Deputy Head Orthoptist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 14/09/2026
- Closes
- 27/09/2026
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Role summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a Deputy Head Orthoptist to join a friendly team at Sherwood Forest Hospitals on a fixed-term basis. The role involves providing high-quality care and support to patients, assessing and treating orthoptic conditions, and managing complex cases across various settings including King's Mill Hospital, Newark Hospital, and Ashfield Health Village. You will deputise for the Head of Orthoptics and Low Vision, contributing to professional leadership, clinical expertise, operational management, and staff development. This position offers a unique chance to enhance both clinical and leadership skills.
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills with clear written and oral skills
- Experience of clinical leadership, supervising or managing staff, organisational abilities, supervisory skills
- Highly developed experience and specialist knowledge of working autonomously as an Orthoptist to a master's level with ability to lead in at least one advanced speciality e.g. Low Vision or Orthoptic Led Stroke/ Neurology
- Experience of clinical teaching, supervising, mentoring/ preceptorship within an Orthoptic service
- Knowledge of service planning and development
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance
- Complex problem-solving skills
- IT competent including the use of hospital systems including ICE, Careflow, Medisight, ESR, e referrals
Desirable criteria
- Experience in Low vision clinics
- Experience of Biometry
- Experience in visual field testing and interpretation
- Experience of Orthoptic led Stroke/Neurology clinic
- Ability to use ordering systems
- Ability to use Trac or knowledge of recruitment systems
- Experience of investigating incidents/complaints
- Experience in contributing to rota management
- Experience of working with internal and external agencies
- Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc(Orth), BmedSci(Orth), and/or Diploma from the British Orthoptic Council (DBO) or equivalent
- Registration with HCPC
- Master's level or qualification or equivalent clinical specialist experience
- BIOS Clinical tutor qualification or equivalent
- Medical Exemptions Course
- Membership of British & Irish Orthoptic Society
- Master's level or qualification or equivalent healthcare leadership experience
- Role of Clinical advisor on a BIOS extended role clinical advisory group
- Further Training
- Evidence of continued professional development within the Orthoptic / Ophthalmology speciality
- Leadership course/qualification
- Low Vision Therapy course
- Biometry training
- Stroke & Neurology training
- Teaching and assessing course
- Highly developed clinical experience with a broad knowledge of the Orthoptic service
- Experience in leading and supporting Orthoptic staff with audit and/ or service evaluations
- Evidence of clinical leadership
- Evidence of Operational management
- Evidence of working in extended roles
- Experience of Orthoptic or Ophthalmology research
- Contractual Requirements
- Ability to assist in leading the Orthoptic and low vision services
- Ability to travel between all hospital sites
- Knowledge Requirements
- Excellent communication skills with clear written and oral skills
- Experience of clinical leadership, supervising or managing staff, organisational abilities, supervisory skills
- Highly developed experience and specialist knowledge of working autonomously as an Orthoptist to a master's level with ability to lead in at least one advanced speciality e.g. Low Vision or Orthoptic Led Stroke/ Neurology
- Experience of clinical teaching, supervising, mentoring/ preceptorship within an Orthoptic service
- Knowledge of service planning and development
- Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance
- Complex problem-solving skills
- IT competent including the use of hospital systems including ICE, Careflow, Medisight, ESR, e referrals
- Experience in Low vision clinics
- Experience of Biometry
- Experience in visual field testing and interpretation
- Experience of Orthoptic led Stroke/Neurology clinic
- Ability to use ordering systems
- Ability to use Trac or knowledge of recruitment systems
- Experience of investigating incidents/complaints
- Experience in contributing to rota management
- Experience of working with internal and external agencies
- Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc(Orth), BmedSci(Orth), and/or Diploma from the British Orthoptic Council (DBO) or equivalent
- Registration with HCPC
- Master's level or qualification or equivalent clinical specialist experience
- BIOS Clinical tutor qualification or equivalent
- Medical Exemptions Course
- Membership of British & Irish Orthoptic Society
- Master's level or qualification or equivalent healthcare leadership experience
- Role of Clinical advisor on a BIOS extended role clinical advisory group
- Further Training
- Evidence of continued professional development within the Orthoptic / Ophthalmology speciality
- Leadership course/qualification
- Low Vision Therapy course
- Biometry training
- Stroke & Neurology training
- Teaching and assessing course
- Highly developed clinical experience with a broad knowledge of the Orthoptic service
- Experience in leading and supporting Orthoptic staff with audit and/ or service evaluations
- Evidence of clinical leadership
- Evidence of Operational management
- Evidence of working in extended roles
- Experience of Orthoptic or Ophthalmology resea
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
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Head Orthoptist
The closing date is 27 September 2026
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Deputy Head Orthoptist to join our friendly team at Sherwood Forest Hospitals on a fixed term basis.
As Deputy Head Orthoptist, you will play a pivotal role in providing high-quality care and support to our patients. The primary location for this role is at King's Mill Hospital where you will work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment that values your expertise and skills.
This role will also involve travel to Newark Hospital and Ashfield Health Village, offering you the opportunity to expand your scope of practice and contribute to patient care in various settings. You will be responsible for assessing and treating a range of orthoptic conditions, managing complex cases and providing a high standard of patient care across different departments.
The post holder will deputise for the Head of Orthoptics and Low Vision in terms of professional leadership, clinical expertise, operational management and development of staff delivering Orthoptic and Optometry Services including extended roles. The role will also involve assisting in developing Orthoptic, Optometry, Low Vision services and Ophthalmology services, in a way that is responsive to changing needs and meeting requirements of clinical governance an
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