Orthoptist

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000

Job description

Main area Orthoptist (Band 5) Grade Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 6 months (37.5 hrs per week, flexible working patterns; 9 day fortnight (Post ends mid September 2025)) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (per annum) Job ref 387-S4484-LH

Site Bristol Eye Hospital Town Bristol Salary £29,970 - £36,483 per annum, pro rata. Salary period Yearly Closing 02/04/2025 23:59

As an organisation we recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

We are seeking a FULL TIME, FIXED TERM , BAND 5 Orthoptist at the Bristol Eye Hospital (Six Months). The successful applicant 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 an Orthoptist who is looking to expand their knowledge and skills at a large teaching hospital and is an excellent opportunity for a newly qualified Orthoptist; however, we welcome applications from any qualified Orthoptist looking to work in a large department or moving into the area. We have a preceptorship and mentoring programme, protected CPD time, inter departmental teaching and 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.

We have one Advanced Practitioner Orthoptist in Neuro Ophthalmology and 2 trainee Orthoptic AP’s in Paediatric Ophthalmology. We are a recognised Orthoptic student placement centre and regularly teach medical and optometry students from Bristol and Cardiff Universities and The University of the West of England (UWE). A degree or Diploma in Orthoptics and registration with the HCPC are essential.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. 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 the South West has to offer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

• BSc Orthoptics or equivalent or awaiting final results.
• Registration with HCPC.
• A level A or B.
• Another relevant Qualification.
• Teaching certificate.
• Empathetic manner.
• Demonstrates Trusts values.
• Works well as part of a team.

Knowledge and Experience

• 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

• To have a broad and detailed knowledge of visual and ocular motility defects.
• Excellent observational, analytical and reflective skills in order to interpret findings and recommend treatment or further investigation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. These should be verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate information that may be sensitive or hard to accept or understand in a sympathetic and empathetic manner.
• To have an awareness of the impact that the information given may have a profound impact on patients and their families and have the ability to provide necessary support.
• To be able to manage working under pressure.
• To have ability to prioritise workload.
• To be self-motivated to improve skills and knowledge to benefit the orthoptic service for patients.
• To be flexible in approach and adaptable to new situations.

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.