Job summary
- Main area
- Optometry
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 9 months (04.01.2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Maternity cover)
- Job ref
- 430-CC26-684A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Diabetic Retinopathy (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 Per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Diabetic Retinal Screener
Band 3
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Diabetic Retinal Screener
Department: Diabetic Eye Screening Programme
Band 3
Hours: 37.5
About the role
We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Diabetic Retinal Screener to join our Diabetic Eye Screening Programme at Milton Keynes University Hospital. You will play an important role in helping to prevent avoidable sight loss by providing high quality retinal screening to people with diabetes across Milton Keynes and surrounding community locations.
The post holder will undertake retinal imaging clinics, prepare and support patients through the screening process, capture high quality retinal images using specialist equipment, and accurately record patient information in line with national screening standards. You will provide a professional, reassuring and patient focused service, ensuring individuals feel informed and supported throughout their appointment.
This is a community facing role that involves travelling between screening sites. You will work both independently and as part of a friendly, supportive team committed to delivering safe, effective and timely care.
Development opportunities
This role offers comprehensive training in retinal imaging and screening pathways, with opportunities to gain nationally recognised competencies. There is scope to develop within the screening programme and wider clinical support roles, with ongoing supervision and continuing professional development encouraged.
Interview date: 12.03.2026
Main duties of the job
“- NHS Survey, 2024'' Healthcare Scientists feels their health safety and wellbeing is support at work.
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
About you
We are seeking someone with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who enjoys working directly with patients. You will be organised, reliable and have strong attention to detail, with the ability to follow clinical protocols and use IT systems confidently for data entry and record keeping.
Experience in a healthcare, customer service or patient facing environment is essential. Previous ophthalmic or screening experience is desirable but not required, as full training and accreditation within the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme will be provided. A willingness to learn, develop new skills and work flexibly across sites is important.
The post holder will deliver safe, effective and patient centred screening clinics across hospital and community settings, ensuring national screening standards, quality assurance requirements and local performance targets are consistently achieved.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication and relationship skills
•Communicate clearly and sensitively with patients, carers and relatives, explaining procedures and providing reassurance
• Support patients who may be anxious, elderly, visually impaired or have communication barriers
• Liaise effectively with colleagues and other healthcare professionals to ensure smooth clinic delivery
• Provide clear written and electronic documentation
Analytical skills
• Assess image quality and determine whether images meet screening standards
• Identify issues that may require repeat imaging or referral in line with protocols
• Exercise judgement when prioritising workload and responding to clinic issues
Planning and organisation skills
• Plan, organise and set up community and hospital-based screening clinics
• Manage own caseload and schedule to meet service targets
• Prepare, transport and set up specialist equipment safely
• Respond flexibly to changes in demand or clinic arrangements
Responsibility, patient or client care
• Undertake retinal photography using specialist fundus cameras
• Prepare patients for screening and obtain consent
• Maintain patient dignity, privacy and confidentiality
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures
• Escalate clinical or safeguarding concerns appropriately.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good general education including GCSEs (or equivalent)
- Good general education including GCSEs (or equivalent)
- Basic understanding of patient confidentiality and data protection
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control principles
- Understanding of the importance of safeguarding and equality, diversity and inclusion
Desirable criteria
- Experience of ophthalmic or retinal screening equipment
- Knowledge of diabetes and its impact on eye health
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a patient facing or customer care environment
- Experience of working within a healthcare or clinical setting
- Experience using IT systems for data entry and record keeping
- Experience working as part of a team
Desirable criteria
- Previous NHS or community screening experience
- Experience handling sensitive or anxious patients
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to follow clinical protocols and standard operating procedures
- Good attention to detail and accuracy when capturing images and recording data
- Competent IT skills including use of databases
- Ability to prioritise workload and manage time effectively
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Good manual dexterity and ability to operate specialist screening equipment
- Ability to maintain infection control and safe working practices
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Willingness to undertake training and continuous professional development
- Receptive to feedback and supervision
- Ability to reflect on practice and learn from experience
- Commitment to high standards of patient care
- Reliable, punctual and flexible approach to service needs
Communication
Essential criteria
- Clear verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to explain procedures and reassure patients in an understandable way
- Ability to communicate sensitively with anxious or vulnerable patients
- Accurate documentation and record keeping
- Ability to liaise effectively with colleagues and multidisciplinary teams
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Ability to travel between screening locations if required
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet service demands
- Compliance with infection prevention and health and safety policies
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Paul O'Grady
- Job title
- Interim Programme Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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