Job summary
- Main area
- Orthoptic
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 411-SUR-26-8057179
- Employer
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Alder Hey Children's Hospital
- Town
- Liverpool
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Orthoptist
Band 6
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care and has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients’ homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Sunflower House building newly relocated, and opened on the hospital site.
We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We’re also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.
As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.
You can expect a warm welcome at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At Alder Hey we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Lease car scheme and Home Electronics Scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- Extensive staff health and well-being programmes
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for experienced, enthusiastic and motivated orthoptist to join our friendly team at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
The position offered is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hrs per week), band 6 Specialist Orthoptist post.
A Diploma or Degree in Orthoptics and state registration with the HCPC is essential.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will work as an integral part of our team of orthoptists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, vision scientists, ophthalmic nurses and health care assistants at our main hospital site; Alder Hey Children’s hospital and in our community clinics based in Liverpool. As a tertiary hospital we assess children with complicated eye conditions referred to us from all over the UK in addition to serving the children in our local communities.
The post-holder will provide orthoptic clinical delivery in a wide variety of clinics including orthoptic, joint orthoptic & optometry clinics, general paediatric and specialist ocular motility, paediatric cataract, neuro-ophthalmology and cranio-facial clinics.
The main duties of this role involves core orthoptics, multi-disciplinary clinical assessments and has the ability for the post holder to develop skills and knowledge in future extended roles.
Working for our organisation
Sponsorship - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job Summary:
To deliver a comprehensive range of core orthoptic services to the highest standards of quality and care.
Key Relationships
Lead orthoptist, orthoptists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, HCAs, vision scientists, ophthalmology service managers, administration staff, patients, parents and carers, school nurses, health visitors, GPs and Community Optometrists.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Clinical
Assess, diagnose and formulate management plans for orthoptic patients from all recognised referral sources in both acute and community settings.
Working as an integral part of the hospital eye service team; undertaking an active role in multidisciplinary work.
Provide patient focused care.
Ensure clinical work is of the highest standard, following departmental policies and guidelines.
Ensure correct, safe use, care and cleaning of clinical equipment and take responsibility of reporting any issue to line Manager.
Record and maintain a record of information accurately and legible in written and electronic form. Ensure patient documentation in electronic patient record is accurate.
Ensure patients are reviewed in appropriate time frame. Ensure documentation for follow up appointment or discharge is completed and is accurate.
Communication
Ensure effective communication with patients / carers when handling complex, sensitive information regarding diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Ensure effective communication with patients / carers to gain co-operation and trust.
Instruct patients (parents/carers) a programme of treatment and be responsible for patients undergoing ongoing orthoptic management.
Maintain good communications with patient’s relatives regarding the patient’s needs and welfare. Provide support for relatives where necessary.
Ensure effective communication within wider Ophthalmology team.
Ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Escalate any concerns or issues to Lead orthoptist
Responsibility for CPD, Audit, Research
Be responsible for maintaining own education and continuing professional development.
Ensure active participation in PDR process to help facilitate ongoing development.
Attend and participate in staff meetings.
Be pro-active in ensuring evidence-based practice; be able to use information from journals and other sources to ensure up to date clinical practice.
Participate in the teaching of undergraduate Orthoptic students and other health professionals.
Participate in the teaching and clinical training of outpatient staff: nurses and HCA’s in vision assessment, instillation of eye drops and imaging techniques.
Take an active role in audits in which effectiveness of Orthoptic care and treatments will be evaluated.
Contribute to the development of clinical protocols and evidenced based practice
Participate in research within Ophthalmology department.
Person specification
Experience of working with paediatric patients with complex needs.
Essential criteria
- experience of working with paediatric patients
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
- Susan Foster
- Job title
- Lead Orthoptist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0151 252 5215
- Additional information
For informal enquiries please contact Susan Foster, Lead Orthoptist or Judith Gray, Head of Optical services on 0151 252 5828
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