Job summary
- Main area
- Orthoptics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (For 1 year to cover maternity leave)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 432-HR793-26
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Colchester Hospital
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/09/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 01/10/2026
Employer heading
Specialist Orthoptist
NHS AfC: Band 6
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust are recruiting an Orthoptist to join our friendly and dynamic team who deliver orthoptic services in and around Colchester and Ipswich on a fixed term basis. This role is predominantly based at Colchester hospital and outreach clinics within north Essex, though with cross site working in Ipswich as required . You will be supported by the team to deliver high quality orthoptic services and will include a varied orthoptic caseload.
The department delivers adult and paediatric services, in-patient and out-patient stroke services, specialist SEN clinics in special schools and is an accredited department for student placements.
As an AHP at ESNEFT you will join a network of supportive and forward thinking AHPs across the trust who will support you in your role and who champion the work and development of the AHP community.
The department is committed to providing opportunities for continuous professional development and is active in audit and research.
This role is Band 6 and so is most suited to an orthoptist with post qualification experience. However, we also welcome applications from newly qualified staff who would commence in post at Band 5 with the potential to progress to Band 6 following successful completion of preceptorship.
Fixed term role for 1 year
Internal applicants currently employed by ESNEFT will be offered on a secondment basis only
Main duties of the job
· To conduct single-handed Orthoptic and work as part of a team in specialist multi-disciplinary paediatric clinics as required at the main base and in community settings.
· To provide appropriate Orthoptic assessment and diagnosis for all patients referred to the department from other specialist clinics, as in-patients or out-patients
· To formulate and implement an individualised treatment plan for paediatric and adult cases balancing medical evidence and patient circumstances, including amblyopia therapy, refractive treatments, orthoptic exercises, prismatic therapy and planning strabismus surgery.
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post qualification experience of working single-handed and as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
- Successful completion of post graduate preceptorship
- Experience of managing a complex and varied caseload including patients of all ages and abilities
- Visual field experience
- Experience of participation in audit and research
Desirable criteria
- Experience of clinical teaching to a range of professionals
- Ability to carry out complex visual field testing including Goldmans
- Experience of assessing in-patient stroke patients
- Vision screening experience
- Experience of assessing patients who have had surgery using adjustable sutures
- Experience of assisting in theatre
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree / Diploma in Orthoptics
- Registration with HCPC
- Further accredited qualifications and courses related to orthoptic and/or ophthalmic practice or working towards
- Evidence of ongoing CPD
Desirable criteria
- BIOS membership
- BIOS Clinical Tutors course
- Medicines exemptions for Orthoptists
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Maintain up to date knowledge of developments in orthoptics and deliver evidence based care
- Basic understanding of hospital electronic patient record system Epic with willingness to learn
- Competent IT skills including Microsoft applications
Desirable criteria
- Experience of using Epic or a similar system
- Experience of using the departmental imaging and visual fields software
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Linda Melvin
- Job title
- Head Of Orthoptics
- Email address
- [email protected]
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