Optometrist

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:

• A 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, Your main responsibilities will be helping the clinic by performing diagnostic refractions on patients of all ages with a myriad of eye conditions; cycloplegic and subjective refractions on the young children, low vision assessments for patients who are struggling with poor vision and performing (often complex) contact lens fits and aftercares.This opportunity will have you working as mentioned but as your skills and confidence in Hospital Optometry develop your role will change to include becoming optometric lead for a service in extended role clinics, and we will support you with higher education courses support and working closely with the consultants in your chosen field of interest.
  
  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) which includes 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. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000. 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. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Permanent Contract, but very willing to accept applications for full time, part-time, flexible work hours, all work modalities will be considered. 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 community who wants something new, or any Optometrist with an interest in Hospital Optometry.