Highly Specialist Orthoptist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time, Job share
- Posted
- 21/09/2026
- Closes
- 04/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves leading and developing the specialist Neuro-Orthoptic Service, providing expert, evidence-based care to complex patients. The postholder will offer highly specialised assessment, diagnosis, and management for patients with ophthalmic, neurological, and medical conditions. It also includes clinical and professional leadership, training, supervision, and contributing to the operational management of the wider Orthoptic service. The role requires autonomous work and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
Essential criteria
- Orthoptics BMedSci OR . BSc (Hons) Orthoptics OR . Orthoptics BSc (Hons) OR . Diploma from British Orthoptic Council (DBO)
- To be registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Postgraduate plus further training relevant to sub-specialist practice e.g. higher degree e.g. MSc OR . Relevant short courses and experience to a Masters level
- Accredited clinical tutors' course
Desirable criteria
- Role of clinical advisor or active involvement in a BIOS extended role clinical advisory group
- Post masters experience in specialist area developing advanced clinical skills and leadership
- Leadership qualification
- Medical exemptions for Orthoptists
- Advanced clinical practice, both in theory and practical knowledge in a range of clinical areas, particularly in neuro-orthoptics
- Knowledge and experience of clinical matters beyond direct clinical role
- Significant advanced clinical experience in assessment & management of patients with active and sight-threatening disease across multiple areas of specialist clinical practice
- Evidence of on-going commitment to continuing professional development following BIOS/HCPC guidelines.
- Visual field examination and interpretation
- Experience of clinical teaching of Orthoptics.
- IT skills
- Skills & Knowledge
- To be approachable and maintain an excellent rapport with colleagues
- Good verbal and written communication skills with adults, carers, parents and children, students and all staff disciplines.
- Evidence of working successfully as part of a multidisciplinary team and independently.
- Ability to produce written reports
- Skilled in use of slit lamp, optic disc imaging and interpretation of visual fields results, or other ophthalmic investigations usually carried out by specialist medical staff
- Experience of research and development activities
- Experience undertaking and presenting audit
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills; ability to communicate complex, sensitive and potentially conflicting information to patients and other stakeholders in an appropriate manner independent of their level of understanding
- Leadership, organisational and negotiating skills
- Ability to use initiative and quickly interpret complex and potentially conflicting clinical information
- Capable of performing sustained high intensity work in a pressurised clinical environment
- Skills of persuasion
- Possesses precise, fine-motor physical examination skills
- Works well autonomously
- Self-motivated
- Conscientious
- Enthusiastic
- Excellent time management
- Education & Qualifications
- Orthoptics BMedSci OR . BSc (Hons) Orthoptics OR . Orthoptics BSc (Hons) OR . Diploma from British Orthoptic Council (DBO)
- To be registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Postgraduate plus further training relevant to sub-specialist practice e.g. higher degree e.g. MSc OR . Relevant short courses and experience to a Masters level
- Accredited clinical tutors' course
- Role of clinical advisor or active involvement in a BIOS extended role clinical advisory group
- Post masters experience in specialist area developing advanced clinical skills and leadership
- Leadership qualification
- Medical exemptions for Orthoptists
- Advanced clinical practice, both in theory and practical knowledge in a range of clinical areas, particularly in neuro-orthoptics
- Knowledge and experience of clinical matters beyond direct clinical role
- Significant advanced clinical experience in assessment & management of patients with active and sight-threatening disease across multiple areas of specialist clinical practice
- Evidence of on-going commitment to continuing professional development following BIOS/HCPC guidelines.
- Visual field examination and interpretation
- Experience of clinical teaching of Orthoptics.
- IT skills
- Skills & Knowledge
- To be approachable and maintain an excellent rapport with colleagues
- Good verbal and written communication skills with adults, carers, parents and children, students and all staff disciplines.
- Evidence of working successfully as part of a multidisciplinary team and independently.
- Ability to produce written reports
- Skilled in use of slit lamp, optic disc imaging and interpretation of visual fields results, or other ophthalmic investigations usually carried out by specialist medical staff
- Experience of research and development activ
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 7 at £46,148 – £52,809 a year, across England.
This advert: £49,387 – £56,515 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 13d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist Orthoptist
The closing date is 04 October 2026
Job summary
Join our team and play a key role in delivering and developing our specialist Neuro-Orthoptic Service, providing expert, evidence-based care to complex patients while supporting, leading and developing colleagues within a friendly, collaborative and forward-thinking Orthoptic team.
Main duties of the job
To lead and deliver a high-quality, evidence-based Neuro-Orthoptic service, providing highly specialised assessment, diagnosis and management to patients across a wide range of complex ophthalmic, neurological and medical conditions, including tertiary referrals. The role provides clinical and professional leadership to the Neuro-Orthoptic team, including training, supervision, audit and quality improvement, while supporting the Orthoptic Professional Service Manager with the operational management and development of the wider Orthoptic service. The postholder works autonomously and collaboratively with Ophthalmologists and the wider multidisciplinary team, provides specialist clinical advice, manages dedicated Neuro-Orthoptic clinics, and contributes to extended roles within the scope of practice and Agenda for Change banding.
About us
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the co
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