Orthoptist - Chertsey

OrthoptistNHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Orthoptist to join our team at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a fixed term post.

The Trust's main two sites are Ashford Hospital and St. Peter's Hospital. Day case surgery takes place in dedicated theatres at Ashford Hospital with Paediatric and other selected surgeries at St Peter's Hospital. We are a forward looking department with a team of 19 medical staff including 1 with an interest in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Motility and 1 Paediatric Optometrist.

Orthoptists with relevant previous clinical experience will be recruited to Band 6, with the opportunity to undertake and develop skills in extended roles.

Newly qualified Orthoptists are also welcome to apply and will be appointed at Band 5 level, and supported through mentorship and preceptorship to develop their competencies.

Main duties of the job

We have a team of 6 Orthoptists, providing expert knowledge in the assessment of visual function and ocular motility disorders in all age groups, including low vision services and stroke visual rehabilitation. The department is an accredited clinical undergraduate Orthoptic training centre. Your duties will include assessment and treatment of a wide variety of clinical conditions in both paediatric and adult clinics. We also provide secondary vision screening clinics.

You must be able to work independently but also integrate well with a good humoured and friendly team. CPD is actively promoted within the department and dedicated time is provided.

You will work as part of the Orthoptic and Ophthalmology team as an autonomous practitioner providing high quality Orthoptic care. Assessing, diagnosing and managing patients referred to the Orthoptic department. Your duties will include assessment and treatment of a wide variety of clinical conditions in both paediatric and adult clinics.

Working for our organisation

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with our strong commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the Job description and Person Specification in the attachments section on this page. This document contains a full detailed description of the role and what the main responsibilities and duties are, along with the criteria that are required for the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• BMEDSci or BSc Orthoptics or Diploma from the British Orthoptic Council
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration

Desirable criteria

• Teaching qualification/ Clinical tutor course

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience in all areas of clinical orthoptics
• Previously worked single handed and as a member of a team
• Experience in teaching clinical orthoptic skills to orthoptic students, pre-reg optometrists, trainee GPs and junior doctors
• Experience in CPD

Desirable criteria

• Experience in secondary screening
• Experience in audit

Skills

Essential criteria

• Confident to work independently and as a member of the team
• Able to organise and manage own workload
• Professional attitude to work.
• Motivated and enthusiastic.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with colleagues and staff at all levels.
• Good IT skills.

Desirable criteria

• Willingness to contribute to research within the department
• Knowledge of Cerner/ Evolve