Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen within NHS England North East and North Cumbria office for the position of Head of School of Ophthalmology. Reporting to the Deputy Dean for Specialty Training and Postgraduate Dean, the role is responsible for the training and education of 35+ resident doctors in training in Ophthalmology.



The School of Ophthalmology aims to bring Royal College contacts, NHSE NE staff, LET staff and trusts together to ensure the effective organisation and delivery of Postgraduate Medical Education in Ophthalmology for the North East and North Cumbria.

Expected Start date:

1st January 2026

Hours per week:

1 PA per week



The Head of School is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The Head of School will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links mas well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.



To support the Postgraduate Dean, Heads of Schools work across the spectrum of health and where relevant, social care, within the context of a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.



Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.



Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities



Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential



Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care



Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation



Delivering value for money



Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.



If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.



You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached and other supporting documents.

Secondments



Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.