Overview
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Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent full-time Principal Optometrist. As Principal Optometrist, you would be the line manager to our Optometry team consisting of 7 part-time Optometrists. You would have duties and responsibilities as described within the attached job description and would also be a key member within the wider Ophthalmology team, working to maintain and improve care within the Ophthalmology department.
Clinically the role would include Consultant Led Glaucoma, Optometrist Led Stable Glaucoma and Glaucoma New (dependent on previous experience), Cataract pre and post op, Cornea and Anterior Segment, Medical Retina including semi virtual assessments and injection assessing (dependent on experience), Low Vision, Medical Contact Lenses, Adult and Paediatric Refraction and a unique opportunity to work within our extended role Paediatric Ophthalmology clinics, which includes mixed pathology and specialist clinics for those with additional needs.
We are a large teaching hospital and we provide supervision and education to pre-registration Optometrist who come for their 2 week placement. We run and participate in educational activities ran by and for the Ophthalmology Department. This includes the teaching of undergraduate or Orthoptic students, medical undergraduates, junior doctors and other health care professionals.
Main duties of the job
* To line manage the Optometric team at the Royal London Hospital under the direction of the Head Orthoptist.
* To communicate with and provide feedback to the Head Orthoptist and the Clinical Lead on the strategic direction of Optometry at the Royal London Hospital.
* To have responsibility for the clinical, managerial and clinical governance of Optometrists working at the Royal London Hospital including the responsibility for managing departmental rotas and annual leave.
* To provide an Optometric overview for service development at the Royal London Hospital.
* To be responsible for and personally deliver a wide range of highly specialised Optometric care, extended role Optometric care, clinical audit, teaching, research and the supervision of pre-registration Optometrists at the Royal London Hospital.
About Us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers. The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging.
Details
* Date posted: 24 October 2025
* Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
* Band: Band 8a
* Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inc
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Full-time
* Reference number: 259-7574966RLH
* Job locations: Royal London Hospital, London, E1 1FR
Job Description and Person Specification
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment(s) below.
Essential Experience
* Post registration clinical experience with experience in a hospital specialist setting in consultant led extended role clinics
* Experience of teaching optometrists & ophthalmologists at undergraduate and post-graduate level and supervision of trainee optometrists
* Clinical Governance Knowledge and experience of governance issues, in particular clinical audit
Desirable Experience
* Experience of managing clinical services
* Experience of development of protocols or competencies
* Experience of research and development activities
* Management/leadership Experience of dealing with HR issues (sickness, performance, disciplinary)
Essential Skills
* Ability to organise and manage own workload
* Good organisational and planning skills
* Good communication and interpersonal skills
* Ability to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team and under pressure
* Ability to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
* Understanding and ability to maintain patient confidentiality
* Adaptable and flexible to cope with all aspects of work and changing circumstances
Desirable Skills
* Willingness to contribute to research within the department
Knowledge
* Lectures or presentations given/posters presented at a local or national level
* Ability to actively participate in departmental clinical education and teaching of practical optometric skills
* Knowledge of the Care Records System (CRS)
* Advanced theoretical & practical knowledge across a comprehensive range of core hospital optometry practice
* Advanced theoretical & practical knowledge in the clinical assessment and management of optometric extended roles
* Knowledge to undertake highly specialist & advanced clinical roles that include tertiary referrals of paediatric and adult rare and complex conditions
* Knowledge of complex ophthalmic surgical techniques
Qualifications
* BSc (Optometry)
* Registered with the General Optical Council (GOC)
* Member of the Association of Optometrists (AOP)
* Commitment to Continuing Professional Development including compulsory training as required by the GOC
* Further post-graduate optometry qualification relating to a highly specialist aspect of clinical optometry (e.g. College of Optometrists Professional/Higher Certificate/Diploma)
* Desirable: MCOptom or equivalent
* Desirable: NHS Leadership/Management Qualification or equivalent
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to the DBS will be required.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require skilled worker sponsorship will be considered. See UK Visas and Immigration guidance.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers for details.
Seniority and Employment Type
* Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
* Employment type: Part-time
Additional information and employer details follow in the original posting.
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