Specialist Orthoptist

OUR VALUES IN ACTION

●Care and Compassion ●Quality and Teamwork ●Dignity and Respect ●Openness, honesty and responsibility

Band 6 Development Post (Annex 21)

Hours of Work: 37 hours / week (RWW applied)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Orthoptist to join our friendly and supportive team at the Borders Eye Centre, Melrose. The orthoptic team comprises 1.4WTE, and the successful candidate will work alongside our multidisciplinary team including ophthalmologists, nurses, optometrist, technicians, healthcare assistants, eye clinic liaison officer and administrative staff.

We welcome applications from newly qualified Orthoptists for this Section 21 post and are committed to supporting your career growth. All newly qualified Orthoptists will be required to complete the NHS Flying Start Programme. You will need to meet the requirements of the programme within your first year of practice and full support will be given to you for this. You will progress to a Band 6 after completion of NHS Flying Start and having evidence of upholding the professional standards and competencies as set out by BIOS and HCPC.

** Please note this is a trainee post therefore Section 21 applies **

For trainees covered by Annex 21 where the period of training lasts for between one and four years, pay will be as follows:

• up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate;

• more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate of the qualified;

• more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.

• more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate.
For further guidance on Annex 21 – please follow this link: Annex 21 – Arrangements for pay and banding of trainees

We are looking for an autonomous practitioner who will assess, diagnose, and manage patients referred in to the orthoptic service using evidence-based practice. Your role will involve adult and paediatric motility patients, including patients referred from A + E, maxillofacial and neurology departments. You will be involved in the Vision Screening Programme and reading difficulties clinic. You will practice independently, but support and advice will be available as required. This post would be of interest to a candidate keen to train and develop in the role of Low Vision, and to seize development opportunities as they arise.

As a teaching department, your role would involve providing practice-based learning to undergraduate Orthoptic students, and other professionals as required.

The post will be based in the Borders General Hospital but will include travel to outreach clinics.

For further information please contact Dr Joanne Forster – telephone , email

NHS Scotland is reducing their full-time working week from 37.5 to 37 hours per week from 1 April 2024 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff. This advert and any subsequent offer/contract of employment therefore reflects the new working hours. However, as not all service areas will be able to adopt the 37 hour working week immediately from 1 April 2024, you may be required to work up to an additional 30 minutes per week for a temporary period, for which you would be paid, until the service you are working in changes rosters or working patterns to accommodate the new reduced working week. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Hiring Manager.

***PLEASE NOTE: We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early***

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.