Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellow - Optometrist
This exciting opportunity is open to Optometrists working in NHS Wales or within the primary care setting in Wales.
The Welsh Clinical Leadership Fellowship (WCLF) is a prestigious year‑long programme that develops aspiring clinical leaders through immersive training and practical management experience. Fellows help drive improvement across NHS Wales, working with senior leaders at local, regional, and national levels to influence change and build strong professional networks.
This post is fixed term/secondment for 12 months due to meet the needs of the service
If you are interested in applying for the secondment position, you must obtain permission from your current line manager prior to applying for this post.
Main duties of the job
Each Fellow leads a strategic improvement project selected from proposals submitted by healthcare organisations across Wales, gaining hands‑on experience in delivering meaningful transformation with support from supervisors and colleagues.
Alongside project work, the Fellowship offers a rich academic and development curriculum—including a Postgraduate Certificate, workshops, site visits, expert‑led sessions, and formal teaching—to equip Fellows with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become credible, influential leaders in a modern NHS.
About us
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales with statutory functions that include education and training, workforce planning, workforce development and transformation, leadership and succession planning, and careers. Our purpose is to develop a workforce that delivers excellent care to patients/service users and excellent population health. We are a Special Health Authority working closely with our partners; Social Care Wales, education providers, professional and regulatory bodies and Welsh Government.
HEIW is committed to developing an internal culture of choice. Our Values reflect how we behave and treat others:
- Respect for All in every contact we have with others,
- Ideas that Improve: Harnessing creativity and continuously innovating, evaluating and improving,
- Together as a Team: Working with colleagues across NHS Wales and with partner organisations.
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
* Employed in a clinical role in NHS Wales or working within Primary Care at A4C Band 7-8a or equivalent; ST3 or above (medical trainees), GPST2 or above (GP trainees); DCT2 or above (dental trainees) at time of application
* Demonstrates clear understanding of the purpose of the programme and commitment to maximise this development opportunities
* Demonstrates knowledge of effective problem‑solving approaches when plans do not go as expected
* Evidence of reflective practice, including understanding of personal strengths and how these have been used to achieve positive results
Experience
* Evidence of involvement and engagement in leadership and management development commensurate with grade and experience
* Ability to reflect on personal impact including the ability to engage with and influence others
* Demonstrable ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary settings and to manage or motivate both in‑person and virtual teams
* Understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policies with evidence of implementation
* Managing teams through change
* Positively contributes to team culture, helping create an environment where people feel valued, supported and empowered to deliver high‑quality care
Aptitude and Abilities
* Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive, or contentious information with the ability to negotiate with stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues
* Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference
* Ability to prioritise own work effectively with the ability to produce results without continuous direct supervision
* Ability to build, develop and nurture key relationships and networks, showing adaptability in approach
* Ability to speak Welsh
* Reflects on past performance, seeks out feedback and then applied learning to current practice
Values
* Demonstrates integrity and ethical practice, including transparency, accountability and patient‑centred decision‑making
* Demonstrates a consistent commitment to compassionate and inclusive leadership, fostering psychological safety and respect within multi‑professional teams. Displaying a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
* Actively role‑models NHS Wales values, contributing to a culture of kindness, openness, continuous improvement and shared purpose
* Committed to collaborative, whole‑system working, engaging constructively with colleagues across professions, services and organisational boundaries
Other
* Ability to travel to suit the requirements of the role
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
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