Orthoptist

A full time permanent Band 5 Orthoptist post, based and the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, City Hospital.

The post holder will provide autonomous clinical diagnostic and therapeutic services across a wide range of clinical conditions including, Paediatrics, Neuro-ophthalmology and Trauma, in two acute units. Following a period of clinical experience, they will also be involved in Primary Vision Screening and Community Out-reach clinics.

The team of 12 Orthoptists and 10 Ophthalmic Technicians are a supportive team, providing supervision and mentorship in line with the British and Irish Orthoptic Society Pre-ceptorship programme.

This post is suitable for a new graduate that wants to gain a diverse range of experience working within a highly motivated team.

To carry out visual and ocular assessment on patients referred to the Orthoptic department from various other hospital departments, including paediatrics, accident and emergency, maxillo-facial, neurology, endocrinology and the child development centre.

To take sole responsibility to formulate relevant discharge plans and onward referral. This patient group includes patients suffering from strabismus, amblyopia (reduced vision with no apparent pathological cause), complex congenital and acquired conditions including cranial nerve palsy (neurological and systemic in origin), ocular trauma and genetic ocular disorders and associated ocular abnormalities.

To assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with Glaucoma by performing, recording and interpreting the appropriate manual and automated visual field test.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBT) is an integrated care organisation with a budget of approximately £600 million and over 7,000 staff. Diversity and social care is at the core of what we do as the Trust provides Community and Acute Services to over half a million people in an urban centre that demands massive regeneration and has substantial premature mortality.

**We have three newly emerging strategic objectives**:
1. Our People - to cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff
2. Our Patients - to be good or outstanding in everything we do
3. Our Population - to work seamlessly with our partners to improve lives

The post holder will work within a large team of Orthoptists. New Graduates will been supported by a mentor who will follow the British and Irish Orthoptic Society Pre-ceptorship programme.

The clinical role will encompass a wide range of paediatric and adult patients. Supervision will be provided to allow the post holder to develop their skills and knowledge in the acute and community setting.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of what this role entails