Highly Specialist Orthoptist

Barts Health NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 59,000; Part time

Job summary

Barts Health NHS Trust is seeking a part-time Orthoptist to join their team at Whipps Cross Hospital. This role offers development and leadership opportunities in core orthoptic clinics and extended roles in paediatrics and stroke services. The ideal candidate will have a strong clinical background and a commitment to providing high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Experience in multidisciplinary settings and providing training.
• Post-registration experience in specialist services such as paediatrics or neuro.
• Knowledge of current best practices in Orthoptics.

Responsibilities

• Provide an autonomous orthoptic service according to BIOS standards.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage patients as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Teach and educate healthcare professionals and students.

Skills

Specialist clinical skills across orthoptics

Excellent communication skills

Organizational and prioritization skills

Empathy and professionalism

Ability to analyze complex medical information

Education

BSc (Orth), BMedSci (Orth), or Diploma in British Orthoptics

Registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Membership of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)

Job description

All our hospitals have their own unique identities while sharing the same standards and values

You can shape your story with us.

Whether you’re looking to gain experience in a large, fast-paced hospital or get out into the community, we have a range of opportunities that allow you to build your entire career in one trust.

For us, every day is different. We provide care to a diverse population of 2.5 million across east London – that’s 6,000 people every day, speaking over 60 different languages. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to ensuring that people living in east London live healthy lives.

Site: Whipps Cross Hospital, Town: London, Salary: £51,883 - £58,544 pro rata per annum, Salary period: Yearly, Closing: 01/06/2025 23:59

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country and a leading healthcare provider in Britain.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus to improve all our services for patients continually.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. We aim to deliver high standards of harm-free care, always caring for patients in the right place at the right time, and to be an outstanding place to work where our WeCare values guide our actions.

Barts Health supports the Pregnancy Loss Pledge and commits to supporting staff through the distress of miscarriage.

Job overview

We have an exciting vacancy for a permanent, part-time Orthoptist position (2 days per week) starting from May 2025.

Your role will be varied and provide development and leadership opportunities, including core orthoptic clinics and extended roles in paediatrics ophthalmology, JIA clinics, and stroke services. You will also co-lead our community paediatric services, working closely with the team, paediatric ophthalmologist, and AHP colleagues. We seek an enthusiastic, highly motivated Orthoptist to join us.

The post involves working within multidisciplinary teams providing comprehensive ophthalmology services at the Eye Treatment Centre, Whipps Cross University Hospital, with sessions in the community, special schools, and stroke services at Newham Hospital. The Eye Treatment Centre covers all ophthalmology specialties and offers a busy eye emergency service.

Main duties of the job

To provide an autonomous orthoptic service, both preventative and curative, according to BIOS standards.

To use advanced clinical expertise to assess, diagnose, and manage patients as part of a multidisciplinary team.

To teach and educate healthcare professionals, including students, GPs, nurses, and junior doctors.

To be the Lead Orthoptist for Community Orthoptic Services, overseeing organization and operational management.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to being an outstanding place to work, promoting inclusion and a supportive environment where staff can thrive. Our vision is to be a high-performing, innovative NHS hospital group providing safe, harm-free, and compassionate care, and an excellent place to work guided by our WeCare values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We support flexible working arrangements and aim to provide the best experience for our staff. The full job description and person specification are available in the attached documents.

Person specification

Experience

• Experience working in a team, including multidisciplinary settings
• Providing advice, training, and support to staff and students
• Knowledge of current best practices in Orthoptics
• Understanding of clinical governance and legal responsibilities
• Post-registration experience in specialist services such as paediatrics, neuro, community, or glaucoma
• Membership of relevant interest groups
• Experience with Cerner Millennium or similar systems
• Audit and research experience

Skills

• Specialist clinical skills across orthoptics
• Ability to analyze complex medical information and develop care plans
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Empathy and professionalism in patient interactions
• Knowledge sharing and training abilities
• Autonomous working and initiative
• Organizational and prioritization skills

Knowledge

• Commitment to professional development
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Flexibility and reliability
• Compassionate attitude
• Attention to detail and accurate record-keeping
• Understanding of non-discriminatory practices
• Professional approach in challenging situations
• Evidence of CPD in line with HPC requirements

Qualifications

• BSc (Orth), BMedSci (Orth), or Diploma in British Orthoptics
• Registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)
• Membership of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)

Other

• Ability to travel between sites
• Ability to perform duties with necessary aids and adaptations

We are dedicated to an inclusive, equitable working environment, supporting applications from diverse backgrounds, including those under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. We reserve the right to close vacancies early if sufficient applications are received. All applications are processed via our recruitment systems, and successful candidates may require a Disclosure and Barring Service check.