Job summary
- Main area
- Optical Assistant
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday 0900 - 1700)
- Job ref
- 218-ACS-B3-8360297
- Employer
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
- Town
- Coventry
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/10/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 11/11/2026
Employer heading
Optical Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
Join Our Optometry Team at the Spec Shop 👓
Love people, precision, and great eyewear? We’re looking for a motivated, customer-focused team player to join our Optometry team at the Spec Shop.
In this hands-on role, you’ll work both independently and alongside a Dispensing Optician, helping deliver outstanding patient care and smooth clinical support.
What you’ll be doing:
- Dispensing spectacles under the guidance of a Dispensing Optician
- Advising patients on spectacle wear, fit, and comfort
- Adjusting and maintaining frames for optimal performance
- Glazing and verifying spectacles using in-house equipment
- Keeping the Spec Shop looking sharp, organised, and customer-ready
- Monitoring and managing stock levels
- Supporting administration and assisting with basic clinical duties when required
What we’re looking for:
- A strong customer-service mindset
- Attention to detail and manual dexterity
- Confidence working with eyewear and technical equipment
- Ability to work independently and as part of a close-knit team
Please be advised that sponsorship is not eligible for this post.
Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a dedicated individual to join our Optometry team at the Spec Shop, working independently and alongside the Dispensing Optician to enhance customer service and support the administration of clinical services.
The role involves dispensing spectacles under the guidance of a Dispensing Optician, advising patients on proper spectacle wear, and making necessary adjustments to frames. You will be responsible for maintaining the physical appearance and usability of the Spec Shop, assisting in its administration, and monitoring stock levels to ensure demand is met. Additionally, you will utilise glazing equipment to glaze and verify customers' spectacles and may cover basic clinical assistant duties as needed in clinics.
Working for our organisation
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.
We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.
We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)
By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.
The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Spectacle Dispensing: Assist patients in selecting appropriate frames based on their prescription, facial measurements, and personal preferences while considering cosmetic and functional needs.
- Spectacle Glazing & Verification: Utilize provided glazing equipment to glaze spectacles accurately. Verify completed spectacles by ensuring they match the order, meet quality standards, and conform to British Standards.
- Stock Management & Ordering: Order spectacles, frames, and related optical products. Liaise with suppliers to manage stock levels effectively and ensure the timely availability of products.
- Customer Communication & Administration:
- Handle telephone inquiries, schedule appointments, and provide excellent customer service.
- Ensure all spectacle orders are processed and delivered within the promised timeframe.
- Notify patients when their spectacles or contact lenses are ready for collection and follow up on non-collections to minimize outstanding orders.
Payment Processing & Financial Administration: Process patient payments, issue receipts, and manage daily banking transactions for Spec Shop. Records & Documentation Management:
- Maintain accurate and organized records of spectacle orders and dispensing paperwork.
- File dispensing cards daily and ensure all paperwork is reconciled at the end of each day.
- Manage and organize vouchers and prescriptions related to the dispensing process.
Medical Notes & Clinical Support: Assist in managing patient medical records, ensuring proper placement and organization. Prepare clinical areas as needed. Quality Assurance & Customer Service: Maintain high standards of customer service and ensure all interactions align with the agreed quality standards of Spec Shop. Workplace Maintenance & Safety: Keep the dispensing area tidy, safe, and presentable at all times. Training & Development: Participate in ongoing training and development to stay updated with industry best practices and enhance professional skills.
For further details please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Key Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy • NVQ, A-Levels, or equivalent qualification
Desirable criteria
- • Optical assistant course
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience in a customer-facing role • Ability to make decisions and resolve work-related issues
Desirable criteria
- • Previous Optical experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages Word, Outlook, and Excel • Understanding of general office procedures
Desirable criteria
- • Awareness of current issues within the NHS
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Strong organisational skills • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Ability to handle difficult and sensitive patient inquiries with professionalism • Confidence in presenting information to others • Ability to persuade and negotiate effectively
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential criteria
- • Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below) • Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Claire Lloyd
- Job title
- Principal Optometrist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02476966516
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