Head Orthoptist | Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Isle of Wight NHS; England; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider on the Isle of Wight is looking for an experienced Orthoptist to lead their orthoptic department. You will oversee service developments and provide specialized training and education. The role involves planning individual treatment plans and requires strong clinical knowledge. The position offers generous relocation support and a commitment to professional development.

Benefits

Generous relocation allowance up to £10,000

Support for professional development

Travel cost support for visits

Qualifications

• Experience as an Orthoptist and leading clinical services.
• Strong commitment to patient care.
• Ability to train and educate others.

Responsibilities

• Lead the orthoptic service and oversee service developments.
• Plan and implement individualised orthoptic treatment plans.
• Provide specialised training and education to healthcare professionals.

Skills

Clinical knowledge

Teamwork

Communication skills

Problem solving

Time management

Job description

Overview

Calling all Orthoptists!

Band 8a: £53,755 - £60,504 pro rata, per annum

The Isle of Wight Orthoptic department is looking for an experienced Orthoptist to lead our service with the exciting opportunity to also develop into a variety of extended roles. Our friendly team provides fully comprehensive ophthalmic services to the residents of the Isle of Wight.

Although small, our orthoptic department is busy covering paediatric and adult strabismus cases. There is a wide diversity of squints and many interesting and complex cases.

While your primary focus will be on orthoptics, you will have the flexibility and autonomy to shape the role according to your professional interests. As a small team, we are committed to supporting your development and can offer dedicated time and financial resources to facilitate your growth and advancement. We will also provide a recruitment and retention premium as well as a generous relocation allowance of up to £10,000, subject to Trust policy, to help finance your move.

Moving to the island will be one of the best decisions you make and we look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Visits to our team are welcomed and we would encourage you to spend the day with us, we will be able to support your travel costs. For an informal conversation regarding this role please call us on 01983 524081 ext 4497.

Responsibilities

• You will lead the IOW orthoptic service. You will oversee service developments which includes working closely with Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• As an autonomous practitioner, you will be responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring individualised orthoptic treatment plans and care pathways for patients across all age groups, utilising advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practices.
• You will have an extended role which will be tailored to your specific areas of interest.
• You will provide specialised training and education to students, pre-registration optometrists, healthcare assistants, and nurses.

We are looking for someone who

• Puts patient care first.
• Will apply good clinical knowledge.
• Has strong teamworking and communication skills.
• Has good problem solving, time management and prioritisation skills.
• Has a strong commitment to learning and development of themselves and others.

This advert closes on Monday 20 Oct 2025