Job Description

We have a vacancy for a Fixed Term Specialist Orthoptist, this post is to cover Maternity Leave until January 2027. You will work independently as an autonomous practitioner providing flexible and patient centred care.



You will be responsible for managing a caseload of patients with a range of frequently complex conditions, appropriate to specialist knowledge and skill level and experience.



The post holder will work independently as an autonomous practitioner providing flexible and patient centred care

To be responsible for managing a caseload of patients with a range of frequently complex conditions, appropriate to specialist knowledge and skill level and experience.

The post holder will take responsibility for the management of their own caseload without direct supervision, whilst continuing to develop specialist clinical skills, knowledge and experience as identified in the post holder's Performance and Development Plan (PDP).

To support the implementation of service improvement and developments within the Trust Orthoptic service

The post holder will undertake clinical and department support duties.



We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.



FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.



WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.



All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Clinical :

To work within and adhere to the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, The Health Professions Council (HPC) standards of practice, the Trust policies and guidelines as an autonomous Orthoptist.



To be responsible for and manage one's own caseload working as an autonomous practitioner.



To undertake comprehensive and specialized Orthoptic assessments of paediatric and adult clients, where there can be significant barriers to communication and understanding e.g. significant neurological disorders, learning difficulties or complex multiple disabilities.



Examples of such patients include assessment of stroke patients during rehabilitation, and complex paediatric patients where specialist expertise is required for their assessment and treatment.



To use advanced clinical reasoning and assessment skills to provide an accurate diagnosis and an indication of likely outcome .



To formulate and carry out individual and agreed treatment plans based on an in-depth knowledge of evidence-based practice respecting individuality.



To reassess patient progress and alter treatment plans as necessary.



To provide condition-related information to patients/carers and other medical staff in an empathic manner. This information may be of a sensitive nature and will need to be phrased so that there is full understanding of the condition and treatment plan agreed.



To demonstrate highly developed physical skills including significant manual dexterity and speed, especially when assessing young children and in infants to ensure accuracy .



To refer on to other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including consultants as necessary.



To determine possible diagnosis , prognosis and management of those patients where the clinical signs and symptoms do not always fall into particular categories , and/or where information is limited / unavailable, which requires good analytical skills.



To encourage and counsel children having difficulty complying with agreed treatment plans - for example poor compliance with glasses and/or occlusion therapy, which requires excellent communication and negotiating skills.



To assess patients pre and post-operatively, and when required, to assist the surgeon by providing detailed measurement and assessment data e.g. during adjustable suture procedures, leading to the optimum surgical outcome for patients.



To participate in and manage specific clinics in the provision of the secondary community Orthoptic screening service, and to arrange onward referral to the Consultant Ophthalmologist as appropriate . Prioritisation of the referral is based on the results of the Orthoptic assessment.



To provide written reports, recommendations and discharge letters to health professionals, educational professionals and patient / carers in accordance with Trust policy and procedure.



To contribute to development of policies for the service.



To contribute to Health and Safety and Risk Management within the service, including the completion of risk assessments.



To be aware of barriers to communication; for example, those with expressive language difficulties (stroke patients) and those where English is not the first language and to overcome them effectively.



To exercise effective personal time management and punctuality.



To demonstrate own record keeping standards in accordance with Orthoptic professional standards of practice and report any non-compliance by others to Orthoptic team management.



Professional development



To keep a record of evidence of training and development activities and reflective practice in a professional portfolio to a standard required by the HPC, demonstrating on-going personal professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities.



To undertake relevant continuing professional development activities to meet your Performance and Development Plan (focusing on development of both clinical and leadership knowledge and skills) and complete Trust annual mandatory training, and specific Orthoptic annual updates as identified with your appraiser.



To be responsible for personal written and electronic clinical record keeping in accordance with Trust, Division and British and Irish Orthoptic Society guidelines.



To take part in an annual Development review leading to the production of a Personal Development plan linked to KSF.



To keep up to date with current evidence and research in order to maintain and develop practice in line with best practice.



To participate in teaching and advising other Health Professionals to ensure provision of good patient care.



To participate in training of Orthoptic students/work placement students and other health professionals where required



To broaden research and development skills through participation in audits and research projects within and outside the Trust.



To promote awareness of the Orthoptic role within the Trust and to other agencies, providing support and education e.g. presentations to groups within and outside the Trust



Department operational management



To undertake delegated tasks in the maintenance of work areas, including the safe use of equipment and storage of materials, complying with health, safety and manufacturers' guidelines and report non-compliance to Team Manager for Orthoptics.

In the absence of the Team Manager for Orthoptics (Band 7 ):

- to manage day to day operational issues for staff and caseload allocation e.g. planning work routines, staffing levels (reporting problems), monitoring work areas, reporting of clinical and staff incidents and theft, loss or damage.



Provide feedback in a positive manner at the Orthoptic staff meeting on relevant clinical and departmental issues contributing own ideas to problem solving solutions.



To be responsible for maintaining stock and advising on resources required to carry out the job



To ensure cost effective use of resource allocation for materials, advising the Clinical Service Manager for Orthoptics of any proactive action required .



To participate in, and comment on the delivery of Division business plan, Trust Orthoptic Business plan, and Orthoptic service delivery improvement and development.



As experience is achieved in the post, to take an active role in proposing changes in work practice and procedures to improve service delivery and benefits to patients through discussion with the Orthoptic management team.



To develop Risk Management skills ( e.g. Risk Assessment)



Equality and diversity



To form professional relationships with patients / carers / family members which may be in distressing circumstances, and who may exhibit challenging behaviour , and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.



To take account of the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and their contribution to the provision of a service sensitive to these patients' needs.



Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal



In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of clinical and operational supervision, annual Appraisal and Development Review and mid-term review, linked to a Performance and Development Plan (PDP).



Achieve the KSF outline dimensions levels and indicators required for the post at Foundation gateway and Second gateway.



To undertake the clinical guidance of Band 5 Orthoptists and support staff as delegated by a senior member of Orthoptic staff

Demonstrate and develop leadership skills:

lead by example, report problems and contribute to proactive action, be innovative, be guided by vision, strategies, goals and values, exhibit positive behaviour to influence staff participation, take responsibility when things go wrong in the Orthoptic service, celebrate Orthoptic staff achievements, give credit and praise to staff, develop mutual confidence within the Orthoptic service.