Advanced Orthoptist - Neuro-Orthoptics, Stroke and In-patient Lead (Band 7) - Orthoptics - Lanc[...]

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Preston; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a dedicated Orthoptist to join their dynamic team. This role offers the opportunity to lead and innovate within Neuro-Orthoptic and Stroke services, making a significant impact on patient care. As a key player in a collaborative environment, you will engage with multidisciplinary teams and contribute to the development of best practices in orthoptic services. The position also emphasizes professional growth, with support for continuous development and mentorship. If you're passionate about making a difference in patient outcomes and enjoy working in a supportive team, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• Registered with the HCPC and evidence of ongoing professional development.
• In-depth experience in Neuro-Orthoptic and Orthoptic Stroke care.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation of Neuro-Orthoptic and Stroke services.
• Participate in clinical teaching for healthcare professionals.

Skills

Neuro-Orthoptics

Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab

Clinical Teaching

Staff Development

Evidence-Based Practice

Education

HCPC Registration

Masters Module in Orthoptic Stroke Care

BIOS Recognised Teaching Qualification

Tools

Humphrey Visual Field Analyser

Job description

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

Band 7

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

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

Job overview

Are you an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated Orthoptist who already has a keen interest in Neuro-Orthoptics, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab and i s loo king for a new challenge ?

W ould you like to play a key part in the organising and running of our Neuro-Orthoptic, Stroke and In-patient servi ces?

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 u ndertake 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 e nsure the provision of high quality, evidence based Orthoptic Services along with continuous improvement and development in line with b e s t p r actice s t a n d a r ds in collaboration with the Head Orthoptist.

You will p articipate 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 t he s ervices 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.

Ens u r es t h a ta l ls t a f fc o m p l y w i t h T r u s t p o li c i esas relevant to their role and that st a f f r ec ei v e t he tr a i n i ng r e q u i r ed t o m a i nta i nc o m p e t e n ce t oe x ec u t e t heir 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

• 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
• Masters module in Orthoptic Stroke care.
• Stroke and Rehab related Orthoptic qualification
• Neuro-Orthoptic related qualification
• BIOS recognised teaching qualification
• Medical Exemptions Qualification

Knowledge and Experience

• 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.
• 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

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we’re looking forward to receiving your application. You should be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received so it would be best to apply as soon as you can. We’ll contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application so please check the e-mail account that you applied from (including spam/junk) regularly.

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