29 January 2018

Dear Applicant

Project Manager – Eye Health Workforce

Thank you for your interest in working for The Royal College of Ophthalmologists

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) champions excellence in the practice of ophthalmology. We are the only professional membership body for medically qualified ophthalmologists and for those who are undergoing specialist training to become ophthalmologists with over 4,000 members worldwide.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists ensures that the highest achievable standards of eye care are delivered for patients through excellence in the training, education, assessment and the examination of eye doctors and their continuing professional development. Ophthalmologists are at the forefront of the eye health service in the UK because of their extensive training and experience in this field and the College acts as the voice of the profession.

The Project Manager role is an opportunity to be involved in the delivery of an important project to develop a curriculum for ophthalmic healthcare professionals, funded by Health Education England.

To apply please complete a supporting statement detailing how you meet the requirements, attach your CV, and email both to . Alternatively, send your documents by post to Jo Longden, Executive Assistant, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 18 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD.

The closing date for applications is 17.00on Monday 19February 2018 and interviews will take place onWednesday 28 February 2018.

Please contactAlex Tytko, Head of Education and Training, on 020 3770 5338or via , if you wish to know more about the role. Office hours are 09.00 – 17.00.

I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours faithfully

Alex Tytko

Head of the Education and Training Department

Working for the RCOphth

We offer a supportive working environment in friendly, modern offices in a central London location with excellent transport links. We are pleased to offer the following benefits to employees:

LEAVE

Annual Leave

25 days annual leave, or the pro rata equivalent for part time staff. Annual leave increases by one day for each complete year of service up to a maximum of 30 days.

Statutory Holidays and College closure days

Public holidays, when the office is closed, are recognised as statutory holidays with pay.

In addition to these and to your annual leave entitlement, the College is closed between Christmas and New Year.

PENSION

The College currently contributes to the occupational pension scheme administered by the

Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL); the employer contribution is 16% of gross salary and employees contribute 6%.

SEASON TICKET ADVANCE

Staff who have satisfactorily completed six months’ probation may apply for an interest free loan for the purchase of an annual season ticket for travel between home and work at the College. A proportion of the sum will be deducted from their salaries on a monthly basis.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

All staff are offered opportunities for learning and development, in addition to a comprehensive e-learning package.

STUDY LOANS

Staff who have satisfactorily completed two years of service may apply for a study grant and loan. Subject to approval of the course to be studied the College will grant up to 60% of the course fees* and will provide an interest free loan for the balance. The balance to be repaid over an agreed period.

*total course fees should not exceed £5,000

CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME

A salary sacrifice scheme to aid the purchase of a bicycle for travelling to work is available.

CHILDCARE VOUCHERS

A salary sacrifice scheme to support payment of childcare is available to eligible staff members.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME

This scheme provides access to health advice, confidential counselling and occupational health advice.

MATERNITY AND PATERNITY PAY

Enhanced maternity pay and paternity pay is available to eligible staff members.

FOOD AND DRINK

The College receives a weekly delivery of fresh fruit for staff to enjoy. Tea and coffee (including Nespresso machine) is provided on each staff office floor.

This is an example of the current benefits offered by the College and is not contractual.

Role Description

Project Manager – Eye Health Workforce

One Year – fixed term contract

Scope of the job

Working with the Head of Education and Training, the Project Manager will play a significant role in helping the College to achieve its mission, vision and values, and will be responsible for managing a high-profile nationalproject that will transform the eye health workforce.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has received funding from Health Education England (HEE) to deliver the aspirations of the Ophthalmology Common Clinical Competency Framework (OCCCF). The documents are on the RCOphth website and applicants are required to familiarise themselves with the aims of the OCCCF in developing standards for non-medical healthcare professionals.

Successful implementation of the OCCCF offers an opportunity to tackle the capacity issues that have affected the hospital eye service for at least a decade.An upskilled non-medical workforce, working under the direction of ophthalmologists, will improve patient care, reduce waiting times and enhance the professional lives of everyone in the ophthalmic team.

The Project Manager is expected to work largely unsupervised but in accordance with established policies, procedures and precedents and with the support of the Head of Education and Training, Clinical Lead, OCCCF Resource Development Ophthalmologist,OCCCF Resource Development Fellow and Chief Executive. It is a high-profile project and the post-holder will help deliver a communication strategy to keep professionals in the ophthalmic sector informed and engaged.

