Specialist Orthoptist

Cddft; Tees Valley; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Orthoptist to join our dynamic department. You will manage your own general Orthoptic caseload, performing new and follow-up assessments, and contribute to urgent care and secondary screening clinics.

You will have opportunities to work in multi-disciplinary clinics with paediatric ophthalmology and optometrists, with emphasis on high-quality patient experience and CPD development across Trust sites.

Qualifications

• Experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics including specialist services.
• Experience of Goldmann visual field testing and Orthoptic teaching.
• Engagement in CPD and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage own Orthoptic caseload with new and follow-up assessments.
• Support urgent care clinic and secondary screening clinics.
• Collaborate in multidisciplinary clinics with paediatric Ophthalmology and Optometry.
• Educate and train healthcare professionals and students; participate in CPD.

Skills

Orthoptic experience

Goldmann visual field testing

Clinical teaching

CPD

Time management

Education

Diploma/degree in Orthoptics

Tools

Orthoptic equipment

Computer software

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Orthoptist

The closing date is 25 November 2026

A post has become available for a Specialist Orthoptist at County Durhamand Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. This is a dynamic department with a strongfocus on quality which is constantly striving to improve services for ourpatients and ensure that their experience is as good as possible. We are looking for a forward thinking andinnovative Orthoptist to become part of our team

Main duties of the job

The candidate will hold their own general Orthoptic caseload and willperform both new and follow-up assessments . The post holder will workalongside our urgent care clinic seeing urgent Orthoptic case and also toprovide secondary screening clinics. There will be opportunity to work inmulti-disciplinary clinics with both our paediatric Ophthalmologist andOptometrists. The successful candidatemay be required to work at any of our Trust sites and will therefore requireexcellent organisational skills. Our service has an active Orthoptic strokeservice and there may be opportunity to gain experience in this area.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will act as a source of expertise on the diagnosis andmanagement of ocular motility disorder to patients, carers,G.P.s, OphthalmologyMedical staff and other health care professionals. They will be required toaccurately diagnose and develop effective treatment plans for patients andensure timely review.. They will appropriately discharge and make onwardreferral to other services within the Trust for both Ophthalmology andemotional support, involving external agencies such as the DVLA and localgovernment sensory support services where necessary. The post holder will berequired to educate and train other Health care professionals, undergraduateOrthoptic students, medical students, Optometry and work experiencestudents. They will be required toparticipate actively in continuous professional development to benefit boththemselves and the Orthoptic services

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics including specialist services ideally e.g. Paediatrics, Neurology, Community services, adjustable suture squint surgery
• Experience of Goldmann visual field testing
• Experience of clinical teaching ideally including Orthoptic undergraduates

Statutory Registration

• HCPC registration
• Ongoing CPD

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Good communication with patients and other professionals,
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Ability to organise own workload and clinics
• Manual dexterity in the use of Orthoptic equipment
• Experienced with computer software

Special Requirements

• Up to date knowledge of clinical techniques and technology
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in Orthoptics

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£39,959 to £48,117 a yearper annum, pro rata