Job summary
- Main area
- Optometry
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 15 hours per week
- Job ref
- 210-2025-617
- Employer
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Countess of Chester Hospital
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 pa pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 17/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Optometrist
Band 7
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.
Job overview
Working Part Time : 15 hours per week
Applicants wanting to work less than the 15 hour will be considered
Who Our Opportunity is for:
- A Specialist Optometrist to work in the Optometry Department at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
- Optometrists with a special interest in Glaucoma
What this Opportunity means:
- We are a small, friendly and supportive team working closely with the ophthalmologists and orthoptic department.
- The successful applicant will have the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills in face-to-face and virtual glaucoma clinics
Your Application:
- You must have a UK professional registration with the General Optical Council as an Optometrist.
- You should have a higher qualification in Glaucoma, or be willing to work towards this.
- The successful applicant will require clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau.
- You offer of employment is subject to 2 satisfactory references, one must be your most recent employer and cover the last 3 years employment, with full contact details including a work email (personal emails are not accepted).
- You must disclose any previous convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings on the application, unless these are protected under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Main duties of the job
The job will involve supporting the Glaucoma Specialist Ophthalmologists in providing a glaucoma service to the patients of the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust. The post has been created by the expansion of the Virtual Glaucoma Clinic and will involve a mixture of face-to-face and virtual clinic reviews. The successful applicant will also act as a lead for the optometrist-led glaucoma service. There will be a small clinical involvement in the core optometry service.
Working for our organisation
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- M.Sci Optometry ( Master of Optometry) specialist optometry degree, achieving all General Optical Council competencies Or Equivalent BSc(Hons) Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry/Vision Science (2-2 or above), successful completion of 12 month clinical postgraduate training post and achievement of all General Optical Council competencies as assessed by the College of Optometrists Professional Qualifying Examinations
- Registration with General Optical Council as an optometrist
- Further post-graduate optometry qualifications relating to highly specialist aspects of clinical optometry or a willingness to work towards these.
Desirable criteria
- Member of Association of Optometrists
- Member or Fellow of the College of Optometrists
- Registered College of Optometrists supervisor for pre-registration optometrist training posts as required by the GOC
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive post qualification experience
- Ability to competently undertake highly specialist advanced clinical extended roles with previous experience of training and working in extended optometry roles and shared-care clinics
- Evidence of a commitment to continuing professional development and specialist skills
- Experience in provision of specialist low vision assessment and contact lens fitting
- Some experience in teaching and presenting to other professionals
- Previous experience of hospital optometry
Desirable criteria
- Experience in auditing procedures.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Daniel Crosby
- Job title
- Head Optometrist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 363610
List jobs with Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Health Science Services or all sectors