Head Orthoptist

Job summary

This role leads the Orthoptic and optometry departments across CDDFT. You will be providing leadership to both services, managerially, clinically and from a service development aspect. You will be leading on Quality improvement and providing line management to staff from both services. The post still has a strong clinical emphasis and you will be supporting staff leading the Stroke and LVA service as well as providing high quality evidence based clinical services as an individual. The post works closely with the Ophthalmology management team and Consultant Ophthalmologists giving you a chance to build on your experience in all aspects of management and clinical skills

Main duties of the job

Lead and manage the Orthoptic and optometry services for CDDFT across 3 main sites and 6 sites overall.

Formulate Service development and future direction for the department and liaise to achieve this at Associate Director level.

Line management and Professional support for all staff in your hierarchy

Support specialist clinical service leads in Stroke and LVA

Provide high quality evidence based clinical care and review and formulate departmental protocols providing clinical leadership

Promote the department within Ophthalmology, the Trust and at National level where needed

Support further education of staff through continuous learning and support of undergraduate training

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Details

• Date posted: 04 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8a
• Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9439-2627-769-1
• Job locations: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

You will be managing and running the services on a daily basis supporting colleagues and collaboratively working with them clinically and for the future development of the services. We have a number of sites and the post holder would be working across all 3 main sites in the role to provide quality clinical services and manage the provision of these. We have satellite sites and a secondary screening programme so the position is varied. Specialist services offered are LVA, Stroke services and Medical contact lens. You will be responsible for working with staff in these services to maintain quality and promote development. The role also supports the undergraduates for Orthoptics and optometry and promotes the service in the Trust and beyond.