work life balance is high on our priorities. If you'd like to join a caring and nurturing team, with plenty of learning and development opportunities, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

You will perform core optometry duties to include: Paediatric/adult refraction, low vision assessments and specialist paediatric, corneal and clinics contact lens. A training programme will be provided to advance your specialist skills. This will involve diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of a wide range of anterior eye pathology and post operative care under the supervision of a Consultant Ophthalmologist. The role will require the ability to prescribe complex optical appliances and non optical aids.

You will practice in conjunction with the consultant ophthalmologists supported by a multi-disciplinary team of medical, nursing, and technical staff with access to contemporary diagnostic instrumentation and out-patient diagnostic services.

You will diagnose and treat, prescribe and advise patients on a broad range of unique and complex cases. The role will require exercising of independent clinical judgement in interpreting and evaluating multiple optometric and visual function tests to recommend defined care whilst considering parental requests and patients' wishes.

You will manage a personal case load, planning care based on medical evidence, specialist knowledge and departmental protocols whilst maintaining your professional development. You will contribute to the development of specialist services, clinical audit and teaching.

Further details, site visit and discussions can be arranged via Helen Cant, Talent and Engagement Lead on 07989 959008.

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.

Job description

Job responsibilities

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Optometry (E) or International Equivalent
• Registration with the General Optical Council (E)
• Post Graduate Diploma (Optometry) (E)
• or International Equivalent
• Advance Post Graduate Diploma / Higher Degree /
• Equivalent experience (E)

Desirable

• MSc or PhD in Optometry or equivalent (D)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) (D)
• Specialist Higher Qualifications (e.g. Independent Prescribing
• for Optometrists, etc.) (D

Experience

Essential

• Post qualification experience & gt 2 yrs. (E)
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team (E)
• Hospital Optometry Practice (E)
• Complex adult refraction and spectacle prescribing (E)
• Paediatric Refraction (E)
• Paediatric binocular vision theory (E)
• Advanced Medical Contact Lens Practice (Keratoconus,
• Post Graft, Therapeutic) (E)
• Low Vision Practice (E)
• Extensive clinical experience of medical contact
• lens fitting for all stage of keratoconus
• and post graft. (E)
• Extensive clinical experience of therapeutic
• contact lens practice. (E)
• Knowledge of binocular vision theory and practice (E)
• Contemporary knowledge of low vision optical
• appliances (E)

Desirable

• Experience of development of protocols (D)
• Experience of teaching (D)
• Student Supervision (D)
• Clinical Demonstration (D)
• Clinical Audit (D)
• Research techniques and methodology (D

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Empathy for distressed patient and carers (E)
• Tolerance for demanding clinical schedules (E)
• Collaborative (E)
• Tactful and diplomatic (E)
• Comfortable and confident with paediatric patients (E)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in
• respect of presentations and teaching etc. (E)
• Ability to elicit a comprehensive clinical history &
• examination where there is a barrier to understanding
• e.g. young children, patients with learning disabilities
• and other sensory impairments (E)
• Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate
• complex information in a range of situations e.g.
• clinical information to patients, unwelcome & bad
• news, or where there may be barriers to understanding
• e.g. patients with learning disabilities and other
• sensory impairments. (E)
• Shows flexibility and sensitivity to the complexity of
• multidisciplinary team working, in challenging work
• environments, and the overall needs of the service. (E)
• Multiple site working (E

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

304-9002430PM