Head Orthoptist

Job summary

Calling all Orthoptists!

Band 8a: £53,755 - £60,504 pro rata, per annum

The Isle of Wight Orthoptic department is looking for an experienced Orthoptist to lead our service with the exciting opportunity to also develop into a variety of extended roles. Our friendly team provides fully comprehensive ophthalmic services to the residents of the Isle of Wight.

Although small, our orthoptic department is busy covering paediatric and adult strabismus cases. There is a wide diversity of squints and many interesting and complex cases.

While your primary focus will be on orthoptics, you will have the flexibility and autonomy to shape the role according to your professional interests. As a small team, we are committed to supporting your development and can offer dedicated time and financial resources to facilitate your growth and advancement. We will also provide a recruitment and retention premium as well as a generous relocation allowance of up to £10,000, subject to Trust policy, to help finance your move.

Moving to the island will be one of the best decisions you make and we look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Visits to our team are welcomed and we would encourage you to spend the day with us, we will be able to support your travel costs. For an informal conversation regarding this role please call us on 01983 524081 ext 4497.

Main duties of the job

The Isle of Wight may seem a distant island but lying only four miles from the southern coast of England and with excellent transport links to the mainland it is merely a hop away with the shortest crossing taking only 10 minutes.

The island, as it is known by its residents, was designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty in 1963 and more recently as a UNESCO Biosphere in 2019. With more sunshine hours than anywhere in the UK and bordered with 57 miles of stunning coastline including over 25 beaches the island is a playground for water sports enthusiasts, sailors and beach lovers. Aside from the coast there are over 500 miles of footpaths taking you through stunning countryside. There are also over 50 attractions all within easy reach along with many festivals and carnivals throughout the year and a plethora of restaurants and eateries.

About us

Working for our Trust offers numerous benefits, including access to an onsite day nursery, a cycle-to-work scheme, discounts at local businesses and gyms, as well as the opportunity to rent the Trust's beach hut in Ryde. We also provide various flexible working arrangements;speak to us about how we can accommodate a schedule that suits your needs. If it aligns with our service requirements, we will strive to make it feasible for you.

Isle of Wight is a tourist destination for many on the south coast. Whether your passion is the outdoors, with beaches, sailing, kite surfing, and hiking on our doorstep, or culture the Isle of Wight has something for everyone. If you enjoy beautiful countryside and beaches that span a 70 mile coastline, coupled with a rich history of multiple architectures then this could be your perfect location.

If you like to travel and explore, ferries from Portsmouth sail to the Channel Islands, France and Spain and cruise ships depart from nearby Southampton to the Mediterranean, Baltic and Nordic seas. Southampton airport is less than 25 miles away, serving destinations across the British Isles and Europe.

Job responsibilities

• You will lead the IOW orthoptic service. You will oversee service developments which includes working closely with Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• As an autonomous practitioner, you will be responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring individualised orthoptic treatment plans and care pathways for patients across all age groups, utilising advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practices.
• You will have an extended role which will be tailored to your specific areas of interest.
• You will provide specialised training and education to students, pre-registration optometrists, healthcare assistants, and nurses.

We are looking for someone who:

• Puts patient care first.
• Will apply good clinical knowledge.
• Has strong teamworking and communication skills.
• Has good problem solving, time management and prioritisation skills.
• Has a strong commitment to learning and development of themselves and others.

Qualifications and role specific knowledge

Essential

• Diploma or undergraduate degree in orthoptics
• Extensive clinical experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Masters qualification or specialist postgraduate training
• Experience in service improvement
• Leadership qualification
• Research/ Publications/ Presentations experience

Physical Skills

Essential

• Ability to operate the full range of orthoptic equipment within the service
• Dexterity to accurately perform relevant examinations

Desirable

• Ability to train others on orthoptic equipment

Abilities and Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to prioritise clinical workload and respond calmly and logically
• Ability to gain the confidence of children, families, and adults
• Good therapeutic skills including empathy, active listening and understanding of therapeutic boundaries

Desirable

• Ability to adapt the service to changing needs and demands
• Supportive of the development of other members of staff
• Sympathetic, friendly, caring and enthusiastic

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).