Experienced Orthoptist/Orthoptist

Job summary

Newcastle Eye Centre continually improves how it offers high quality services for patients and excellent career satisfaction for its staff.

Our visionary approach includes working closely with our consultant colleagues and other eye professionals to ensure we can provide healthcare at its best with people at our heart and we would love to hear from those who share our vision of collaborative working.

Our Orthoptic Department are delighted to be in a position to seek an Orthoptist to join the large team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. We have a diverse clinical workload including paediatrics, adult motility, neuro-ophthalmology, thyroid and oculo-plastics in both community and hospital settings as well as involvement in pre-school orthoptic assessment clinics.

Such a comprehensive range of services means we are in the enviable position of being able to offer opportunities for training and development in specific areas of interest, according to service need, plus exceptional opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) as we seek to ensure every member of our staff is provided with the relevant training and support needed to liberate their potential.

Other duties include provision of post graduate training across a wide range of disciplines including Orthoptic under-graduates, pre-registration Optometrists, nursing staff, and junior medical staff preparing for Royal College of Ophthalmologists exams and participation in clinical and medical audit and research.

Main duties of the job

  • To assess and diagnose adult and paediatric cases registered within Orthoptics/Ophthalmology
  • Create and deliver specialised individual treatment programmes as agreed with the client
  • To work within the Directorate of Ophthalmology, a teaching facility and tertiary referral centre for patients with complex eye problems
  • To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team in a supported environment
  • Responsible for patients undergoing orthoptic treatment as in-patients or out-patients and to liaise with experienced orthoptists regarding problems arising
  • To individually and/or in conjunction with colleagues, formulate individualised treatment plans for children and adults attending routine and specialist clinics
  • Generate comprehensive patient records to reflect the Trust standard
  • Provide advice to patients/carers regarding care and treatment
  • Incorporate research-based evidence into orthoptic practice
  • Work within the scope and code of professional practice
  • Observe clinical guidelines and work within specific protocols where appropriate

Interview Date Monday, 24 June 2024

37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week

About us

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 16,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.

We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 2 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a large tertiary referral centre and applications are also welcomed from newly and recently qualified Orthoptists. Consideration will be given to applicants who do not meet the criteria for Band 6 who meet the criteria for appointment at Band 5. Appointment in these circumstances will be subject to satisfactory completion of a specified period of supervision and training before moving to Band 6. If appointed at Band 5, to attain Band 6 you will be required to have significant post-graduate experience and achieve a portfolio of evidence demonstrating specialist skills and experience necessary for clinical assessment within orthoptic subspecialties (e.g. neuro-ophthalmology, thyroid, neonatal, genetics). Failure to attain the significant post-graduate experience and portfolio of evidence within 18 months of date of appointment may result in a review of your employment.

A Degree or Diploma in Orthoptics and State Registration with the HCPC is essential. A car driver/owner is desirable.

Band 6

  • As an autonomous practitioner to accept, assess and diagnose adult and paediatric cases and make appropriate referrals
  • To be responsible for the routine organisation of orthoptic services within outreach clinics and orthoptic screening
  • Creating and delivering specialised individual treatment programmes as agreed with the client
  • To teach orthoptics to orthoptic undergraduates and other health professionals and junior medical staff

Band 5

  • To assess and diagnose adult and paediatric cases registered with the ophthalmologist
  • Creating and delivering specialised individual treatment programmes as agreed with the client
  • To demonstrate orthoptics to orthoptic undergraduates and other health professionals and junior medical staff

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.

You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Person Specification

Meets All Band 6 Criteria

Essential
  • oPortfolio of evidence demonstrating specialist skills needed for neuro/thyroid/neo-natal/paediatric orthoptic assessments
  • oGood evaluation and organisational skills
  • oGood interpersonal and communication skills
  • oBasic IT skills
  • oPervious post-graduate comprehensive clinical experience
  • oAbility to work in a single-handed capacity
  • oEvidence of teamwork
  • oBachelor of Science in Orthoptics (BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council (DBO)
  • oRegistered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
  • oTeaching methods
  • oInterest in self development with ability to evaluate learning opportunities
  • oAbility to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • oTeaching skills
  • oPresentation skills
  • oExperience of research methodology and clinical audit
  • oExperience of screening
  • oRecognised teaching qualification e.g. CGLI 7307/7407
  • oCar driver with access to car

Meets All Band 5 Criteria

Essential
  • oPortfolio of evidence demonstrating specialist skills needed for neuro/thyroid/neo-natal/paediatric orthoptic assessments
  • oAwareness of evidence based medicine and its impact upon clinical practice
  • oGood organisational skills
  • oGood time management
  • oAttendance at various clinical placements throughout the UK
  • oDegree in Orthoptics/Diploma of British Orthoptic Council
  • oState registration with the Health Professions Council
Desirable
  • oBasic IT skills
  • oEvidence of team working
  • oAbility to work single-handed/autonomously
  • oActive involvement in clinical audit
  • oExperience of research methodology
  • oUK recognised driving licence

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Victoria Infirmary

317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary

NE1 4LP


Employer's website

https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us


Company
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Location
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary, United Kingdom NE1 4LP
Employment Type
Permanent
Salary
£28407.00 - £42618.00 a year
Posted
Company
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Location
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary, United Kingdom NE1 4LP
Employment Type
Permanent
Salary
£28407.00 - £42618.00 a year
Posted