Job summary
- Main area
- Ophthalmology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 382-SACT11-26
- Employer
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Blackpool Victoria
- Town
- Blackpool
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 pa pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Ophthalmology Healthcare Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.
We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.
We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as: part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Band 3 healthcare assistant to join the highly skilled Ophthalmic Surgical Team. This will be a full-time, 37.5 hour vacancy, working in The Ophthalmic Surgical Unit and Medical Retina Unit, for a fixed term of 12 months. Working hours include Monday- Friday, 7.30am -7pm, over a 4-5 day period.
The Unit provides sight saving treatment for people across Lancashire/ Cumbria and beyond using state of the art facilities designed with high quality patient focused care at the forefront.
The Ophthalmic surgical unit is a specialised department which integrates The Medical Retina Unit, macular service, two theatres a recovery area and an ophthalmic day surgery ward offering a number of clinical settings within the unit.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be working as a band 3 healthcare assistant within a highly specialised Ophthalmology Surgery and Clinic setting. This role involves admitting and preparing patients for Ophthalmic procedures, assessing visual acuity, preparing patients for fluroescein angiogram. There will be a requirement to continually adapt with the service as work within a nurse led services which includes intravitreal injecting.
You would be involved in preparing patients for procedures such as:
- Retinal detachments (PPV)
- Cataract surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Biopsies
- Laser eye surgery
- Emergency and trauma surgery
- Due to restructuring within the unit in an attempt to grow our expanding service we require a passionate and positive individual who have pride in their work. The ideal candidate would receive full on the job training in a supportive environment with a team that values you. We also offer:
- A structured mentorship programme, supportive of individuals learning strategies and needs
- Encouragement for staff to take on projects to take the department forward, where each contribution is valued.
Working for our organisation
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.
As one of the United Kingdom’s largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it’s not just a good place to work; it’s a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To assist all members of the multi-disciplinary team to meet individual patient needs, maintaining a safe environment, delivering high standards of care within the Ophthalmic Surgical Unit. Participate in the delivery of planned care, applying and evaluating advanced clinical skills as delegated by a registered nurse. Preparing a patient for theatre, initiating the WHO process and administering anaesthetic eye drops prior to the procedure. To work collaboratively and co-operatively with others to meet the needs of the patients and their families
Person specification
Education and Qualification
Essential criteria
- Working towards NVQ level 3
Desirable criteria
- Cannulation competence
Experience and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience as a Health Care Assistant
Desirable criteria
- Experience of Wound Care
- Care Certificate
skills and ability
Essential criteria
- Basic I.T skills
- Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
- Ability to present information and refer questions to others where appropriate.
Desirable criteria
- Experience using Maxims PAS
- Ability to use own initiative and ability to prioirtise
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Nicky Kirby
- Job title
- Unit manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01253 953131
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