Optometrist (Sponsorship Available)

Contract Type: Permanent, Full time or Part time

Location: Perth, Scotland, UK

Job Family: Clinical

Job Category: Optometrist

Working hours: up to 37.5 hours a week – Flexible to weekend working

Experience level: You must be a GOC registered Optometrist.

Preferable: optical experience

About the Store

The historic city of Perth, often referred to as the Gateway to the Highlands, is located on the banks of the river Tay in central Scotland. Compact and easily accessible, the city is no more than 90 minutes from 90% of Scotland. Gleneagles golf resort, Perth Racecourse and a selection of whisky distilleries are a short drive away.

The practice comprises of over forty staff, that includes eight optometrists, three dispensing opticians, contact lens optician, eleven dispensers, three contact lens assistants, four diagnostics staff, three Lab technicians, four call centreagents, a finance administrator, an HR Advisor and a bank of locums, all working side by side to bring out the best in the store. The store is located on a prominent corner of the high street. As can be deduced, the store has its very own Lab to suit all our customers glazing needs and more, we have a dedicated call centre to service our customers and help to fill our clinics with appointments, a dedicated contact lens department, along with dedicated staff to cater to both Finance and Human Resources.

Specsavers in Perth are looking for a qualified Optometrist who can grow within their store. The store has recently moved to a brand-new space that hosts 8 test rooms, spanning over two floors (kitted out with the latest test room equipment including NIDEK phoropter heads and Zeiss slit lamps) as well as two screening rooms including NIDEK autorefractors, two OCT machines and two Zeiss visual field screeners and our very own Laboratory with 4 staff members, training rooms, large self-service cafeteria space, a strong team of support staff who will conduct pre and post screening for you, so you are able to do what you do best. It’s the perfect place to start your career.

The Store Directors

The store's ethos is based on a focus on community, dedicated to ensuring that every one of our customers receives excellent patient experience. The current directors Sandra and Sharon took over the store 27 and 17 years ago, respectively, and 15 of the staff have been with us for over 10 years. This brings with it the benefits of a team that is well attuned to the community, the store and are extremely knowledgeable. This also shows the importance of people in the store, and how valued they feel. 

One of the main reasons behind this is the flexibility available to them. Sharon and Sandra are firm believers in fairness and understand how important finding the balance between work and life outside the testing room can be. Alongside this is a fundamental belief that a desire to develop will always be supported, many of the store's current staff have been supported through their Pre- Reg and fast-tracked from dispensing certifications to Optometry courses with universities and eventually becoming full Optometrists.

Colleague development is championed in the store, with four staff currently on the Pathway programme to become eligible for Director positions themselves, with senior management on hand each day and supported by two very experienced store partners. Perth High Street is beautifully located in the heart of Perth – walking distance from the River Tay, Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and the rest of City with an incredible array of museums, shops, bars and restaurants. 

Our store is an accredited Platinum Employer – this means you can expect an exceptional employee experience every single day you work here. The Platinum Employer Scheme is part of the Specsavers drive to become a famous place to work. Stores with this accreditation have been verified on five key employer standards: Recruitment, Performance Management and Reward, Talent Management, Learning and Development and Employee Engagement.

The Individual

The Optometrist, alongside being a qualified and GOC registered Optometrist, should be confident, possess a strong work ethic and a willingness to succeed. They should be passionate about their field and enjoy a fast-paced environment. They must be ready to go the extra mile for our customers and be someone who encourages their colleagues to do the same. In summary, the individual should be a high calibre resident Optometrist to assist in driving this excellent practice forward.

Role Purpose

The optometrist delivers an eye examination and contact lens service to a consistently high clinical and customer-service standard, which drives sales, profit, and customer loyalty.

The Role

Principle Accountabilities:

• Carry out comprehensive eye examinations to assess visual acuity, refractive errors, and the overall health of the eyes, in accordance with Company procedures and NHS regulations. This includes examining the internal and external structures of the eye, checking for signs of eye diseases, and evaluating binocular vision and depth perception.
• Determine the appropriate prescription for glasses or contact lenses based on the patient's needs, considering their lifestyle, occupation, and visual requirements. Advise patients on lens options, lens materials, and lens coatings to enhance visual comfort and clarity.
• Diagnosing and Managing Eye Conditions: Identify and diagnose various eye conditions and diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome. Develop treatment plans, prescribe medications when appropriate, and provide referrals to ophthalmologists or other specialists for advanced care.
• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in optometry and attend professional development courses to enhance knowledge and skills. Comply with the requirements of the General Optical Council and the NHS Scotland guidelines for continuing education and revalidation.
• Educate patients about proper eye care practices, including the importance of regular eye examinations, maintaining good eye hygiene, and protecting the eyes from environmental factors. Provide counselling and support to individuals with vision loss or visual impairments, helping them adapt to lifestyle changes and access relevant support services.
• When required, assist patients in selecting suitable frames or contact lenses that align with their prescription, facial features, and personal preferences.
• Provide guidance on frame measurements, adjustments, and lens fitting to ensure proper vision correction and optimal comfort to responsible person or patient directly.
• Ensure that any help required for pre-testing and field screening is accurately, safely and efficiently completed by Diagnostic Department Personnel.
• Ensure that any referral letters are written and dispatched promptly.
• Ensure that all customers have a clear understanding of dispensing options for their prescription. Advise customers on appropriate eyecare options, including suitability for contact lenses and current promotions.
• Ensure that each customer receives a consistent quality 3-way handover.
• Adopt a flexible approach to seeing ‘walk in’ patients.
• Maintain patient records to the professional standards required by the company.
• Maintain cleanliness of consulting room and contact lens areas.
• Carry out contact lens fitting and aftercare as required.
• Provide insertion / removal instruction to patients as required.
• Attend and participate in team meetings. 
• Maintain up-to-date clinical and professional knowledge.
• Perform any other duties as may from time to time be reasonably requested by the senior optometrist.
• Be an ambassador for the Specsavers brand at all times.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your line manager or changing of role within the organisation and the overall business objectives of Specsavers Perth.

What’s on Offer?

• 28 Days Holidays, Additional holidays with length of service
• Guaranteed one full weekend off in 3 weeks.
• Pension
• GOC Fees Covered by Specsavers Perth
• Full Indemnity Insurance
• Fantastic progression opportunities, fully supported by the store.
• Professional team to handle Indemnity Insurance – Covered by Specsavers
• Specsavers will support to provide access to your CET Points, in terms of conferences and workshops.
• Have access to dedicated staff who will happily take care of all your Pre-testing and Diagnostic needs.
• Have access to dedicated staff who will be happy to take care of all your patient’s Post-Prescription and Dispensing needs as well.
• 8 Highly equipped state of the art Test Rooms, with the latest NIDEK Equipment.
• Have access to amazing discounts on multiple retailers including mobile retailers through Specsavers Perks
• Have access to WeCare App
• Flexible working pattern to support your lifestyle needs, in terms of hours and days.
• Relocation Package (If Applicable)
• Applicants who are on a Graduate Visa / PSW Visa / Skilled Worker Visa or just looking for a Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship as an Optometrist, may also apply. 

If you like the sound of this opportunity, get in touch, the store HR Manager would love to tell you more about it. You can contact our HR Manager Saad Omar at saad.omar@specsavers.com or connect on LinkedIn. 

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