Job Description

About Medefer

Medefer is a pioneer in virtual-first specialist healthcare. Founded by NHS consultants over a decade ago, we were delivering consultant-led virtual outpatient care well before “virtual hospitals” became a national priority. Our model has since been cited in government and NHS England material on the NHS Online vision as one of the service models informing this direction.

We sit at the intersection of clinical provider and technology company. Our CQC-registered service is powered by Medefer’s own electronic health record and referral platform, connecting GPs, consultants, diagnostic providers and hospitals into a single coordinated system. This approach has won multiple national awards for elective recovery, innovation and impact, and we now serve both NHS partners and private patients across the UK.

Medefer is built on three principles: innovate to solve real system problems, collaborate with clinicians and partners, and put patients first in every decision. As we scale across Integrated Care Systems and grow our private services, joining now means helping to define what modern specialist care looks like - and owning the financial strategy behind it.

About the role: Clinical Lead, Ophthalmology

We’re looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking individual to join our Medical Directorate and help us build and lead Medefer’s ophthalmology service; developing the clinical workforce and shaping safe, effective pathways with our operational teams and delivery partners.

The role combines service development with ongoing governance. You will agree priorities and capacity with the Medical Director and review the time commitment as the service grows, including whether additional leadership time or deputy support is needed.

You’ll also be a member of our Clinical Governance Committee, promoting a culture of safety, and quality; espousing ‘black box’ thinking and be the point of escalation for any departmental concerns. You’ll support the Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director to ensure that Medefer meets the requirements of the CQC and the clinical quality components of our contractual obligations.

The role is remote working and equates to 1PA per week (4 hours), and the expectation is that the work will be done outside of your NHS working hours and any other work that you may do.

Everything we do is guided by our values: Patient First, Inventive and Collaborative, and brought to life through our five behaviours: Open, Adaptable, Curious, Compassionate and Accountable.

Responsibilities

Speciality Responsibilities:

• Define the ophthalmology service scope, referral criteria and pathways, including suitability for remote assessment and when physical examination is required.
• Design access to appropriate ophthalmic examinations, imaging and diagnostic tests through agreed delivery partners, with clear responsibility for reviewing and acting on results.
• Establish timely escalation and onward referral routes, including urgent ophthalmic care and face-to-face or surgical assessment where indicated.
• Develop consistent documentation, follow-up and discharge standards, with clear communication to patients, GPs and partner providers.
• Oversee clinical quality across diagnostic and treatment interfaces; agree measures for access, pathway completion, safety and patient experience.

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the specialty workforce, with responsibility for recruitment, interview sign-off, induction, supervision and performance management.
• Work with HR and Clinical Operations to ensure clinicians meet requirements for practising privileges and respond promptly to compliance concerns.
• Participate in the Clinical Governance Committee and regular Clinical Lead meetings; report specialty risks, performance and improvement actions.
• Review and audit clinical quality, provide feedback and oversee the specialty contribution to clinician appraisal in line with Medefer’s agreed arrangements.
• Act as the specialty escalation point for clinical concerns, significant events and complaints, working with the Medical Director and relevant governance teams.
• Develop the specialty workforce plan, including capacity, competencies, supervision and any need for deputies.
• Work with the CEO, Medical Director and operational teams on service development, partner engagement and clinical requirements for mobilisation.
• Support Medefer’s regulatory and contractual clinical quality obligations, working with the Medical Director and Responsible Officer as appropriate.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Substantive consultant with more than three years in consultant practice in ophthalmology.
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise and appropriate specialist registration for the agreed clinical scope, subject to credential checks.
• Experience of clinical audit, patient safety, quality improvement and managing complex clinical pathways.
• Ability to lead clinicians, give constructive feedback, manage concerns and work effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Interest in digital healthcare and sound judgement about the capabilities and limits of remote care.
• Clear written and verbal communication, effective prioritisation and willingness to take ownership of actions and raise risks early.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience at Clinical Lead or Clinical Director level.
• Developing or mobilising services with NHS or independent sector partners.
• Experience of ophthalmic diagnostic pathways and coordination between community and hospital services.

Our Benefits:

• Fully flexible and remote working opportunity
• Workplace pension scheme
• 28 days annual leave in addition to the normal bank holidays (pro-rated for part time hours)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health and wellbeing scheme that provides free access to a confidential phoneline, GP and counselling services
• Career development and opportunities for progression and training.

Medefer is a Disability Confident Employer.

We commit to interviewing applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum essential criteria for the job. If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please let us know in your application or by contacting our recruitment team.

Medefer fully complies with the Equality Act 2010. We are an equal opportunities employer, value diversity and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. 

Medefer is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone who uses the company services or work within the organisation. In this role, you’ll help us to protect vulnerable people from harm and abuse. We require all team members to follow local safeguarding policies and complete necessary training to maintain a safe, respectful and proactive environment. Background checks are mandatory for successful candidates, and a commitment to safeguarding practices is essential.

Medefer contact details are provided for the specific purpose to support potential candidates and are not to be used to market services. The named individual has not consented to unsolicited marketing emails. ‘Direct marketing’ means the communication, by whatever means, of marketing material which is directed at individuals. Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) apply to unsolicited emails, for which the individual has not provided consent. Medefer takes the privacy of individuals very seriously and failure to abide by this notice will result in action taken.