Orthoptic Assistant Practitioner

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an enthusiastic orthoptist to support the Glaucoma Monitoring Service. You will undertake clinical assessments and diagnostic testing within our glaucoma pathway, and deliver orthoptic-led vision screening for Reception-aged children across North Devon, with patient-facing and administrative duties across community and outpatient settings.

This fixed-term role offers development opportunities, including progression to Band 4 via

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel throughout North Devon to support vision screening activities.
• Good organisational and administrative skills.
• Commitment to delivering high-quality patient care.
• Enjoys working directly with patients of all ages.

Responsibilities

• Undertake delegated clinical assessments and diagnostic testing within glaucoma monitoring pathway.
• Contribute to orthoptic-led vision screening for Reception-aged children in North Devon.
• Carry out patient-facing and administrative tasks across community and outpatient settings.
• Work within a supportive team with supervision and ongoing training.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Organisation

Patient care

Travel

Job description

The successful candidate will be an integral member of our Orthoptic team, supporting Glaucoma Monitoring Service. You will undertake delegated clinical assessments and diagnostic testing within our established glaucoma monitoring pathway, helping to ensure timely monitoring and follow-up for patients at risk of sight loss. Vision Screening Service You will help deliver orthoptic-led vision screening to Reception-aged children across North Devon, helping to identify visual problems at an early stage and ensuring children are referred promptly for assessment and treatment where required. The role includes both patient-facing and administrative responsibilities and will involve working across community and outpatient settings., This post can be offered as a developmental role. Candidates currently employed as a Band 3 Support Worker will be required to complete the Trainee Assistant Practitioner qualification to progress to Band 4. Salary will remain at Band 3 until the qualification has been successfully achieved. Why join us? This is an excellent opportunity to gain specialist experience within ophthalmology and orthoptics while working alongside a supportive and experienced team. The post offers:

• A varied role across both adult and paediatric services
• Opportunity to develop clinical assessment skills
• Experience working within innovative allied health professional-led services
• Supportive supervision and ongoing training
• The possibility of longer-term employment opportunities within the service

Working for Royal Devon

Our Orthoptic Service delivers specialist care across North Devon and is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred services. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, supportive team that values development, innovation and continuous improvement. If you are looking for a rewarding role that makes a real difference to patients' lives, we would love to hear from you. Our teams are caring, compassionate and inclusive, so whatever your background, you will be made to feel very welcome.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and reliable Band 4 or Band 3 individual who:

• Enjoys working directly with patients of all ages
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Can work independently whilst also contributing positively to a team
• Has good organisational and administrative skills
• Is committed to delivering high-quality patient care
• Is able to travel throughout North Devon to support vision screening activities

Previous experience in an ophthalmic, healthcare support, assistant practitioner or allied health professional role would be advantageous, although full competency training for the role will be provided.

This is a fixed term contract for 3 Years until 16.9.2029. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity. This is an internal vacancy for Royal Devon employees.

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Preference will be given to staff with 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon. The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received. The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people's own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC). Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Looking after you is important to us. We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies. If you are starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays. You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups. We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team. This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there. Salary is not the only financial benefit You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available - if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.