Employer heading
Clinical Fellow in Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus
ST3-8
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview
We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join our well-integrated team in Paediatric Ophthalmology for the Newcastle Eye Centre commencing July 2025 for 1 year.
The appointment is suitable for ophthalmologists who are at, or near, the end of their periods of Higher Surgical Training and who wish to secure further training and experience in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus with a view to practising at consultant level in this subspecialty. The post is approved by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists for subspecialty training (TSC).
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide support to the paediatric ophthalmology service, including attendance at clinics, operating sessions and reviewing ward referrals.
Training will be provided in the following areas, at a level appropriate to competencies:
- Strabismus (including some exposure to adult strabismus)
- Paediatric Anterior Segment disease (particularly glaucoma and cataract)
- Paediatric Uveitis
- Paediatric Oculoplastic Disorders
- Paediatric Neuro-ophthalmology
- Genetic Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental aspects of Visual Impairment in Children
- Paediatric Retinal Disorders (particularly retinopathy of prematurity)
Working for our organisation
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
- Freeman Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
- Cramlington Manor Walks
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.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The post is suitable for ophthalmologists who are at, or near, the end of their periods of Higher Surgical Training, and who wish to secure further training and experience in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus with a view to practising at Consultant level in these sub-specialities.
Person specification
Education And Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered medical degree.
- Full GMC registration or eligible.
- 3years postgraduate training in ophthalmology.
- Previous training in paediatric ophthalmology/strabismus
- Competence in horizontal muscle strabismus surgery.
- Competence in adult cataract surgery.
Desirable criteria
- MD/PhD.
- On GMC Specialist Register.
- FRCOphth part 2.
- Run through training in Ophthalmology with evidence of satisfactory ARCPs
- Independent cataract surgeon.
- Competence in vertical/oblique muscle strabismus surgery.
- Experience of paediatric anterior segment surgery.
- Competence in adult oculoplastic surgery.
- Experience of screening for ROP.
Clinical Skills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- 3 years postgraduate training in ophthalmology.
- Previous training in paediatric ophthalmology/strabismus
- Good history & examination skills.
Maintaining Clinical Competence
Essential criteria
- Evidence of participation in CME.
- Written evidence of satisfactory training to date e.g. workplace assessments.
Teaching
Essential criteria
- Experience of teaching undergraduate medical students & Foundation Doctors.
Clinical Governance, Audit and Research
Essential criteria
- Experience of audit projects.
Desirable criteria
Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
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
- Job Description (PDF, 634.4KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Victoria Cowan Job title HR Advisor Email address victoria.cowan2@nhs.net