Job summaryAn exciting opportunity has arisen for a Hospital Optometrist working with Moorfields Eye Hospital, Bedford. The role involves working exclusively within the paediatric community eye service at a number of sites in Bedfordshire, including but not limited to Kempston and Biggleswade.
Main duties of the jobTo personally deliver a range of specialised face to face and optometric care and extended role optometric care, clinical audit & teaching.
To support the development of extended roles for optometrists within Moorfields.
In conjunction with the medical staff to support the development of, and to help deliver, shared care for ophthalmic conditions.
About usThis post is primarily based at our Kempston health centre clinic associated with our Bedford site, working in the paediatric eye clinic.
At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:
- Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
- Free 24/7 independent counselling service
- Learning and development opportunities
- Easy and quick transport links
- A range of attractive benefits and discounts
- Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
- Free Pilates classes
- Full support and training to develop your skills
- Flexible working friendly organisation
And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.
Job responsibilitiesMAIN RESPONSIBILTITESLeadership- To personally delivera range of specialised and extended optometric care, clinical audit and teaching.
ClinicalTo provide a wide range of optometric services, which can include:
To work closely with the optometry team to provide a wide range of optometric services, at a hospital or community site, which may include:
- Working in an 'extended role' capacity in a variety of ophthalmology clinics which can include Medical Retina, Glaucoma, Cataract or Acute Services.
- Working in extended role outside ophthalmology clinics, i.e. without medical support in clinic, e.g. Diabetic slit lamp clinics, Childrens Vision Clinics
- Triage of referral letters both routine and urgent and management of shared care cataract referral
- Supervising junior staff in their clinical roles
To undertake specialist clinical activity; this activity requires regular use of a range of advanced clinical techniques requiring dexterity and concentration.
These clinics involve responsibility for clinical decision-making with support from consultants and the provision of specialised diagnosis, management, care and education of patients.
To provide a clinical opinion or obtain a clinical opinion from consultant colleagues to optometric and non-optometric colleagues on the management of patients.
Clinical Governance- Responsibility in conjunction with the consultants for the systematic and critical analysis of the quality of work carried by optometrists.
- To initiate and participate in clinical audit.
- To help identify and develop service standards and audit for optometrists.
- To personally participate in continuing professional education and development (as required by the General Optical Council and through appraisal as part of role).
Management- To assist the Lead Optometrist to manage Optometry Services
- To help develop systems, clinical governance, processes, guidelines and training to establish and maintain extended role clinics & shared care services.
- To be able to use appropriate IT including electronic patient records for benchmarking, audit and clinical uses.
Teaching and Development- Contribute to the delivery of optometric teaching and supervision to other ophthalmic professionals.
Research and Development- To contribute to clinical research or assessment programmes.
- To present audit/research findings at relevant scientific meetings.
- To contribute to publishing research/audit findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Policy- To support the Clinical Director, the Principal Optometrist & the Head of Optometry in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for Optometrists.
Person SpecificationGOC RegistrationEssentialBSc(Hons) Optometry or equivalEssential- BSc(Hons) Optometry or equivalent
Desirable- FCOptom, MSc, Independent prescribing or other Diploma, MOptom, equivalent specialist higher qualifications
Post-qualification experienceDesirable- Experience of managing complex paediatric patients
- Previous experience working in a hospital paediatric clinic
Clinical governanceDesirable- Knowledge and experience of clinical governance
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
