Join to apply for the Sessional Optometrist role at SeeAbility.
Sessional Optometrist – Make a difference!
Location: London School or Schools
Salary: £250 per day plus benefits
Hours: 7.5 to 37.5 hours per week (1‑5 days a week) – School term time only
About SeeAbility: SeeAbility is established as the leading national eye care expert for people with learning disabilities. As a Specialist Registered Charity it has over 220 years’ experience supporting people who have a visual impairment, learning disability, autism or complex support needs.
What you bring
To be a part of SeeAbility’s NHS England commissioned Special School’s Eye Care team in a London school or schools. You will be responsible for regular visits to the same school(s) with a Dispensing Optician partner during school term times only. SeeAbility Special Schools Eye Care team training will be provided to all successful applicants.
Your responsibility
* Provide specialist eye care and vision information in schools to meet NHS England’s Special School Eye Care Service Specification
* Undertake SeeAbility Special Schools Eye Care Team training
* Communicate appropriately and confidently with children who have complex needs
* Communicate highly sensitive, potentially distressing information to patients’ relatives or carers, not infrequently in the presence of significant barriers to understanding learning and physical disabilities
* Manage your caseload of patients using evidence based practice whenever possible
* Be responsible for independent complex decision making in the management of individual clinical cases where expert opinions may differ
* Liaise directly with parents and schools on your caseload of children (using secure NHS mail when indicated and meeting GDPR requirements). You will have the support of SeeAbility’s Special Schools Service Manager and administrators.
* Prescribe and advise on the use of eye drops
* Demonstrate a high degree of physical skill in manipulating and utilising complex diagnostic equipment
* Effect interdisciplinary cooperation with other agencies such as local social services and educational representatives to facilitate the provision of high quality patient care
* Consider the appropriate involvement of other healthcare professionals to benefit patient care, including orthoptists, GPs, Ophthalmologists, Paediatricians, Speech and Language therapists, Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists
* Ensure accurate documentation of all interactions with patients, fellow healthcare professionals and other agencies
* Produce written reports of clinical outcomes for parents, teaching staff and other professionals within 5 working days of a clinical assessment unless exceptional circumstances
* Share clinical information in the most appropriate and secure way with administrative support
* Refer a child for further management to an ophthalmologist, orthoptist or general practitioner when clinically indicated
* Transport notes, laptop and testing equipment between sites as required
* Be accountable for own actions, using initiative and judgement with regard to patient management within broad health policies but act independently in the best interests of patient care
* Maintain a safe clean therapeutic environment for patients, visitors and colleagues, ensuring infection control procedures are carried out according to policy
* Perform frequent manual handling of wheelchair users, regular repositioning of heavy equipment, frequent sitting in restricted positions, prolonged maintenance of difficult postures during examinations while manipulating instrumentation
* Intense concentration, often exceeding 2‑3 hrs continuously, required in carrying out unpredictable clinical examinations
* Frequent interruptions during clinical examination to give advice to other staff
* Prolonged mental effort in dealing with patients with hearing and/or speech impairment, language barriers and uncooperative and/or challenging behaviour
* Calculations of mathematical formulae necessary to obtain optical powers, illuminances, working distances, magnifications etc.
* Inform patients, carers and parents regarding visual loss impacting permanently on quality of life
* Collaborate with other clinical and non‑clinical staff to ensure safe and effective collaborative working practices
* Assist the Head of Eye Health in facilitating and undertaking risk assessments
* Mentor new eye care team members as part of SeeAbility/NHSE’s training programme
* Join at least 2 SeeAbility team meetings a year
* Comply with health and safety regulations and procedures that apply to staff, patients and visitors
* Report incidents, accidents or near misses involving patients, visitors or staff accurately and investigate as appropriate
* Report to the Special Schools Service Manager and the Clinical Lead for any absence from work due to sickness
* Maintain personal and professional development and support staff development and training
* Deliver training sessions to your assigned school annually with support from the Service Manager and Clinical Lead
* Commit to evidence based practice and clinical excellence, playing an active role in introducing this evidence to improve patient centred care
* Undertake clinical audit using appropriate research methodologies
* Ensure working knowledge of the IT systems used by the service
* Maintain clinical records in line with correct information governance procedures, including Data Protection Act and NHS Information Guidance Toolkit
* Support UK Vision Strategy themes, values and goals
* Maintain records and reports uploaded to shared information system in a timely way
* Remain up to date on developments in the field of eye health, vision and learning/multiple disability including implications of legislation and policy
* Strive to ensure that SeeAbility embraces diversity in how it delivers its services and adheres to the General Social Care Council Code of Practice and SeeAbility’s Code of Conduct philosophy
* Maintain confidentiality and safeguarding procedures
* Undertake other duties commensurate with the role under the instruction of the Special Schools Service Manager and Clinical Lead
For Extensive Job Description, Please See The Attached
Our Benefits
* Recognition & Rewards – Celebrate your achievements
* Work‑Life Balance – Up to 28 days pro‑ra holiday
* Financial Perks – Discounts & cashback offers
* Wellbeing Support – 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
* Refer a Friend – Earn £600 for successful referrals
Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare
SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. We expect all staff to uphold this commitment and have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding.
Safer Recruitment
* A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate).
* Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address and the right to work in the UK.
* Health Declaration to ensure you are medically suitable for the role.
* References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerning health or social care, or children or vulnerable adults.
Diversity
SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from under‑represented groups and those who have a disability or neuro‑divergent condition. We are a Disability Confident employer.
We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone’s unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion is valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.
In exceptional circumstances, the exempt from the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1) which provides for the application of a genuine occupational requirement.
#J-18808-Ljbffr