Job overview
Head of Orthoptics - Part time - 32.25 hours per week
The post holder will lead and manage the Orthoptic Service at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, covering acute and community adult and paediatric services across Stockport and High Peak, including the Primary Vision Screening Programme.
Reporting to the Divisional Nurse Director (Surgery), the post holder will provide clinical, operational, and strategic leadership, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, efficient, and patient-centred services in line with national and international standards.
Key responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations, workforce and resources; supporting staff development and training; overseeing clinical governance, quality, and patient safety; promoting research, innovation, and service improvement; and ensuring effective financial management.
The post holder will also monitor service performance, including RTT and waiting-time targets, ensuring timely access to high-quality care and the continuous development of an evidence-based, responsive, and sustainable Orthoptic Service.
Main duties of the job
- Provide effective Professional Leadership and efficient organisation, operational management, strategic direction, and development of Orthoptics and Paediatric Optometry within the Trust
- Ensure the Orthoptic Service functions in line with up-to-date national guidance
- Provide expert advice regarding complex and highly complex clinical issues to other members of the team and to other professions
- Provide leadership direction and support for all Orthoptic staff
- Support and encourage staff to maintain high staff morale and motivation, always prompting a team approach
- Communicate information in respect of eye care services to other professions and services, the public, other agencies, and commissioners to promote better understanding of the needs of people with sight impairment and/or other associated symptoms
- Maintain links with colleagues and agencies within and outside the NHS to continuously improve services
- Lead departmental meetings and audit
- Represent Orthoptics at Trust Board Level, as required
- Ensure that a clear supervision / competency structure is in place across the service
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The job description gives an overview of the main tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications focuses on the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. These documents are attached on the page and can be downloaded.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills
- Able to adapt communication to meet the needs of the situation, including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations
- Ability to educate, empathize, support, negotiate and motivate including times where co-operation is not guaranteed
- Ability to pass on expert and highly technical and/or condition related information with reassurance for better understanding including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations necessary
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Champion staff wellbeing
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work without supervision
- Reliable and supportive to other colleagues
- Flexible approach to work and to the needs of the service.
Desirable
- Planning skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Practical knowledge of orthoptic assessments in highly specialised clinical service areas
- Evidence that you have worked at a senior level using examples of the clinical competency you have within the relevant clinical area
- Extensive experience in formulating comprehensive management plans based on case history information and diagnostic test results, where management decisions may not be straightforward
- Have worked with sight impaired patients / parents / carers / associated professional and explain any challenges you overcame
- Extensive Experience of working with babies and children, and patients of all ages with cognitive impairments
- Examples of when you have been a positive role model with the ability to demonstrate a credible, professional approach and manner at all times
- Extensive post-graduate experience & CPD
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience as an Orthoptist
- Experience in establishing or helping to develop a service through quality improvement
- Experience of management of services in line with performance targets
- Experience of leading service improvements and clinical audit or services/pathways
- Experience in managing staff using performance management and appraisal, disciplinary and sickness absence policies/procedures
- Experience of managing budgets
- Experience of managing Health and Safety and Clinical Governance in a clinical setting
- Experience of analysing performance data and for identifying ways in which the service can be improved at a service, team and individual level.
- Evidence and experience of leading change, demonstrating sustained improvements.
- Experience of Training, Assessment and Supervision of students
- Good knowledge of critical appraisal and ability to use literature and current research / guidelines to improve patient care
- Evidence of leading clinical audit, research, and / or presentations at scientific meetings
- Experience of leading service improvements and clinical audit of services/pathways
Desirable
- Substantial management/supervision experience
- Knowledge of sustainability and the public health agenda
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma / BSc in Orthoptics or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in the field
- Registered HCPC Orthoptist
- Postgraduate management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise
- Clinical Teaching qualification
- Post registration MSc or short courses to Masters’ level
- Member of British and Irish Orthoptic Society
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Head of Orthoptics with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust in Stepping Hill Hospital. It is listed as a Band 8 role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 03 Sep 2026.
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