The closing date is 19th Aug 2026
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Job summary
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust are hoping to recruit a part time optometrist (7.5 hours) to work within the paediatric ophthalmology and orthoptic teams.
Many local optometrists choose to integrate some hospital eye care into their working weeks, to give variety and enable them to build their knowledge and skills in different areas of ophthalmology.
Our team consists of Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologists, orthoptists, advanced practitioners, optometrists and technicians. We work collaboratively as a multidisciplinary team to provide high quality eye care.
Initially the role will be working within a joint orthoptic refraction clinic, within the potential to work within the joint consultant led clinic in the future. There is the possibility of more hours available in 2027.
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Main duties, tasks & skills required
To work within the orthoptic and ophthalmology teams as a practitioner in a area suitable to the individuals skills, qualifications and experience providing patient treatment and care in partnership with the multi disciplinary team.
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About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
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Job description
Communication and Key Working Relationships
To contribute to operational planning for the ophthalmology department.
Work in close association with medical, orthoptic, nursing and administrative staff to ensure a high standard care for all patients.
To participate in personal development review, mandatory training and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of techniques and technology to improve professional knowledge and competence and keep CPD up to date.
To maintain General Optical Council registration and Continuing Education training accreditation.
Ensure effective lines of communication within the multidisciplinary team including GPs and community optometrists to achieve an optimal level of service for all.
Communicate complex clinical information to patients, including to those with impaired comprehension and learning difficulties. Manage patients who, due to their distressed state, age or learning difficulty may act in an unpredictable way.
Frequently deliver sensitive news appropriately and discuss potential implications on lifestyle (eg loss of driving licence, certification of blindness).
Work with the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer to ensure adequate support mechanisms are in place for visually impaired patients.
Planning and Organisation
To review clinics to take into account planned leave and liaise with the department leads and clerical team to ensure appropriate arrangements or cover.
To have full knowledge of the administration and appointment systems and day-to-day management of clinic arrangements.
Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy
To be familiar with a wide range of advanced clinical techniques and the interpretation of the results/clinical findings.
To synthesise clinical information and determine management plan using an evidence based approach. Consider different treatment options and form individualised management plans, taking into account specific patient needs as well as local and national guidelines.
To be responsible for independent clinical decision making and the medical treatment (including prescribing if relevant) and management of patientsTo recognise when patient clinical findings do not meet clinic criteria and require a medical opinion or referral back to the consultant clinic.
Triage referrals to a high standard, ensuring that patients are seen in the correct place by the correct person. Work with service leads to provide feedback to referrers and improve the appropriateness and quality of referrals > To refer patients with other comorbidity to other ophthalmological services, when indicated.
To provide an expert opinion to optometric and non-optometric colleagues on the management of ophthalmic conditions within area of expertise within the ophthalmology department.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, Optometrists, Nurses, Ophthalmic technicians, Healthcare Assistants and Administrators.
To provide condition related information to patients, relatives and other medical staff, where there may be barriers to communication. This information may be of a sensitive nature and will need to be phrased so there is full understanding of the condition.
To be legally and professionally responsible and accountable for the management of patients in your care.
Work autonomously where appropriate. Understand and work within the limit of own ability; recognising clinical situations beyond capability or experience.
To keep accurate and contemporaneous records.
To respond to patient queries and concerns by assisting in the management of incoming patient telephone enquiries.
To respect patient and staff confidentiality at all times.
To collate statistics at agreed intervals and monitor activity.
To be able to use appropriate IT, including medisight electronic patient records for recording notes and audit.
Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility
To demonstrate optometric techniques and training for various disciplines within ophthalmology.
To participate in departmental and multi-disciplinary audit and research and attend audit meetings as part of the Ophthalmology audit programme.
To be familiar with all Trust and departmental policies, procedures, standards and relevant legislation and work to agreed protocols.
To participate in, and contribute, to any relevant service development proposal discussions.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources
To be responsible for the care of clinical equipment and to report any faults.
To report any stock shortages and requirements.
Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management
To offer support to nursing staff and healthcare assistants in the ophthalmology department, actively contributing to their training, education and continuing feedback.
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Person specification
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Qualifications
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Essential
BSc Hons Optometry or equivalent
Current Registration with the GOC
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Desirable
Driving license and ability to travel between sites.
Evidence of Masters level training.
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Experience
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Essential
Experience working with patients who are visually impaired & patients with learning disabilities.
Compassionate - Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate) remaining sensitive and empathetic
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Desirable
Experience of hospital optometry
Knowledge of ophthalmic surgical techniques
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Additional Criteria
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Essential
Ability to effectively communicate complex information in a range of situations e.g. clinical info to patients, audit presentations
Ability to effectively communicate complex clinical information where there may be barriers to understanding e.g. patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments
Ability to convey unwelcome & bad news in a sensitive manner
Good communication skills on the telephone, via email, face to face and in written correspondence
Professional and responsible approach at all times
Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
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Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
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For help with your application, contact:
Julia Devine
[email protected]
01823344679
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Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
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Band
Band 7
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Salary
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£49387.00 to £56515.00 Yearly
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Contract
Permanent
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Working pattern
Part-Time
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Reference number
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Job locations
Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
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