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Job summary

Main area
Orthoptics
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
438-PB2768
Employer
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Preston Hospital
Town
Preston
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/06/2025 23:59
Interview date
13/06/2025

Employer heading

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Advanced Orthoptist - Neuro-Orthoptics, Stroke and In-patient Lead

Band 7

Job overview

Are you an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated Orthoptist who already has a keen interest in Neuro-Orthoptics, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab and is looking for a new challenge?  
 
Would you like to play a key part in the organising and running of our Neuro-Orthoptic, Stroke and In-patient services? 
 
If you’ve answered yes to the above then we have the perfect job for you! 
 
Our Team of 21 Orthoptists provide core orthoptic and various sub-specialities at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley Hospital plus several community clinics; in November 2021 our purpose built eye unit opened at Chorley Hospital and offers modern timely care to a large number of patients across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
 
This post offers the opportunity to participate in sub-speciality adult and paediatric orthoptic clinics, joint consultant clinics, in-patient assessments and MDT working.
 

Follow us and our fabulous eye team on Twitter @LTHorthoptics and @EyeLthtr to see what you could be a part of. 

Main duties of the job

You will lead in the organising and running of the advanced specialist Neuro-Orthoptic, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab plus In-patient Orthoptic Services as an autonomous practitioner within our hospital and community outreach clinics, accepting direct referrals of patients of all ages who have a wide spectrum of ocular motility disorders and visual problems, work closely with the Trust’s stroke, neuro-rehab and neurology teams within the hospital setting in order to deliver a high quality and complex Orthoptic service within these areas as well as directly within Orthoptics and Ophthalmology. 

You will undertake development of staff within the Orthoptic team, along with the undertaking of the annual appraisal (PDPR) and objective setting of their direct reports. 

You will ensure the provision of high quality, evidence based Orthoptic Services along with continuous improvement and development in line with best practice standards in collaboration with the Head Orthoptist.

You will participate in providing Orthoptic clinical teaching and training for other healthcare professionals including under-graduate Orthoptic students, pre-registration Optometrists, Nurses, Ophthalmic Technicians, HCA’s, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Health Scientists, General Practitioners (GP’s), junior doctors and medical students and other health care professionals as required. 

Working for our organisation

We are a large enthusiastic team of Orthoptists who work closely with our eye colleagues striving to provide excellent care with compassion; if you manage your time well, work well within a team and have leadership skills then this is the place for you. 

We are always looking for ways to further develop ourselves and the team plus looking to see what we could do differently and in fact better. This is why we actively encourage and support CPD, audit and research and have mentorship in place for this role.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Actively involved in the review and updating of existing service guidelines, policies, procedures and care pathways related to the Neuro-Orthoptic, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab services and Orthoptic In-Patient services in addition to developing new guidelines, policies, procedures and care pathways reacting to national and local directives.

Actively involved in the continual development of the services by means of audit and service user involvement, produce audit reports as required, regularly liaising with the Head Orthoptist regarding the provision of these services.

Participates in research and development and encourages and supports direct reports to also be involved. 

Develops and updates appropriate patient/service user information the services.

Is an integrated member of the MDT within Orthoptics, Ophthalmology and wider across the Trust, to contribute to and chair when required departmental meetings and deliver presentations as required.

Ensures all HR policies are adhered to across the services including the scheme of delegation.

Ensures all staff involved in these services are given the opportunity to develop their potential through the appropriate implementation of training and staff development policies.

Supports the whole orthoptic team in developing their skills assessing a variety of in-patients both on the ward and when attending clinic.

Ensures that direct reports action changes highlighted to them.

Ensures that all staff comply with Trust policies as relevant to their role and that staff receive the training required to maintain competence to execute their role.

Attends and contributes to monthly Datix, risk and governance meetings.

Triages orthoptic referrals received to most appropriate specialist area in a timely manner.

Undertakes a detailed medical and ophthalmic case history of patients of varying ages and diagnoses.

Independently assesses, plans, implements and reviews individual Orthoptic treatment plans/care pathways for each patient using clinical experience, knowledge and evidence-based practice, selects appropriate assessment techniques relevant to each individual patient based on clinical experience and by using clinical reasoning, relevant policies, procedures and NICE Guidelines to optimally manage the conditions. 

Uses highly developed manual dexterity and hand/eye coordination to perform detailed observations using a variety of orthoptic and ophthalmic techniques, demonstrating the correct selection and use of a range of orthoptic/ophthalmic appliances; updating own competency as the need arises.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc / BMedSci (Hons) /MSc in Orthoptics
  • Registered with the HCPC
  • Evidence of appropriate ongoing professional development at an advanced level related to this area of work
  • Completed competencies in stroke (STARS)
  • Member of BIOS and related CAGs to this role
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate Masters qualification in Orthoptics.
  • Masters module in Orthoptic Stroke care.
  • Stroke and Rehab related Orthoptic qualification
  • Neuro-Orthoptic related qualification
  • Management/Leadership qualification
  • BIOS recognised teaching qualification
  • Medical Exemptions Qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • In depth proven experience within the specific areas of Neuro-Orthoptic, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab and Orthoptic in-patient caseload
  • Competent in the use of and interpretation of the Humphrey Visual field analyser and other perimeters
  • Up to date knowledge relating to DVLA regulations
  • Up to date knowledge relating to SSNAP data and requirements
  • In depth proven experience of Paediatric and Adult Orthoptic Care within a hospital and community setting.
  • Experience of working in single handed clinics
  • Evidence based practice relating to Orthoptics and Ophthalmology - practice supports evidence-based knowledge
  • Proven knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of a range of specialist and complex Orthoptic patients
  • Knowledge of relevant national policies and procedures relating to role
  • Ability to independently assess and make clinical decisions
  • Evidence of Audit and/or research
  • Knowledge of relevant national policies and procedures relating to role.
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of clinical teaching, supervision and staff training.
  • Experience of training others in Orthoptic skills.
  • Previous experience as a team leader.
  • Dementia awareness training

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoDisability Employment CharterArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerInclusive Top 50 LogoStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Claire Critchley
Job title
Head Orthoptist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07517829882
Additional information

Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:00

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