Specialist Optometrist

The Optometry Department offers an extensive range of services across South Tees Hospitals Ophthalmology Outpatient clinics.As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will provide high-quality, optometric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as part of a busy multidisciplinary ophthalmology team across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The post holder will be required to provide autonomous practice and sole handed clinics across hospital sites across South Tees Hospitals, including James Cook, University Hospital of North Tees, Low Grange Health Village and Friarage hospital.

Optometrists provide highly specialist core optometric services (including refraction, specialist medical contact lenses and low visual aids., As a Band 7 Specialist Optometrist the post holder will spend the majority of their time in the Core Optometry Services (paediatrics and adults). The post holder will also be expected to undertake a caseload involving advanced specialist extended clinical roles which may include Glaucoma, Medical Retina, Cataract, and/or Emergency Department. These are all recognised as key clinical areas by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) framework and College of Optometrists Postgraduate Higher Qualifications.

As a Band 6 Optometrist the post holder will spend the majority of their time in the Core Optometry Services (paediatrics and adults).

To undertake a lead role in the delivery of a broad range of highly specialist core optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care for South Tees Hospitals and its outreach clinics. This would include diagnostic refraction, independent management of highly complex specialist medical contact lenses and low vision rehabilitation.

To work as independent practitioner and to work autonomously as part of multi-disciplinary team, providing an extensive range of advanced optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to:

Explore leadership within the NHS

Promote Trust Values and Behaviours

Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills

Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role

After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bitesize programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.