Job summary
- Main area
- Orthoptics
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 320-SURG-1337-B
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Queen's Hospital Burton
- Town
- Burton-On-Trent
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/07/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 14/08/2026
Employer heading
Deputy Head Orthoptist / Operational Lead Orthoptist
Band 8a
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together.
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
With over 14,000 members of staff you can expect huge variety and new opportunities every day! Our staff go above and beyond and take pride in caring for our patients.
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to promoting inclusion, equality, diversity and human rights in employment and delivery of its services. The Trust is committed to providing an environment where all employees, patients, carers and visitors experience equality of opportunity by means of understanding and appreciating the value of diversity.
As a Trust we promote an inclusive environment and welcome applications from a diverse pool of talent and backgrounds. All individuals are valued and given every opportunity to succeed based on merit.
The Trust actively encourages applications from members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. These groups are under-represented in our organisation, and it’s important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our communities as much as possible.
Armed Forces and Disability Confident guaranteed interview scheme
To further support the pledges in the Armed Forces Covenant and to make a positive contribution to support ex-armed forces personnel (veterans) make the transition to civilian life, the Trust has introduced a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for veterans who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification, to help them overcome barriers to find civilian employment. The scheme will operate for all external recruitment.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer and committed to both employing and retaining people with disabilities. This commitment is to guarantee an interview for any candidate that has disclosed a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and who meets the essential criteria set out in the person specification. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 will be considered upon request.
if you are blind or visually impaired and require application material in an alternative format- such as Braille, large print, audio or accessible electronic formats or you require support/adjustments with your application please contact the recruitment team on 01332 788466
Care Leaver Guaranteed Interview Scheme
The Trust is proud to be a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant and is committed to supporting care-experienced people into employment.
Applicants who identify as a care leaver and who meet the essential criteria for the role, as detailed in the person specification, will be guaranteed an interview.
If you wish to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this within your application.
Join us and help make a real difference to our Trust.
Here’s more about the role and what we’re looking for;
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated Orthoptist to join our team as a Deputy Head Orthoptist.
The Orthoptic team at UHDB is a team of Orthoptists, Diagnostic Ophthalmic technicians, Optometrists and Orthoptic administrators working across the Burton and Derbyshire sites who have recently been recognized in the UHDB Cultural Trail Blazer as one of the top 2 high performing teams for People Experience within the Surgery business unit. These results have been measured using the annual staff survey along with appraisal metrics, sickness rates and mandatory training compliance.
The successful post holder will deputise and provide support for the Head Orthoptist and will be based at the Burton sites to include Queens hospital Burton, Sir Robert Peel Hospital Tamworth and Samuel Johnson community Hospital Lichfield.
Main duties of the job
Undertaking highly skilled clinical duties and direct patient care as an highly experienced Orthoptist. As part of your clinical role you will have a varied caseload of paediatric and adult motility and Orthoptic/Optometry led shared care clinics for amblyopia and strabismus. You will also provide Orthoptic support to Eye Casualty, Neurology and Maxillo-Facial departments. The Orthoptic service also provides paediatric low vision services, paediatric special needs services, visual processing clinics and adult stroke services.
Providing professional support and guidance to clinical staff in all areas of Orthoptic clinical care and provision, including complex care.
Day-to-day management and leadership of a clinical team of Orthoptists and Diagnostic Ophthalmic Technicians. Including tasks such as rota management, absence management, personal development, resolving daily problems in the service and all types of line management
Working with other leaders in Orthoptics, Optometry, Ophthalmology and other specialties within our organisation and partner organisations to help coordinate, lead and drive the Orthoptic and diagnostic service forward to meet the future needs of our local population and deliver service improvements.
Closing date of applications: 30 July 2026
Date of interview: 14 August 2026
Working for our organisation
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
- Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
- On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key Facts:
- We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
- We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
- UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This post combines highly specialist clinical skills with the day-to-day management of the service and is an ideal promotional opportunity for a motivated and aspiring Orthoptist currently undertaking leadership responsibilities who wishes to progress their leadership skills further whilst continuing to use embedded highly specialist clinical skills in both paediatric and adult Orthoptic assessment.
The successful post holder will play a key part in the delivery and ongoing development of a high‑quality Orthoptic service providing both clinical and operational leadership to the Orthoptic and Ophthalmic Technician teams and work collaboratively with other Ophthalmology leaders and clinicians including the Deputy Head Orthoptist based at the Derbyshire sites to achieve shared goals for Orthoptics and Ophthalmology and to ensure safe, effective, and patient‑centred care. They will be involved in the current service developments within Ophthalmology and the wider Trust, including the implementation of Nervecentre EPR and Medisight, and will also be a key contributor to the implementation of high-volume Ophthalmology diagnostic lanes for glaucoma and medical retina which are due to be implemented in the autumn.
The successful candidate will bring current experience of supporting colleagues in their day‑to‑day roles, demonstrate the Trust values of Compassion, Excellence and Openness, provide compassionate care, inclusive leadership, and support with professional development within the teams.
Experience of Ophthalmic diagnostic testing is advantageous as the successful post holder will provide leadership support to the Lead Diagnostic Ophthalmic Technician and the Ophthalmic Technician team.
We welcome applications from individuals who value inclusive leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Candidates who have applied for this vacancy within the last 3 months and were unsuccessful at any stage of the recruitment process should not reapply unless you can demonstrate additional relevant skills, qualifications or experience acquired since your previous application.
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers
Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant clinical experience
- Experience of leading a team at a senior clinical level
- Current Leadership, organisational and negotiating skills.
Desirable criteria
- Teaching qualification recognised by the Health Professions Council
Eduction and Training
Essential criteria
- Degree or diploma in Orthoptics
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council,
Leadership
Essential criteria
- Masters qualification in Healthcare Leadership or equivalent training/experience
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Francesca Wood
- Job title
- Head of Orthoptic Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01283 566333
- Additional information
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Francesca Wood Head of Orthoptic Services UHDB or Michelle Wood Deputy Head Orthoptist Derbyshire sites.
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