Orthoptist

Job overview

We are expanding and now is the time to come and join our team. Are you motivated & driven to deliver excellence in clinical care? Then we want to hear from you.

We are looking to appoint 2 full-time band 5 Orthoptists to come and join South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is a perfect job for new graduates.

The post will be based at The James Cook University Hospital with sessions undertaken each week at our satellite clinic at Low Grange, Middlesbrough, with other team members.

Main duties of the job

As a newly qualified Orthoptist you will be guided on your way as an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will provide high-quality, advanced specialised orthoptic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as part of a busy multidisciplinary ophthalmology team across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and various satellite sites.

The post holder will work both as an autonomous practitioner as well as part of the ophthalmology team including orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, and nurses, providing orthoptic practice to both paediatric and adult patients, including those with complex conditions.

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients referred to the Orthoptic department for patients of all ages using advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.

The post holder will be competent in the use of specialised examination techniques and equipment to provide a high-quality service.

The post holder will also participate in undergraduate/postgraduate teaching provided by the ophthalmology service once or if you have qualified for 2 years or more.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become one of the first acute hospital trusts in England since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a rating increase to good from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the care it delivers to patients and service users.

Recently rated as one of the best in the country for patient safety and one of the top 40 hospitals by CHKS for the tenth year running, the Trust is one of the largest Foundation Trusts in England. Working in the Northeast offers an excellent quality of life. This area boasts great transport links with easy access to a beautiful coastline/countryside and a great range of local amenities.

Applicants should possess a Diploma/degree in Orthoptics, recognised by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), and full registration with HCPC.

The successful candidate would be appointed under NHS agenda for change terms and conditions.

Working for our organisation

Recently rated as one of the best in the country for patient safety and one of the top 40 hospitals by CHKS for the tenth year running, the Trust is one of the largest Foundation Trusts in England. Working in the Northeast offers an excellent quality of life. This area boasts great transport links with easy access to a beautiful coastline/countryside and a great range of local amenities.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to:

Explore leadership within the NHS Promote Trust Values and Behaviours Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role

After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bitesize programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential criteria

Up to date knowledge of current practice and techniques Evidence of continuing professional development Ability to make clinical decisions autonomously to best meet patient needs, available evidence and service needs IT skills - use of Microsoft office excel, outlook, powerpoint & word

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of relevant appropriate national guidance NICE guidance

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Degree/diploma in Orthoptics HCPC registration

Experience

Essential criteria

Up to date knowledge of current practice and techniques Evidence of continuing professional development Appropriate clinical experience and competence in relevant clinical setting which equips the post-holder to work in a clinical role

Desirable criteria

Ability to design & follow policies and procedures as set by the Trust and department

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with patients and other professionals. Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients and carers/relatives. Demonstrates flexibility and ability to digress & adapt from current plans Good planning & organisational skills and good time management Being able to make judgements relating to diagnosis Organises own workload and appointments Able to carry out straightforward tasks Manual dexterity in the use of Orthoptic equipment Observe patient confidentiality, teamwork, self-motivated, mature and clinically experienced Ability to work single-handed Demonstrates self-awareness of own role & levels of competence and awareness of responsibilities within a team

Desirable criteria

Computing skills for audit, research etc Ability to use own judgements to aid in the development of the service Ability to travel to other locations, as required Ability to make decisions that will not cause any adverse situations at a later date

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.

As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.

If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at 

The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.

Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.

Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.

Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.

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