The Project Manager will work with a range of other stakeholders who operate at a senior level and he/she must be able to articulate the advantages of multi-professional working.

Main Purpose and Deliverables

The post-holder will:

  • plan, facilitate and project manage the project and the workstreams within it.
  • scope and develop recommendations for implementation.

Anticipated outcomes

The success of this project will be determined by whether it delivers the key requirements of stake holders:

  1. Health Education England: a greatly expanded non-medical workforce that will make a significant contribution to the work of ophthalmology departments.
  2. Ophthalmology service managers: additional workforce capable of delivering those aspects of patient care that do not require medical training.
  3. Non-medical Ophthalmic Healthcare Professionals: standardised and comprehensive training that will allow them to fulfil meaningful roles within ophthalmology departments

Main Areas of Work and Responsibility

Project leadership and support

  • To deliver the OCCCF project – including planning and accounting for resources and documenting short to long term objectives.
  • To manage and report project progress and budget expenditure and to ensure projects are aligned to KPIs.
  • To co-ordinate meetings with external stakeholders and to build and preserve stakeholder relationships, including liaising with higher educational institution(s) to ensure the RCOphth has a good relationship with and a record of participating training providers.
  • To co-ordinate the development of a paper based or electronic portfolio solution.

Administrative support

  • To ensure that the governance policies of the project are adhered to.
  • To provide administrative support to the Eye Health Workforce committee and associated subcommittees and undertake all correspondence, including minute taking.
  • To provide administrative support to the Head of Education and Training, Clinical Lead,OCCCF Resource Development Ophthalmologist and OCCCF Resource Development Fellow.
  • Provide administrative support to create a competency based curriculum and design a long-term maintenance policy for the curriculum.

Presentation Skills

  • The post-holder is expected to present the project to employers, RCOphth members and other stakeholders.

IT Skills

  • The post-holder is expected to work with IT providers to ensure participants have access to a portfolio.

General

  • The office base is in Central London, but this role may require travel to meetings and events in and around London and the UK with some overnight stays as well as occasional working outside of normal office hours.
  • The post holder may carry out, from time to time and as directed, any other duties as required in addition to the above that will be both reasonable and within his or her capabilities. The post holder is expected to comply with all policies and procedures of the College and their variations.
  • The post holder must at all times take care of his or her health and safety and that of others by complying with health and safety obligations, particularly by reporting promptly any defects, risks or potential hazards.

Reports to: / Head of Education and Training
Line reports: / None
Stakeholders: / The Clinical Lead
The OCCCF Resource Development Fellow
The OCCCF Resource Development Ophthalmologist
The Education Committee
The Training Committee
The Chief Executive
Health Education England (HEE)
The College of Optometrists
The British and Irish OrthopticSociety
The Royal College of Nursing
The RCOphth FinanceTeam
The RCOphth Communications Team
Potential providers of post-graduate education
Ophthalmology Service Managers
College members
Budget Responsibilities / The post-holder is to maintain a budget in accordance with RCOphth financial policies

Person Specification

Essential Criteria / Desirable Criteria
Experience and Knowledge /
  • Experience of delivering successful projects
  • A high level of literacy and numeracy
  • Experience of working with and influencing a wide range of senior stakeholders e.g. clinical decision makers and education providers
/
  • Experience of working in an education and/or medical environment
  • Experience of supporting committees, including minute taking

Education and Skills /
  • Educated to degree level
/
  • Knowledge of medical education

Job Specific Competencies /
  • Ability to work methodically, efficiently and effectively.
  • Ability to organise and prioritise a heavy workload.
  • Ability to produce well written documentation and presentations.
  • Ability to speak publicly about the project.
  • Ability to anticipate and solve problems.
  • Ability to research existing post-graduate training systems and the apprenticeship model.
  • Ability to work according to established administrative systems.
  • Able to identify risks, anticipate issues and create solutions to challenges to programme delivery.

Behaviours /
  • Work well under pressure and in situations where there are conflicting demands.
  • Possess excellent planning and organisational skills.
  • Possess excellent all-round communication and interpersonal skills/strong sense of customer service.
  • Work on own initiative and respond effectively to new situations.
  • Work with people across all levels
  • Work flexibly and with consideration for other colleagues/stakeholders.
  • Work in consultation with other staff.
  • Work with a strong focus on quality of service.
  • Work professionally and ethically.