Job summaryApplications are invited for a 12-month fixed-term Cornea Fellowship at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. This post holder will be at MTW, which offers a tertiary Cornea service with particular emphasis on complex Corneal cases. Operations carried out include corneal grafts, complex cataracts and anterior segment surgeries, and ocular surface diseases and surgeries.
The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is responsible for the provision of ophthalmology services for the people of Mid and West Kent, covering approximately a 1 million population. The large population we serve entails a wide and interesting selection of cases. General and sub-speciality ophthalmology services are provided at the Eye, Ear, and Mouth Unit (EEMU), a modern, purpose- built facility attached to Maidstone Hospital, with outpatient facilities provided at Tunbridge Wells, Medway Maritime and Sevenoaks Hospitals in a "hub and spoke" model.
Main duties of the jobTo provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients you personally care for. To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments to ensure a high standard of patient care. To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the speciality, to provide high-quality health care to the Trust's patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust's strategic direction. To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the speciality. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan. To participate actively in departmental activities, which may be included in the work you undertake. To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Council's published guide "Good Medical Practice", including the Duties of a Doctor. To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group. To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.
About usMaidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working? We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
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Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
- Blue Light card eligibility
- And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Job responsibilitiesWeve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at
Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date has been agreed.
As part of your induction, you will be required to attend face-to-face training sessions and/or complete e-learning modules relevant to your role. If you have previously worked for another NHS organisation before joining Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), we can transfer eligible mandatory training records where appropriate, helping to avoid unnecessary duplication of learning.
QualificationsEssential- Full GMC Registration FRCS or FRCOphth
- Completed CCT register or CESR, or within 12 months of obtaining CCT
DesirableExperience/KnowledgeEssential- Experience in Phaco surgery
- Experience in cornea clinics and cornea theatre lists
- Experience in post-operative cornea care
- Experience in emergency eye care
- Demonstrable experience in Clinical Audit and research
Desirable- Research interest
- Experience in risk management
SkillsEssential- Ability to lead efficient, well-run clinics and theatres lits under pressure.
- Ability to teach junior doctors and other clinical staff.
- Ability to organise and manage clinical as well as administrative workload
Desirable- Staff management: delegating appraisal of performance, monitoring staff
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present 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) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present 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) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
