Optometrist; Specialist

Optometrist (Specialist)

Closing date: 11 January 2026

We are seeking 1.2 WTE motivated and enthusiastic optometrists to join our dedicated team at Newcastle Eye Centre. The posts offer an exciting opportunity to develop clinical skills and progress clinical interest in a hospital setting and will offer experienced optometrists without hospital experience, the opportunity to experience working life in a busy, fast paced hospital clinic and to gain clinical experience relevant to the higher qualifications offered by the College of Optometrists.

We are also keen to hear from newly qualified optometrists (including those who are anticipated to qualify in Summer 2026) with a genuine interest in hospital optometry. We will offer you a structured career path, commencing at Band 6 with progression to Specialist Optometrist (Band
7) upon successful completion of a residency period, expected within 2 years.

You will be actively involved in the core optometry service and undertake rotations through our glaucoma, medical retina and cataract services, along with regular sessions in the eye emergency department. You will join the trust's preceptorship scheme which will support you with the challenges that the newly qualified health professional can meet.

• Interview Date: 21 January 2026
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to gain experience in core optometry clinics, developing skills in low visual aid assessment, specialist contact lenses and paediatric assessment. There will also be the opportunity to develop skills in the eye emergency department and specialist ophthalmology clinics such as YAG capsulotomy, glaucoma, medical retina and anterior eye, depending on clinical interests, experience level, and additional qualifications.

We are heavily involved in research providing assessments for patients' participating in ophthalmology and non-ophthalmology research trials and have a strong working relationship with our colleagues in the Sir Bobby Robson Oncology Unit. Non-clinical activities include audit, quality improvement and teaching a variety of staff including resident doctors, nurses, and optometrists.

A flexible approach is essential to working in fast paced and busy clinics and additional qualifications or previous experience are essential to be appointed to Band
7. Candidates without the necessary qualifications or experience may be appointed as Band 6 and progress to Band 7 on attainment of the required qualifications/experience. Full support will be given, and this will be expected to be achieved within 2 years.

If you are an optometrist looking for the opportunity to develop your knowledge and clinical skills within hospital optometry, we strongly encourage you to apply.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

To deliver a quality of service matching clinical need to available resources within the focus of Specialist Optometrist practice.

To take a lead role in extending Optometrists involvement in highly-specialised clinics, for example:

• Highly specialised medically necessary contact lenses.
• Low vision assessment.
• To work as an independent practitioner and to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing an extensive range of advanced Optometric services to the highest standards of quality and care.
• To ensure that the patient is the central focus.
• Working as a Specialist Optometrist, provide a prompt response to calls from colleagues, prioritising importance and clinical need.
• Manage own caseload to include assessment, investigation, diagnosis and treatment within defined parameters and training.
• Provide immediate care management of patients including communication of plan to patients and significant others.
• Review and refer to appropriate person, e.g. Consultant Ophthalmologist.
• Liaise with Eye Clinic Liaison Officer for patients with untreatable sight loss.
• Provide specialist education and training at post-graduate level to qualified and pre-registration Optometrists and…