University of Southampton / University Hospital Southampton NHS
Foundation Trust
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Ophthalmology
Job Description
Department:
Post:
Grade:
Responsible to:
Ophthalmology
Lecturer in Ophthalmology
Academic Clinical Lecturer, Honorary Specialist Registrar
Professor Andrew Lotery
________________________________________________________________________
Introduction
The University of Southampton, together with the University Hospital Southampton NHS
Foundation Trust (UHS), wishes to appoint an (NIHR) Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) in
ophthalmology. The post-holder will be pursuing his/her development of research and teaching
within the vision science research group, University of Southampton. The ACL will also have
clinical commitments at UHS that will lead to further clinical skills required for specialist
training and leading to full registration within ophthalmology.
The post is subject to terms and conditions of service determined by the University of
Southampton and in its honorary clinical capacity by the UHS.
Details of the Post
Academic training and development of the ACL
This is an academic post sponsored by the University of Southampton and UHS. It provides a
career pathway for able and ambitious trainees in ophthalmology who have already shown
excellence in research by successfully completing a PhD. The post supports national efforts to
strengthen academia in ophthalmology. The development and strengthening of the successful
candidate’s research will take place in the vision sciences group within the Clinical and
Experimental Sciences Academic Unit - a multi-disciplinary division consisting of clinical and
basic scientists studying the underlying mechanisms of a wide range of chronic neurological,
infectious and inflammatory diseases. The strengths of this Unit result from the combination of
an excellent scientific community focused on elucidation of fundamental mechanisms
underlying human diseases.
The University of Southampton (http://www.southampton.ac.uk/), member of the Russell Group
of highly research active universities, and UHS (http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx) have
developed a combined research strategy since 1992. Most recently this has been translated
within the “2020 vision” of the Trust
http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/PlansPoliciesAndStrategies/Corporatestrategythe2020Vision.aspx
The ACL will join the vision science research group, which is led by Andrew Lotery, Professor of
Ophthalmology. The group consists of:
Professor Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology
Mr Parwez Hossain, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Mr Srini Goverdhan, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Mr Jay Self, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology
Dr Arjuna Ratnayaka, Lecturer in Ophthalmology
The group has a wider range of clinical and basic science projects. Major themes of the group
are molecular genetics of glaucoma and age related macular degeneration, RPE cell
transplanation, gene therapy for retinal diseases, disease modelling via ips cells (Andrew
Lotery); corneal infections (Parwez Hossain); AMD and animal models (Srini Goverdhan) and
nystagmus (Jay Self). A large number of clinical trials are done mostly for glaucoma and macular
degeneration (Andrew Lotery).
Over the past 5 years the groups has published in a number of the highest impact journals
including Nature Genetics, Lancet, and Ophthalmology.
The group’s research is embedded into the excellent infra-structure of the CES Academic Unit,
refurbished through a joint Wellcome Trust Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) and
University of Southampton grant, totalling £10.1M, and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research
Facility (http://www.suht.nhs.uk/Research/Links/WellcomeTrustCRFat Southampton.aspx).
Current funding within the hepatology group is derived from NIHR, various eye charities. In
addition the group forms an active part of UK ophthalmology research participating in many of
the national research initiatives, the Local Clinical Research Network and multi-centre industry
sponsored trials. The group is currently undergoing a phase of active expansion, of which the
ACL will form an important part.
Ophthalmology research is located within the Clinical Neuroscience Research Grouping in the
Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories and is supported by other specialised groups - Bioimaging Unit
(http://www.biu.soton.ac.uk/), Histochemistry Research Unit (http://www.hru.soton.ac.uk/),
Flow Cytometry Unit (with two FACSArias).
Research duties of the ACL
The ACL will have 50% of his/her post protected for further research, benefiting from all the
facilities of the CES Academic Unit, as well as those within the Faculty of Medicine, as
appropriate. If required, additional arrangements can be made with other faculties in the
University of Southampton.
The ACL is expected to continue the research he/she started during his/her PhD studies,
moving from a position of an accomplished student towards that of an independent researcher
who would be competitive for a Senior Lecturer position.
Clinical training of the ACL
The clinical training of the ACL will be provided and supervised by the Specialist Training
Committee (STC), allocating 50% of the ACL’s training time to clinical work that will lead to
completion of specialist training. This will take place within the Wessex Deanery’s region,
covering an area from Portsmouth in the east, Basingstoke in the north, Dorchester to the west
and Isle of Wight in the south. The ACL will be placed in one of the accredited NHS Trusts
following agreement between the ACL, the STC Chair/Programme Director, Mr Nigel Hall, and the
Academic Programme lead, Professor Andrew Lotery. Every attempt will be made to place the ACL
in Southampton or in a nearby Trust to facilitate continuing contact between the ACL and their
academic mentors.
