Be Part of Something Bigger - Join Primary Eyecare Services
About Us:
Primary Eyecare Services is the largest not-for-profit leading provider of NHS primary and community eye care services in England. Established over a decade ago in the North West, we now operate nationally, delivering enhanced eye care through a network of over 3,000 optometry practices. We work with NHS commissioners and Trusts to provide accessible, high-quality eye care services in local communities, supported by teams with expertise in NHS contracting, patient support, referral triaging, and telemedicine.
Role Overview:
The Clinical Lead - Special Schools Eye Care Service provides clinical leadership, assurance and professional oversight for Primary Eyecare Services' Special Schools Eye Care Service. The role is central to ensuring the service is clinically safe, effective, child-centred and aligned to best practice for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. (Learning Disabilities and/or Autism)
The postholder will support the design, mobilisation, implementation and ongoing delivery of the service, ensuring that clinical pathways, standards, guidance and decision-making frameworks are robust and consistently applied. The role will also support the development of partner clinicians and providers delivering care within special school settings.
The Clinical Lead will work closely with the Head of Special Schools Eye Care to ensure strong alignment between clinical quality and operational delivery. The role provides expert clinical advice across pathway development, service improvement, incident review, stakeholder engagement, training and clinical governance.
This is a leadership role with responsibility for shaping the clinical model, supporting mobilisation and providing ongoing assurance as the service develops.
Shift Pattern:
This is a part‑time position, working 15 hours per week over 2 days. There is flexibility around which days are worked, depending on the successful candidate’s availability.
Salary:
The FTE salary for this role is £60,000 per annum, and the pro rata will be calculated accordingly.
Location:
This is a remote role based within the UK, offering flexibility to work from home. Travel to provider locations will be required as needed. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider applications from candidates based outside the UK.
General Responsibilities:
- Clinical leadership - Provide senior clinical leadership for the Special Schools Eye Care Service, helping to ensure the model is safe, child-centred, inclusive and responsive to the needs of children and young people with SEND. Act as a source of clinical advice during mobilisation and live service delivery, supporting pathway design, decision-making and service credibility.
- Clinical governance and quality - Support the development and oversight of clinical governance arrangements, including policies, procedures, incident review, audit and continuous improvement. Work with our Quality Team and Clinical Directors to identify risks, address concerns and ensure clinical standards are maintained.
- Pathway and service model development - Contribute to the design and refinement of clinical pathways, ensuring they are practical, safe and effective within special school settings. Provide clinical input into referral criteria, service documentation and pathway changes in response to learning, feedback and operational need.
- Mobilisation and operational support - Work closely with the Head of Special Schools Eye Care and wider colleagues to support safe mobilisation and implementation of the service. Provide clinical input into training, onboarding, readiness planning, go-live assurance and early-life service support.
- Provider and clinician support - Support the induction, orientation and ongoing development of clinicians participating in the service. Help promote clear expectations, safe practice, consistent standards and a culture of clinical learning and support.
- Stakeholder engagement - Build positive working relationships with schools, commissioners, provider partners and internal teams. Represent the service in discussions requiring clinical leadership and help communicate the purpose, benefits and clinical scope of the service clearly to stakeholders.
- Safeguarding and patient-centred care - Promote high standards of safeguarding and ensure care is delivered in a way that is inclusive, respectful and responsive to the needs of vulnerable children and young people. Support a service model that is sensitive to families, carers and school environments.
- Continuous improvement - Contribute to service evaluation, learning and improvement by using feedback, data and operational insight to strengthen the clinical model over time. Support safe innovation and help ensure the service remains effective, practical and aligned to organisational priorities.
- Decision-making and authority - Make professional clinical judgements within the scope of the service, advise on pathway and service design, and escalate significant concerns appropriately. Support decisions relating to clinical readiness, assurance and provider support alongside the Head of Special Schools Eye Care and Clinical Directors.
- The Organisation reserves the right at any time during your employment to vary your duties and responsibilities where necessary to meet the needs of the Organisation.
What We’re Looking For:
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to clinical practice
- Additional relevant training in paediatric care, safeguarding, SEND, complex needs or clinical leadership
- Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Optometry
- Experience of delivering domiciliary eyecare to multiple patients at single locations
- Significant post-registration clinical experience in eye care practice
- Experience of working with children and young people, including adapting care to individual communication and behavioral needs
- Experience of supporting or contributing to clinical governance, including incident review, audit, complaints, risk management or quality improvement
- Experience of developing, implementing or refining clinical pathways, protocols or service models
- Experience of providing clinical advice, support or leadership to other clinicians or multidisciplinary colleagues
- Strong clinical judgement and ability to make safe, proportionate decisions within scope of practice
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with children, families, school staff, clinicians and other stakeholders
- Ability to build constructive working relationships and work collaboratively across organisational boundaries
- Ability to contribute to the development of practical, safe and workable clinical pathways and processes
- Strong understanding of patient safety, safeguarding, risk escalation and clinical standards
- Ability to balance clinical quality with pragmatic service delivery in a real-world setting
- Organised and able to manage competing priorities, using sound judgement and appropriate escalation
- Ability to support, challenge and influence clinicians in a constructive and professional way
- Act in ways that support equality and promote diversity
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
- Willingness and ability to travel as required to support service mobilisation and delivery
Desirable
- Registered optometrist with current General Optical Council registration
- Experience of working with vulnerable patients or those with additional needs in a community, school or similar setting
- Experience of mobilisation, service implementation or supporting new models of care
- Experience of working with schools, commissioners, partner providers or wider stakeholders
Why Join Us:
- Pension match up to 5%
- Sick and critical illness pay cover
- Electric car scheme
- Enhanced family leave
- Paid compassionate leave
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to 30 days with service)
- Training and development opportunities
- Employee recognition awards
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- NHS Blue Light Card
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Performance-related pay
How To Apply:
To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV, with a cover letter included as the first page outlining your professional background and your motivation for applying.
Please note appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.