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Job summary

Main area
Ophthalmology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
382-SACT31-25
Employer
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Blackpool Victoria
Town
Blackpool
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Ophthalmic technician

NHS AfC: Band 3

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance.  Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored. 

 


Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Band 3 Ophthalmic Technician to join the highly skilled Ophthalmic Surgical Team. This will be a full-time, 37.5 hour vacancy, working in The Ophthalmic Surgical Unit and Medical Retina Unit, for a fixed term of 12 months. Working hours include Monday- Friday, 7.30am -7pm, over a 4-5 day period.

The Unit provides sight saving treatment for people across Lancashire/ Cumbria and beyond using state of the art facilities designed with high quality patient focused care at the forefront.

The Ophthalmic surgical unit is a specialised department which integrates The Medical Retina Unit, macular service, two theatres a recovery area and an ophthalmic day surgery ward offering a number of clinical settings within the unit.

Main duties of the job

To assist in the provision of a high quality and comprehensive diagnostics service within the ophthalmology department, ensuring individually and as part of a team, that the service always remains efficient and effective.

To maintain high-quality evidence-based patient care and to participate in audit activities within the department.

 

To continually develop clinical and theoretical knowledge and skills by taking part in appropriate training under-pinned by annual appraisals where further objectives and personal development plans will be agreed.

 

To work within the macular service, assessing visual acuity and working within nurse led intravitreal injection service.

Working for our organisation

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To perform OCT, Optos and fundal image tests on patients attending unit using a medical diagnostic devices such as OCT, following training and achievement of the relevant competencies

 

To be responsible for ensuring all equipment related to diagnostic testing is fully functioning and reporting problems to those responsible for maintenance.

To assist all members of the multi-disciplinary team to meet individual patient needs, maintaining a safe environment, delivering high standards of care within the Ophthalmic Surgical Unit. Participate in the delivery of planned care, applying and evaluating advanced clinical skills as delegated by a registered nurse. Preparing a patient for theatre, initiating the WHO process and administering anaesthetic eye drops prior to the procedure. To work collaboratively and co-operatively with others to meet the needs of the patients and their families

Person specification

education and qualification

Essential criteria
  • Working towards NVQ level 3
Desirable criteria
  • Foundation degree in ophthalmic science and technology or equivalent

experience and knowledge

Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of continued professional development
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency setting

skills and ability

Essential criteria
  • Good IT skills and experience of software packages
  • Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working with photographic equipment, computers, data handling, calibration of equipment, technical experience
  • Ability to use own initiative and ability to prioritise

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employer

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sister Nicky Kirby
Job title
Unit manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01253 953131
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