Full details of the UHS are provided below, while details of the whole programme in the region
can be obtained on request.
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University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
UHS is the 8th largest in the country and is recognised as a centre of clinical, education and
research excellence. It provides a service for acute medicine and all aspects of secondary care
for the Southampton population and serves as a tertiary referral centre for a wide region in
south England and, for many specialties, beyond the region. It is a regional centre for
ophthalmology, with state-of-the-art facilities for ophthalmic imaging.
Care Group Information
Southampton Eye Unit opened in 1994 as a purpose built block within the Southampton General
Hospital. The Department consists of an Eye Short Stay Unit (ESSU) with 4 side rooms and two
day case areas, two fully equipped ophthalmic theatres, an administrative area, an ophthalmic
casualty department and an independent outpatient facility. Within the outpatient area are 16
slit lamp examination cubicles, an orthoptic department, a photographic and imaging suite,
ultrasound and laser rooms, visual field analysers and a minor operations theatre. There is also
a medical retina suite comprising an examination room and 4 clean rooms for delivering high
volume anti-VEGF injections. An electrodiagnostic laboratory has been developed within the
unit, including facilities for complex paediatric examination, staffed part time by a clinical
scientist. Ophthalmic photographers perform fluoresceins, ICG angiographic investigations and
OCTs. The laser facility includes the capacity to carry out photodynamic therapy. The unit
performs nearly 6,000 FREs annually. General ophthalmic work is provided for the population
of Southampton with tertiary referrals in the fields of special interest drawn from Wessex and
the Channel Islands.
The Ophthalmology Care Group has its own Care Group Manager, supported by an elected
member of the Consultant staff in the form of a Care Group Clinical Lead. Management is
devolved to Heads of Department: a Senior Clinical Nurse, ESSU Manager, Theatre Manager,
Casualty Sister, Outpatient Sister, Senior Optometrist and Lead Orthoptist.
Care Group Clinical Lead
Care Group Manager
Parwez Hossain
Victoria White
Medical Staff
There are 21 Consultant Ophthalmologists within the Department, each with a special interest:
Mr Philip Alexander
Miss Nishani Amerasinghe
Mr David Anderson
Miss Gabriella De Salvo
Mr Srini Goverdhan
Mr Parwez Hossain
Mr Aby Jacob
Mrs Doreen Khan-Lim
Miss Radhika Krishnan
Mr Steve Lash
Prof Andrew Lotery
Miss Ruth Manners
Mrs Kristina May
Mr Rob Morris
Mr Richard Newsom
Mrs Christina Rennie
Mr. Deb Sahu
Mr Jay Self
Mr Stephanie West
Locum, Surgical Retina
Glaucoma
Cornea & External Eye Disease
Medical Retina
Medical Retina
Associate Professor, Cornea & External Eye Disease
Glaucoma
Oculoplastic Surgery
Medical Retina
Surgical retina
Professor, Medical Retina & Genetics
Oculoplastic Surgery
Paediatric Ophthalmology
Strabismus
Surgical Retina
Medical Retina
Medical Retina
Paediatric Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
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The Directorate includes colleagues at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester who
undertake sessions at the Eye Unit (0.45 wte):
Mr Nigel Hall
Uveitis
Mr Alex MacLeod
Glaucoma
Clinical training of specialist registrars in ophthalmology
It is anticipated that the post will comprise 6 months of academic work and 6 months of clinical
work per year. These can be taken as two six month blocks or on a half-time clinical basis,
subject to need and local negotiation. Clinical training will be the equivalent of usual clinical
training to CCT standard in ophthalmology, but will be undertaken at 0.5 rate overall. The ACL
will perform one or two weekly outpatient clinics at Southampton General Hospital and one or
two surgical lists according to training need. The lecturer will also contribute to the ongoing
clinical trial programme which runs on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Specialty registrar education
The ACL will take part in the Wessex StR training programme in ophthalmology. This is an
active programme, which has been well received and currently runs every Friday afternoon
within the region, under the supervision of the ophthalmology Training Committee in Wessex.
There is an active clinical audit and clinical governance committee at Southampton and the ACL
will be expected to undertake at least one audit during his/her time at Southampton. Weekly in
house teaching in glaucoma and medical retina is held for Junior Doctors and the ACL will be
expected to participate in these sessions.
Training and educational duties of the ACL
The ACL will join the staff of the ophthalmology Service in the provision of undergraduate and
postgraduate education in the specialty. He/she will be expected to take an active part in
teaching junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals at Southampton in
ophthalmology
Southampton is home to a large medical school with an intake of over 250 medical students.
