Advanced Optometrist

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic qualified optometrist to work within our very friendly eye department. You will be a hospital optometrist looking to further your career or a community optometrist looking for a new challenge. You will be undertaking core optometric and specialised extended role clinics. You will join a multi-disciplinary team providing Ophthalmic care to the patients of Norfolk and Waveney.
For candidates with less experience, we would welcome an application to join the team in a developmental position starting on a Band 6, depending on previous experience and qualification.
On offer:
+ Full time
+ Part time
+ Job share
+ Flexible working, The post holder will be required to deliver highly skilled and specialist clinical support to the Ophthalmology service. To undertake a range of advanced optometric clinical and specialist investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to assess, diagnose, treat and educate patients under the direct or indirect supervision of a consultant.
The job role will develop around the specific skills and interests of the successful candidate. There are opportunities to work in Glaucoma, retinal, Paediatric, corneal, low vision and research services. Hospital experience is desirable but not essential as full training will be given., To take responsibility for clinical decision-making with support from consultants and to provide specialised diagnosis, management, care and education of patients.
In the retinal service provide support particularly the ARMD service and diabetic service. This will require the ability to carry out clinical examination and understand clinical signs, as well as interpretation of OCT scans to arrive at appropriate management decisions.
In the Glaucoma service, working alongside glaucoma consultants to examine new and existing patients. This will involve using a range of clinical techniques and understanding how to interpret the results of specialist diagnostic tools such as OCT.
Check visual acuities, IOPs, visual field testing, OCT imaging and perform other ancillary tests as required such as corneal pachymetry etc.
Perform refractions as required including paediatric patients.
Contribute to the delivery of optometric teaching and supervision to other ophthalmic professionals.
Ensure contemporaneous records are kept for all patients seen in clinic.
Work to set departmental protocols. May be required to comment on/implement policies or propose policy changes to own areas of work.
Use appropriate IT, including electronic patient records, for clinical and audit purposes.
Communicate effectively with other health professionals, patients and their carers.
Responsibility, in conjunction with Ophthalmology colleagues, for the systematic and critical analysis of the quality of work carried out by optometrists in the shared care services if these are developed, including initiation and participation in clinical audit.
Participate in continuing professional education and development (as required by the General Optical Council).
Support and contribute to clinical research or assessment programmes.
Contribute to publishing research/audit findings in peer-reviewed journals if required and present audit/research findings at relevant scientific meetings., The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recognises the requirement to promote health and reduce ill-health. The Trust is committed to the principles of improving working lives through a number of initiatives such as job share, flexible working and the development of a culture of openness and transparency. The Trust is committed to ensuring that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

'Prior consideration will be given to NHS At Risk staff within East of England'

The James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of around 250,000 people in the Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Waveney areas. The Trust provides an integrated hospital and community children's service.
Patient and staff experience is important to us and these are the behaviours we live by:
+ Putting patients first
+ Aiming to get it right
+ Recognising that everybody counts
+ Doing everything openly and honestly, Tier 2 Sponsorship : We are pleased to consider applicants who require Tier 2 sponsorship to work in the UK but it is unlikely that we would be able to appoint if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled UK/Right to work candidate is available. Applying for entry clearance into the UK, must provide 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) will also be subject to this requirement.
Please check your account regularly under "My Applications" to view the progress of your applications. If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
In submitting an application form, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process.
Please note that should we experience a high level of interest in this post, the vacancy may be closed prior to the stated closing date.