Head Orthoptist

Job overview

Calling all Orthoptists!

Band 8a: £53,755 - £60,504 pro rata, per annum

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

The Isle of Wight may seem a distant island but lying only four miles from the southern coast of England and with excellent transport links to the mainland it is merely a hop away with the shortest crossing taking only 10 minutes.

The island, as it is known by its residents, was designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty in 1963 and more recently as a UNESCO Biosphere in 2019.  With more sunshine hours than anywhere in the UK and bordered with 57 miles of stunning coastline including over 25 beaches the island is a playground for water sports enthusiasts, sailors and beach lovers.  Aside from the coast there are over 500 miles of footpaths taking you through stunning countryside. There are also over 50 attractions all within easy reach along with many festivals and carnivals throughout the year and a plethora of restaurants and eateries.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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.