Lead Optometrist

Overview

We've got an exciting new opportunity for a Lead Optometrist to guide and inspire our teams across South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust (SWFT) and George Eliot Hospital (GEH). This role has been created to strengthen leadership and redesign services so we can keep delivering the very best care for our patients.

• Passionate about eye care and ready to lead from the front.
• Innovative and proactive, with a knack for solving problems and improving services.
• Supportive and approachable, helping our team feel valued and empowered.

• Leading the Optometry department and shaping services for patients in South Warwickshire and Nuneaton.
• Using your clinical expertise to provide specialist care for adults and children.
• Working closely with colleagues and partners to plan and develop services for the future.
• Representing Optometry and Ophthalmology at key meetings across the Trust and the wider Coventry & Warwickshire community.

The post holder will display a high profile, be accessible and responsive as a clinical leader with management responsibility for the Optometrists and optometry service delivery in George Eliot, Warwick and Stratford Hospitals. Responsibilities include delivering high‑quality patient experience, care and outcomes, making informed decisions within the scope of practice, involving patients and the public to ensure agreed standards, targets and objectives, and collaborating with Ophthalmology and operational teams to align the service with the ophthalmology strategy.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has been rated outstanding by the CQC and is 4th nationally for recommended place to work. We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond, for hospitals in Warwick, Stratford‑upon‑Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston‑on‑Stour, and community services across the county. Our values are: trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care. We encourage all applicants to complete a short equity, diversity and inclusion survey.

• Lead the Optometry department, ensuring high‑quality patient experience and timely delivery of services.
• Provide specialist clinical care for adults and children with sight‑threatening acute and chronic conditions.
• Make clinical decisions informed by evidence and patient needs, involving patients and the public in care planning.
• Collaborate with other trusts, ophthalmology, medical and nursing teams to shape service strategy.
• Represent the department at clinical and governance meetings across the Trust and the wider community.
• Support the development of audit, research and teaching activities within the department.

Essential

• Registered Optometrist with the General Optical Council (GOC).
• BSc in Optometry or equivalent qualification.
• Master’s degree or equivalent advanced training in a relevant subject.
• Independent/non‑medical prescriber qualification.
• Management qualification or completion of a management programme.

Desirable

• and assessing qualification.

Essential

• Significant experience at Band 7 or above.
• Highly developed specialist experience across a wide range of ophthalmic case mix.
• Evidence of organisational and leadership skills.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience in change management and problem solving.
• Experience working across organisational boundaries.
• Team building and staff development.
• Experience of clinical leadership and operational management.
• Experience of budget management.
• Portfolio of evidence covering specialist practice, research & audit, team leadership, financial awareness, mental capacity assessment, and service development.

Desirable

• Evidence of lecturing, presenting and clinical teaching experience.
• Lead in audit or research projects.

• Detailed knowledge of current best practice in relevant clinical areas.
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application.
• Ability to influence and build effective relationships among staff, leaders and the team.
• Highly developed analytical and judgement skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Negotiation and…