Overview
Are you passionate about patient care? Do you want to expand your clinical knowledge and experience? Do you want to work with a multi-disciplinary team in East Kent? We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate individual to work in an extended clinical role in our Optometric Services Team within Ophthalmology in East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.
The post will involve triage and managing patients in the urgent eye service, paediatric refractions, specialist contact lens fitting, virtual glaucoma review and more. Clinics generally run Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm.
Main duties
The specific extended roles we are currently recruiting are:
* Acute eye referral triage/advice and assessment of patients as part of the Urgent Eye Service team at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford (training will be provided)
* Paediatric cycloplegic refraction and fundus examination at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone with autonomous clinical management plan
* Possible training in the glaucoma service including face to face independent optometrist clinics and virtual review
* Optometric examination of patients enrolled with clinical trials at EKHUFT
* Assist in the training of Ophthalmic Technicians and other staff as necessary
* Assist in the collection of data for Clinical Audit, when requested
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is "great healthcare from great people". We are guided by values: people feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference. We are adopting a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals called "We care" to empower frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day.
Details
Date posted: 26 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Location: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG
Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download. For queries, contact the line manager using the contact details below.
Qualifications
Essential
* BSc (Hons) degree in Optometry
* General Optical Council registration
Desirable
* Post-graduate optometric qualifications
* Higher Degree
Clinical Skills and Experience
Essential
* Autonomous working, guided by board optometric policies
* Diagnostic drug use/instillation of ophthalmic drugs
* Working with elderly and children
* Slit Lamp Assessment
Desirable
* Eye casualty assessment
* Anterior Segment disease assessment
* Experience of research and audit
Knowledge
Essential
* NICE guidelines
* Assessment of paediatric patients e.g. emmetropisation
* Interpretation of ophthalmological test results e.g. visual fields/OCT
Desirable
* Experience of NHS computer systems
* Independent prescribing
Personal/Professional Attributes
Essential
* Basic IT skills
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a disclosure check will be made.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications. For information see the UK Visas and Immigration website.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For information see the NHS Careers website.
Employer
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury, CT1 3NG
#J-18808-Ljbffr