Optometrist

Location: Coventry, CV2 2DX
Contract: Fixed-term, 9 months
Working Pattern: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week
Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata
Closing Date: 29 July 2026

Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Optometrist to join our Hospital Optometry team on a part time 9-month fixed-term basis. This post will provide valuable experience within hospital optometry across both University Hospital Coventry and Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, working closely with our multidisciplinary team of Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, and Nursing staff. This is an ideal role for Optometrists seeking to expand their clinical skills and experience within a hospital setting. The post is open to both newly qualified and experienced Optometrists.

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates - If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

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
As a vital member of our team, you will collaborate closely with the Principal Optometrist to deliver a comprehensive range of Optometric services, ensuring the highest standards of quality and care across our two hospital sites: UHCW and Rugby St Cross. We are hiring to a part time position, 22.5 hours and additional Saturday morning working on a rotational basis. The role will mainly involve working in Core optometric services. This includes refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric) theatre refractions, specialist medical contact lens management (keratoconus, post-graft, high myopia/hyperopia, cosmetic, diagnostic), visual impairment rehabilitation, in-house spectacle dispensing and eye casualty triage service. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting our educational program and will actively train ophthalmologists, nurses, and other professionals within our organisation. Additionally, due to recent changes in service provision, the candidate must be prepared to contribute to the Saturday morning Eye Casualty Triage service.

About Us
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. 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.

Job Responsibilities

• To work as an autonomous independent practitioner managing patient caseloads presenting in Core optometric services. This includes refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric) theatre refractions, specialist medical contact lens management (keratoconus, post-graft, high myopia/hyperopia, cosmetic, diagnostic), visual impairment rehabilitation, in-house spectacle dispensing. Due to a change in service provision, Saturday morning working in Eye Casualty triage will also be required as part of this post.
• To work closely with the Principal and Lead Optometrists, to deliver a comprehensive range of Core Optometric services and advanced extended role clinics, to the highest standard of quality and care.
• Promote best practice throughout Optometry and provide expert advice to Optometrist, Medical staff and Allied Health Professionals in the management of complex cases.
• Responsibility for overseeing training for and to personally undertake specialist clinical activity requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise. For example, foreign body removal from the cornea.
• Responsible for applying advanced specialised clinical techniques including corneal pachymetry, ocular B-scan and corneal topography to provide specialised clinical interpretation for the consultant.
• To participate in the audit frameworks within the department and cooperate fully in any audit of clinical work and competency assessments undertaken by the leads and management. To assist in implementing any change identified.

Person Specification
Qualifications

• B.Sc. Optometry
• GOC Registered Optometrist
• MCOptom

Experience

• Experience in core optometric services including adult and paediatric refraction, medical contact lens fitting and visual rehabilitation

Knowledge

• To be able to deliver core hospital optometry clinics (diagnostic refraction, paediatrics, therapeutic contact lenses and visual rehabilitation.)
• Clinical knowledge is gained by training, experience and formal study and examination.
• Detailed knowledge of Pre-Registration year format and student competency criteria which must be reached.

Skills

• Safe use of complex expensive equipment on a routine basis.
• Able to effectively maintain small stock levels of appliances in satellite clinic (Rugby St Cross) to meet demands of the patient base.
• Training, coaching and supervising skills to maximise potential from students
• Able to co-ordinate with other agencies to deliver joint care to patients
• Optometrist must be able to simplify highly complex information and communicate this effectively
• Able to communicate in a sensitive manner -where there may be barriers to understanding (e.g. dementia/ learning difficulties) and the topics may be highly emotive (e.g. vision loss)
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to staff.
• Be able to use telephone and email effectively to convey information.
• Computer skills
• Write out order forms for stock
• Work requires constant changing of seated and standing postures which includes twisting, bending, and crouching.
• Requires a high level of manual dexterity to perform core diagnostic techniques. This may require working in restricted positions for prolonged periods.
• Requires high level of hand eye co-ordination for fitting of contact lenses

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 are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.