Special School Dispensing Optician – Mobile SEN Services
Location: Schools across Sussex.
Salary: £31,500 per annum with SeeAbility benefits and all professional fees and travel expenses paid, company pension included.
Hours: Full Time (37.5 hrs Monday to Friday) or Part Time (negotiable).
Contract: Permanent.
Essential: Ability to attend multiple schools in Sussex region; full driving licence and regular access to a car.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity for a dispensing optician to work in a non-commercial, clinically challenging setting, providing complex, creative and life‑changing support with spectacles to young people in our NHS special school eyecare service. You will manage your caseload of Sussex schools, working with an established eye care team, school staff, the special schools service manager and dispensing optician clinical lead.
Responsibilities
* Work 4–5 school days (20–25 hours) in schools during term time, with remaining time from home.
* Ensure the smooth running of clinics across your defined school caseload, managing diary, dispensing spectacles, repairs, replacements and follow‑ups.
* Support the special schools service manager in planning clinics, liaising with schools to book rooms, gaining consent from parents, booking appointment diaries for yourself and optometrists, responding to parent and school enquiries, and providing teaching staff inset training on eye care and vision.
* Provide ongoing support on school holidays and full‑time duties as required.
Qualifications & Requirements
* Full driving licence and regular access to a car.
* Relevant optician qualification and experience working with children and/or special school populations is desirable.
Benefits
* Full paid essential training, including a 15‑point module with City, St George's University of London.
* Annual excellence awards.
* Long‑service awards every 5 years and recognition.
* Development discussions and leadership development academy.
* Work‑life balance: No weekends; working from home during school holidays and outside school hours.
* 33 days holiday (pro‑rata) including bank holidays, increasing to 41 days with long service.
* Time off for life events.
* Organisational sick pay: 2 weeks after 6 months, increasing to 12 weeks over first 3 years.
* Enhanced family‑friendly pay.
* Paid fertility leave and carers leave.
* £500 monthly bonus scheme for two colleagues.
* Eligibility for Blue Light Card discounts.
* Discounts and cashback at hundreds of shops, restaurants and activities.
* Access to Tickets for Good and an employee contributory pension scheme.
* Refer a friend and receive £600.
* Paid DBS checks and renewals.
* Advance pay scheme and high‑interest saving scheme via Wage Stream App.
* Cycle to work scheme.
* Life assurance of 2 × annual salary.
* Free 24/7 employee assistance programme.
* Free eye test and discounted gym membership.
* Dedicated in‑house wellbeing coach for your team.
Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. All staff are expected to uphold this commitment and have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding.
Safer Recruitment
* Criminal background check via Disclosure and Barring Service where appropriate.
* Documentary evidence confirming identity, current address and right to work in the UK.
* Health declaration to confirm medical suitability for the role.
* References to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment related to health or social care, or children or vulnerable adults.
These checks will be carried out and completed prior to offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility’s expense.
Diversity
SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We are a Disability‑confident employer.
We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Every individual’s unique experiences and views are valued and appreciated. We offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process or the role to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.
#J-18808-Ljbffr