Orthoptist

Job summary
We are seeking one FULL TIME, PERMANENT, BAND 5 Orthoptist and one FULL TIME FIXED TERM BAND 5 ORTHOPTIST at the Bristol Eye Hospital. The successful applicants will join a highly motivated team of 15 Orthoptists and will gain invaluable experience in all aspects of Orthoptics. The post would be ideally suited to Orthoptists who are looking to expand their knowledge and skills at a large teaching hospital or would also be an excellent opportunity for newly qualified Orthoptists. We have an excellent preceptorship and mentoring programme, protected CPD time, inter departmental teaching and we actively encourage audit to improve our service. This is a tertiary referral , teaching and research hospital with strong links with the University of Bristol.

The post holder will be based at the Eye Hospital which is situated in the heart of the city of Bristol. The workload at the Eye Hospital will include specialist paediatric and paediatric neuro ophthalmology clinics, motility and adnexal clinics, adult neuro ophthalmology, stroke and brain injury assessments and on site adjustable suture assessments. We also run Orthoptic Led neuro ophthalmology clinics and Stroke Clinics , and we have an SEN speciality service including weekly functional vision clinics led by one of our Paediatric Ophthalmologists so there is plenty of scope to learn and develop your skills.

Main duties of the job

• To be an autonomous practitioner undertaking the investigation, diagnosis and management of patients referred to the Orthoptic Department at Bristol Eye Hospital. These include a wide range of complex cases from general and speciality clinics e.g. paediatric, motility, neurology, adnexal and A&E that are referred locally and from other centres in the South West of England.
• To make decisions on appropriate referral to the ophthalmologist for further investigations or surgery and to fast track them if clinically indicated.
• To partake in staff meetings, case discussion meetings and audit meetings
• To be a part of the Orthoptic team, to support and learn from your colleagues
• To keep up to date with current research and to undertake audit to help improve our service to patients.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details
Date posted: 05 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
per annum, pro rata for part time roles
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time,
Flexible working
Reference number: 387-S7927-MJA
Job locations: Bristol Eye Hospital
Lower Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS1 2LX
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
We are very lucky to have such a dynamic and well motivated team, we have 11 female and 4 male Orthoptists and span all ages and many ethnicities. We work at the main bases of Bristol Eye Hospital and Weston General Hospital but also in sites all around Bristol in community clinics, Hubs and Special Schools.

Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stones throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. We committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure were meeting our pledge.

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and Person Specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• BSc Orthoptics or equivalent or awaiting final results
• Registration with HCPC

Desirable

• A level A or B
• Another relevant Qualification
• Teaching certificate

Aptitudes
Essential

• Empathetic manner
• Demonstrates Trusts values
• Works well as part of a team
• Good communication skills

Knowledge and Experience
Desirable

• The post is suitable for a newly qualified Orthoptic graduate
• To have been part of a team
• To have taken an active part in audit and research
• Competence in the use of a variety of visual field analysers and to interpret the result

Skills and Abilities
Desirable

• Some previous relevant work experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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

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).