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Job overview

Applications are invited from an enthusiastic Orthoptist to join our friendly team of 17 Orthoptists, 18 Ophthalmologists and 8 hospital Optometrists based in the purpose built eye clinic at Maidstone General Hospital serving a population of approximately 900,000 within the Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, North Kent, Medway and Swale areas.

Post graduate clinical experience is preferable but not essential – newly qualified graduates or those returning to practice after a career break are welcome to apply as a Band 5 and follow the BIOS preceptorship scheme at the start or restart of their careers.

Please note that the Orthoptists at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust are eligible for a 5% Recruitment and Retention Premium salary uplift until 31.3.25 and for up to £8000 relocation expenses if certain criteria are met. 

New graduates will start as a Band 5 and work through competencies to progress to Band 6 over a minimum of 12 months. 

Main duties of the job

The Orthoptists at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust have an interesting and varied workload with 3 Ophthalmologists who specialise in paediatrics and ocular motility. The Orthoptic department support BTXA clinics, joint Orthoptic and Ophthalmology paediatric and adult clinics, oculoplastic, including TED clinics, joint Orthoptic and Optometry clinics, the busy emergency eye service and more. This role involves working at Maidstone Hospital and our other sites Medway Hospital and/or Tunbridge Wells Hospital so the ability to travel to different hospitals is essential.

You must hold a degree or diploma in Orthoptics and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The Orthoptic department is an accredited clinical placement for Liverpool, Sheffield and UCL University Orthoptic students and is actively involved in teaching other professionals such as pre-registration Optometrists. An interest in developing teaching skills or a teaching qualification is therefore preferable.

The Orthoptists have extended roles in VPD, SEN, VI, stroke and glaucoma and with encouragement from the departments Orthoptic clinical tutor and clinical lead we regularly participate in department audit, research, journal clubs, clinical governance and training days for CPD.

Working for our organisation

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.

The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.

The Trust’s core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients – the first of its kind in the country.

We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.

Would you like to work flexibly?  In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

Please contact the Recruiting Manager for an informal discussion should you have any queries relating to the role for which you are applying. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via an email as soon as possible after the closing date. Should you receive an invitation to attend interview, please confirm or decline your attendance. Interview slots will then be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system and Human Resources personnel.