Job vacancy: Specialist Optometrist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

Job summary

Main area: 317 Opticians (Optometrists) - RVI
Grade: Band 7
Contract: Fixed term: 9 months (02 November 2025 - 03 August 2026)
Hours: Part time - 15 hours per week
Job ref: 317-2025-29-027

Employer: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Royal Victoria Infirmary
Town: 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 17/08/2025 23:59
Interview date: 03/09/2025

Specialist Optometrist

Band 7

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To deliver a quality of service matching clinical need to available resources within the focus of Specialist Optometrist practice

To take a lead role in extending Optometrists involvement in highly specialised clinics, for example:

Highly specialised medically necessary contact lenses
Low vision assessment
To work as independent practitioner and to work as part of multi-disciplinary team, providing an extensive range of advanced Optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care
To ensure that the patient is the central focus
Working as a Specialist Optometrist, provide a prompt response to calls from colleagues, prioritising importance and clinical need
Manage own caseload to include assessment, investigation, diagnosis and treatment within defined parameters and training
Provide immediate care management of patients including communication of plan to patients and significant others
Review and refer to appropriate person, e.g. Consultant Ophthalmologist
Liaise with Eye Clinic Liaison Officer for patients with untreatable sight loss
Provide specialist education and training at post-graduate level to qualified and pre-registration Optometrists and multiple disciplines in Ophthalmology
To undertake administrative responsibilities as determined by the Head or Deputy Head of Optometry

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria

Registered Optometrist
GOC registration requiring Post Graduate Qualification continuing Education and Training to Masters Level
Further highly developed specialist knowledge including theoretical and clinical training. e.g. o College of Optometrists Diploma in Ocular Therapeutics o College of Optometrists Diploma in Glaucoma o Accredited Slit Lamp examiner under Diabetic Retinal Screening programme. o Highly specialised medically necessary contact lens fitting and after care

Desirable criteria

Management experience/qualification
Full driving licence

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

The ability to practice at a level comparable to a Specialist Registrar doctor including clinical history taking; ocular examination skills
Extensive post registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice
Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development
Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
Knowledge and experience of adult/child safeguarding
Research and audit experience

Desirable criteria

Experience of teaching
Previous employment in Hospital Eye Service

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills including effective report writing
Effective organisation and time management skills
Change management skills and involvement in project work
Excellent IT skills including word-processing, use of spreadsheets and databases
Able to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable criteria

Counselling skills

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

Better Health at Work Award - Maintaining Excellence

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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: Aedheen Regan
Job title: Deputy Head Optometrist
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 2825471

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Job summary

Employer heading

Specialist Optometrist

Band 7

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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