Orthoptist

Join our team; we are looking for an ambitious, self motivated individual to join a friendly orthoptic department.

Our department is mainly composed of two orthoptists, a paediatric ophthalmology consultant, and an optometrist. We collaborate closely with community optometrists, the paediatrics department, junior doctors, and the outpatient department across the trust.

This role is suitable for newly qualified orthoptists as well as individuals with limited experience. The appointed candidate will be offered structured training and development to support progression and achievement of the full extended role. Candidates should be aware that, depending on experience and demonstrated competence, they may be appointed at Band 5, Band 6, or Band 7, and the post is intended as a progression/development role with expectations increasing as skills and autonomy are evidenced.

The caseload is varied and will include core orthoptic, adult ocular motility and paediatric clinics linked with the ophthalmologist. Refraction clinics linked to the optometrist and orthoptic led sessions. There will also be support and encouragement to be involved in an extended role.

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Please see attached the job description and person specification for details around the main responsibilities of the job role.

Band 5 Orthoptist (competent practitioner with structured support):
Youre expected to deliver safe, effective orthoptic assessment and treatment for the core caseload, working to SOPs/protocols and recognising your limits. You can work autonomously day-to-day, including lone working at times, but you should seek senior advice when needed (e.g., complex presentations, uncertainty, deterioration, safeguarding, or when management needs to change).

Band 6 Orthoptist (autonomous clinician managing complexity and risk):
Youre expected to run clinics independently and take clear accountability for your clinical decision-making across a broader and more complex case mix. This includes assessing/diagnosing/managing patients with a wide range of binocular vision and VA abnormalities, organising and prioritising your workload, and acting as an advice resource within your specialist area. Band 6 roles commonly include managing a complex caseload and defined single-handed practice (e.g. community), with escalation to ophthalmology when required.

Band 7 Orthoptist (advanced practice plus leadership and service accountability):
Youre expected to combine highly specialist clinical practice (often the go-to for complex assessment/diagnosis/management and second opinions) with leadership responsibilities that shape quality, safety, education, and service development. In practice, this means advanced autonomy and complex decision-making, contributing to guideline development/audit/service improvement, and providing senior supervision/teaching across the team and wider MDT. This aligns with the British and Irish Orthoptic Society advanced practice framing (four pillars: clinical, education, leadership, research) and the expectation that advanced practice is characterised by high autonomy and complex decision-making, typically underpinned by Masters-level capability.

• DBO in Orthoptics
• Degree in Orthoptics
• HCPC Registered - B7 only
• Understanding of CPD
• Understanding of Visual field testing

• Role suitable for newly qualified Orthoptists
• Practices / supports evidence based practice.
• Previous experience in a hospital setting
• Knowledge of NHS waiting times, regulations, and access targets
• Good…