Head Orthoptist in Essex

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

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.

Person Specification

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 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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.