Job overview
Maidstone Eye Unit is a dynamic training environment for Ophthalmic Professionals. The Opticians Department is adjacent to the Orthoptic department and works closely with other professionals in the eye unit including 17 Consultant Ophthalmologists, who offer specialist services in: Glaucoma, Anti-VegF, Oculoplastics, Vitreo-Retinal, Medical Retina & Diabetes, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Cornea and Ophthalmic A&E.
The department is staffed by 8 Optometrists across 3 sites, each with their own interest and sub-specialities. All are experienced in working with Pre-Registrations and are actively involved in the supervision and training for the Pre Registration Optometrist. The department provides a range of Optometric Services including:
1. Low Vision Services
2. Complex Contact Lens Service
3. Complex Refractions (& dispensing)
4. Paediatric Refractions
5. Ocular B-Scan Ultrasound
6. Optometric Shared Glaucoma, Cornea & Neuro-ophthalmology Clinics
7. Research
Main duties of the job
Throughout the year we accommodate visiting Pre-registered Optometrists from community opticians, who attend the Opticians department. We find this helps Pre-Registered Optometrists in their learning experience within the department.
You are expected to complete 8 Sessions in the department examining patients attending the clinics. You are fully supervised by the Senior Optometrists who are able to help with any queries. We like our Pre-Registered Optometrists to be hard working, to take initiative in their work.
Our Optometrists (some of which previously completed their training at Maidstone Hospital) are approachable and friendly; we encourage our Pre Registered Optometrists to take on challenging refractions early on and constantly ask questions that will help increase their knowledge and competence. Each patient examined by the Pre-Reg Optometrists should be discussed with the Supervising Optometrist and then signed off. Our main focus is learning from each patient experience.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone 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.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve 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).
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. General Optical Council registered (as student)
9. BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. University Experience dealing with patients
11. Theoretical knowledge from the degree
Desirable criteria
12. Work experience in community practice and/or Hospital eye service
Skills
Essential criteria
13. Professional outlook to role and responsibilities
14. Ability to communicate complex and at times sensitive information to patients and other professional groups.
15. Excellent communication skills
16. Excellent written and spoken English
17. IT Skills including Word Processing & use of Spreadsheets