Optometrist

Working Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent Contract, but very willing to accept applications for full time, part-time, flexible work hours; all work modalities will be considered.

Position Progression: Will commence the post as a Band 6 but with progression to a Band 7 after full training.

An exciting opportunity for any newly qualified Optometrist, any Optometrist working in the community who wants something new, or any Optometrist with an interest in Hospital Optometry.

You will work closely with the Head Optometrist, Doctors and Consultants, Orthoptists, and other members of staff to assist in the care of our patients.

Who Our Opportunity is for:

• An Optometrist to work in the Optometry Department at The Countess of Chester Hospital.
• Optometrists without previous hospital experience will be considered and will be provided with training and support to enable them to fulfill the requirements of the job description.

What this Opportunity means:

• We are a small, friendly, and supportive team, working closely with the Ophthalmologists and Orthoptic Department.
• We support staff in expanding their knowledge and skills.
• The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop a career within Hospital Optometry.

Main Duties of the Job:

Your main responsibilities will include helping the clinic by performing diagnostic refractions on patients of all ages with a myriad of eye conditions, cycloplegic and subjective refractions on young children, low vision assessments for patients struggling with poor vision, and performing (often complex) contact lens fits and aftercares. As your skills and confidence in Hospital Optometry develop, your role will change to include becoming the optometric lead for a service in extended role clinics, and we will support you with higher education courses and working closely with the consultants in your chosen field of interest.

We are a small team of Optometrists who would like to expand and grow the department and look forward to hearing back from you.

About Us:

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate, and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount), including temporary bank staff, and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services, and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000, including 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital, and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient, and diagnostic), ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Job Description:

Job Responsibilities: See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), which will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enroll for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

Essential:

• BSc(Hons) degree in optometry/vision science/ophthalmic optics 2:2 or above from one of the universities approved by the GOC.
• Successful completion of postgraduate training including work-based assessment and supervision by registered optometrists with achievement of all GOC competencies as assessed by the College of Optometrists.
• Registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) as an optometrist.

Desirable:

• Membership or Fellowship of the College of Optometrists.
• Registration with the GOC as a specialist contact lens practitioner where contact lenses are offered as a specialist skill.
• College of Optometrists Higher Qualification or a willingness to work towards these.

Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

• Post-qualification optometrist experience in a wide range of optometry services including assessment and management of children and adults.
• Fulfillment of GOC requirements for CPD.

Desirable:

• Previous hospital experience.
• Evidence of commitment to continuing education and receptive to further training and development of skills and knowledge.
• Experience of research and audit projects.

Employer Details:

Employer Name: Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Countess of Chester Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1UL

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

210-2024-662-C