Specialist Orthoptist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Hours / week
- 37.5
- Posted
- 22/09/2026
- Closes
- 26/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role is for a motivated and enthusiastic Specialist Orthoptist to join a friendly team within the Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will provide autonomous orthoptic services to both paediatric and adult patients, assessing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of ophthalmic and ocular motility disorders. The position involves working within a multidisciplinary eye clinic and may include developing skills in extended roles such as SEN clinics or biometry. New graduates are also welcome to apply at Band 5 level with a preceptorship scheme.
Key responsibilities
- Provide orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner, working within professional guidelines and policies.
- Provide assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of patients presenting with a wide range of ophthalmic and ocular motility disorders.
- Undertake one or more specialised orthoptic clinic roles such as stroke, orthoptic screening, intravitreal injections, ECLO, biometry clinics and assessment of children with additional needs.
- Independently assess and manage complex neurological patients, referring on to the consultant ophthalmologist as required.
- Participate in departmental education programme, including the training of orthoptic undergraduate students, pre-registration optometrists, junior doctors, health visitors, school nurses and others.
- Act as a source of expertise on the management of ocular motility disorders to patients, other healthcare professionals, GPs and consultants.
Essential criteria
- Degree/Diploma in Orthoptics
- HCPC Registration
Desirable criteria
- BIOS membership
- Evidence of participation in a variety of paediatric orthoptic clinic scenarios
- Experience of adult orthoptic assessment
- Previous experience in SEN clinics
- Previous experience in biometry clinics
- Use of ophthalmic equipment (eg Goldmann, IOL master, auto refractor, focimeter)
- Experience in teaching other health care professionals
- Audit / presentation experience
- CPD evidence
- Knowledge of safeguarding
- Ability to work autonomously and take responsibility for own caseload, working on own initiative
- Ability to seek advice and guidance where necessary from senior colleagues
- Effective time management and prioritisation skills
- Personal and people development
- To be approachable, enthusiastic and able to work under pressure
- To show a willingness and ability to learn and develop new skills in line with departmental requirements
- Willingness to teach/train new staff members, students, and other staff when appropriate
- Communication
- Excellent communication skills with all patients and staff, both verbal and written
- Ability to communicate with all age groups of patients
- Ability to communicate with various staff at different levels
- Specific requirements
- Able to work as part of a team
- Qualifications and knowledge
- Degree/Diploma in Orthoptics
- HCPC Registration
- BIOS membership
- Evidence of participation in a variety of paediatric orthoptic clinic scenarios
- Experience of adult orthoptic assessment
- Previous experience in SEN clinics
- Previous experience in biometry clinics
- Use of ophthalmic equipment (eg Goldmann, IOL master, auto refractor, focimeter)
- Experience in teaching other health care professionals
- Audit / presentation experience
- CPD evidence
- Knowledge of safeguarding
- Ability to work autonomously and take responsibility for own caseload, working on own initiative
- Ability to seek advice and guidance where necessary from senior colleagues
- Effective time management and prioritisation skills
- Personal and people development
- To be approachable, enthusiastic and able to work under pressure
- To show a willingness and ability to learn and develop new skills in line with departmental requirements
- Willingness to teach/train new staff members, students, and other staff when appropriate
- Communication
- Excellent communication skills with all patients and staff, both verbal and written
- Ability to communicate with all age groups of patients
- Ability to communicate with various staff at different levels
- Specific requirements
- Able to work as part of a team
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 34d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Specialist Orthoptist
The closing date is 26 October 2026
Job summary
Specialist Orthoptist Department: Orthoptics Band: 6 £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. Pro rata if part-time Hours: 37.5 per week. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic orthoptist to join our friendly and supportive team of 6 orthoptists as part of a wider multidisciplinary eye clinic. The MKUH ophthalmology department is in a new Community Diagnostic Centre 5 minutes away from the main hospital site within the city centre. It comprises of orthoptic rooms, consulting rooms, optometry rooms, treatment rooms and a theatre. Orthoptists with relevant previous clinical experience will be recruited to band 6, with the opportunity to undertake and develop skills in extended roles (depending on departmental requirements). These specialist areas may include SEN clinics, biometry, intravitreal injections, paediatric ECLO and stroke ward work.New graduate orthoptists are also welcome to apply and will be appointed at band 5 level and work through a clinical skills toolkit to help their career development. The department has supported and mentored new graduates who benefit from our preceptorship scheme which has enabled them to develop to a band 6 role. We have a recognised BIOS
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