Undergraduate education in ophthalmology is provided through a one week attachment at the
University of Southampton Medical School in year 4 and through lectures and ward / out
patient-based teaching; additionally, students rotate through the ophthalmology service
through elective attachments.
Management duties
Southampton General Hospital established a clinical management system in 1986 which was
extended throughout Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust in 1991. In 2011 the UHS
Trust achieved foundation status.
All staff in each Division are managerially accountable to the Clinical Director who has overall
responsibility for the services within the Division. The medical directorate has Lead Consultants
within each sub-specialty who also act as liaison between individual consultant teams and the
Clinical Director.
Administrative duties
The post-holder will be required to:
1. undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
2. travel as necessary between units
General provisions
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the post-holder will be
expected to observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn up in consultation with
the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instructions
of the Trust.
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In particular, where the post-holder manages employees of the Trust, he/she will be expected
to follow the local and national employment and personnel policies and procedures. The postholder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff
involved in the care of his/her patients and to be able to contact him/her when necessary.
All medical and dental staff employed by the Trust are expected to comply with its Health and
Safety Policy and Procedures.
Residence
Residence within either 10 miles of or thirty minutes by road from Southampton General
Hospital is a requirement of this post unless specific approval for alternative arrangements is
given by the Trust.
Visiting
Candidates are strongly encouraged to visit. The main point of contact is Professor Andrew
Lotery, Tel 023 8120 5049 Director of the ophthalmology programme.
Review of the Job Description
This job description will be reviewed each year by the post-holder, Professor Andrew Lotery and
Mr Nigel Hall. Local procedures will be followed in the event of any disagreement over proposed
changes culminating an appeal to a sub- committee of the University of Southampton. Job
description changes will be reviewed under the Service Level Agreement.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
1.
The appointment will be governed by the general conditions applicable to Clinical Lecturers
in the University of Southampton; details of these are available on request and will be sent to
candidates called for interview. The appointee will be subject to the relevant terms of
appointment as determined by the appropriate NHS Trust, in connection with his/her clinical
duties, in so far as they may apply to clinical academic staff holding honorary NHS Trust
contracts. The appointee will be responsible to the Head of the School of Medicine through
the Divisional Director/Head of the University Clinical Group for the satisfactory conduct of
his/her duties.
2.
The successful candidate will be expected to take up their appointment.
3.
The appointment will be made within the Clinical Lecturer’s salary scale, depending on
qualifications and experience.
4.
The appointment may be terminated by a term’s notice on either side.
5.
In addition to the substantive contract of employment with the University, the successful
candidate will also hold an honorary NHS contract with an NHS Trust and will be required
to be registered with the General Medical Council. This honorary contract and registration
is essential for the proper performance of the duties of employment with the University.
In the event that the honorary contract is terminated or the registration is revoked or
suspended, continued employment with the University under this contract will need to be
reviewed and may be terminated. The procedure for considering whether to terminate the
substantive contract of employment with the University in such circumstances is set out in
the University’s Statutes and Ordinances from time to time in force and in a protocol
between the University and the NHS Trust. The appointee will be required during their
tenure of office to undertake appropriate clinical work on an honorary basis under the
National Health Service. No professional contact with National Health Service patients may
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be undertaken unless a duly authorised honorary contract has been issued and is
currently valid.
6.
The appointee will be subject to full assessment via the RITA/ARCP process in addition to
appraisal with his/her University line manager.
7.
The actual cost of removal of personal and household effects and/or incurred legal costs for
the purchase of a house or flat in or near Southampton will be paid by the University subject
to a maximum contribution of £4500. The purchase of such a house or flat must be as a
consequence of taking up the appointment and the claim must normally be submitted within
twelve months of taking up the post.
8.
The person appointed will be required to observe the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances of
the University and to carry out all orders and regulations of the Council. It should be noted
that these regulations include a policy of no smoking at work which, with the exception of
certain designated areas, prohibits smoking in most University buildings.
9.
The person appointed will be expected to work within the spirit and letter of the University's
Equal Opportunities Policy:
"The University of Southampton confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of equal
opportunities in employment and for students in which individuals are selected and treated
on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and are given equal opportunities within
the University. The aim of the policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee,
prospective student or student, should receive less favourable treatment on any grounds
which are not relevant to good employment practice for staff or to academic ability and
attainment for students. The University is committed to a programme of action to make the
policy fully effective."
10.
Because of the nature of the work for which you are applying, this post is exempt from the
provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants are, therefore, not
entitled to withhold information about convictions and, in the event of employment, any
failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the
University. The University will routinely conduct checks on criminal records for all those
appointed to posts that have contact with children or vulnerable adults. Any information
given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to an application
for positions to which the order is applied.
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