Contact Lens Optician / Specialist Dispensing Optician

We are offering an exciting position for an experienced dispensing optician to join our team in a clinically focused role.
You will join a multidisciplinary team to provide high quality ophthalmic care for the patients of Suffolk and surrounding areas.
This role will focus on two key areas of optometry practice (complex contact lens and low vision) and will give opportunity for you to become an autonomous clinician within their areas of expertise., You will be responsible for delivering high quality clinical care for patients with both common and rare ocular conditions. Clinical practice will include managing an array of complex and clinically necessary contact lenses including Rigid Gas Permeable, Semi scleral and prosthetic lenses. Low vision clinics will include verifying a patient's eligibility for certification of visual impairment and dispensing simple and complex low vision aids as well as providing advice and recommendations on living with sight loss. You will also be responsible for fitting and dispensing ptosis props or other clinically complex dispenses required.
Previous experience in contact lens fitting or low vision is essential for this position. We will support you to develop skills and experience to enhance your clinical scope of practice. You will also support training and education within the department and the wider optometry community.
For candidates with less experience and post graduate qualifications, we would welcome an application to join the team in a developmental position, starting at Band 5. Progression through salary bands will depend on achievement of both clinical competency and post graduate qualifications.
This position is equivalent to five clinical sessions per week. Working days & pattern will be agreed with the successful candidate at appointment but could include 3 session days or a two week working pattern on mutual agreement., Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A, Please note that where response levels are exceptional we may close the post before the specified date, therefore early application is recommended.
Please make sure that you read the Job Description and Person Specification attached and that your statement in support reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria.
Secondment - if you are interested in undertaking a role on a secondment basis, please ensure that you have discussed this with your current line manager prior to submitting your application. Please note if you are already an employee of ESNEFT fixed term roles will only be offered on a secondment basis.
When providing reference details please provide email addresses so references can be sought promptly to cover the last 3 years of employment.
Successful candidates may be charged for their DBS check. Please ensure you read the information found in the attached DBS Information document
The Trust is committed to its staff and their development and to equal opportunities and diversity. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community.
Whilst we welcome applications from all and your application will be considered on individual merit, if you are offered a position and require a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship we may not be able to process your application to the final stage due Home Office eligibility.
In submitting an application form, you authorise East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; we look forward to receiving your application for employment.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT's core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT., We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.