An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Optometrist to join our dynamic Optical Services team at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is a 12 month fixed term post to cover maternity leave. The post will provide paediatric Optometry services for our patients at Queen Marys Hospital, Sidcup. The successful candidate will have hospital experience, be able to practice independently but will be provided with clinical and professional support and advice within the Optical Services department. Main duties of the job The post holder is an autonomous practitioner who is required to deliver a broad range of core optometric and specialised extended role clinical services primarily within the paediatric Ophthalmology service. You are required to contribute to the teaching, audit, research, clinical governance and administrative requirements of the optometry service. About us Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UKs largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team Kings to another level. We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people. Kings is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyones contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trusts carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible Job responsibilities Clinical • Assessment of refractive errors and correction in clinic, involving adult and paediatric objective and subjective refraction. • To care for patients in a compassionate and supporting Ensure the care provided is patient centred ensuring their needs are met throughput their visit with us • To undertake a highly skilled and extended role in the shared care within ophthalmology. • To take sole responsibility of your own specific workload which will cover a wide, varied and complex patient • To be responsible for the appropriate onward referral of patients and prioritising referrals based on clinical findings and • Work as an autonomous practitioner in a single-handed capacity without • Requirement for writing reports on patients to GPs and Social • To develop optometric treatment plans for individual patients based on sound clinical evidence, informed clinical judgments with a high level of patient • To provide advice and support to patients and relatives regarding visual • To discharge patients or organise appropriate onward referral for their on-going • At all times to observe safe working practices and equipment procedures that comply with legislative requirements and health and safety • Dispenses medication according to professional requirements and independent prescribing, if • To deal with queries from patients and other health care practitioners and make appropriate decisions on limited • To deal with accidents untoward occurrences and complaints which occur within the department setting according to accepted • To ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff and report all outpatient hazards to the • To respect patients privacy, dignity, gender, sexuality and have due regard to patients cultural and religious Personal Responsibilities • Personal To take responsibility for all administrative paperwork ensuring it is kept in order and up to date. Follow-up appointments should be made and sent as • Ensure departmental protocols are followed including correspondence, patients who fail to attend, those that are referred and discharged and infection • To maintain the integrity of computerised patient appointment systems, inputting data accurately and ensuring proper storage, back up and retrieval of • To regularly calibrate and ensure equipment are in good working • To manage an unpredictable workload dependent upon changing demands and interruptions. Management • To liaise with Principal Optometrist to manage own clinics to ensure efficiency of clinic(s) and services within the Optometry team/ • To help maintain and develop guidelines for Optometry clinics and for extended roles with the aim of improving clinical and working practices enhancing policy protocols and procedures that follow evidence based • To help manage the logistics of re-organising clinics to ensure adequate staff cover between Kings • To monitor clinical Communication • To write appropriate patient • To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team. Ensure information regarding treatment, outcomes, diagnoses and discharge summaries are appropriately communicated. • Liaise with the referrer, the on-call ophthalmologist or early referral service regarding onward care of the • Liaise with other departments (including admissions, medical records and wards) ensuring effective and efficient communication and work • To work with the community visual impairment team to ensure all patients access the appropriate • Deal with patients in a sensitive manner and act with empathy and tact and understanding with their needs especially those with highly complex medical and ophthalmologica • To be sensitive to patients cultural identity and overcome language and other barriers to understanding (e.g. hearing or visual impairment, learning difficulties). • To actively participate and positively contribute to departmental meetings, discussing the operational aspects of the department and set agreed standards for orthoptic care. • To positively promote Kings at external meetings (e.g. Local Optometric Committee) and provide appropriate. Quality assurance standards, audit, research and learning • To obtain certification to partake in research • To ensure quality care is delivered for all • To actively pursue and be responsible for your own professional development, including CPD, reflective practice and agreeing a personal development plan with the head of department. • Undertake audits regarding the effectiveness of service provision that follows clear research methodology and forms part of an audit cycle and disseminates outcomes to all interested parties. • To update knowledge and be aware of the possible implications to clinical Teaching • To give clear, informative and well presented practical demonstrations and theoretical talks to ophthalmic technicians, orthoptists, nurses, undergraduates, ophthalmologists, medical students and primary care Person Specification Experience Essential • Degree in Optometry • GOC Registration • Clinical optometry experience with adults and paediatrics Desirable • Knowledge of computerised patient records