Wye Valley NHS Trust

Specialist Orthoptist

The closing date is 27 November 2025

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated new member of our team to work in Herefordshire and beyond.

Your Orthoptic workload will be extremely varied including paediatric, ocular motility and acute cases via our busy eye casualty. We have an Orthoptic delivered school and pre-school age vision screening programme and undertake pre-operative biometry and Goldmann visual fields. We run a stroke service and have Orthoptic undergraduates in the department regularly.

You will be expected to develop and maintain a high quality Orthoptic service in line with recognised professional standards, care -pathways and best practice to deliver the business objectives in line with Trusts policies and service protocols.

We seek an enthusiastic and highly motivated Orthoptist to work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake highly specialised orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management of any patients referred to the Orthoptic department.

The successful candidate will join a supportive and innovative team of Orthoptists. You will work within a multi-disciplinary team including, technicians, Ophthalmic nurses, HCAs and Consultant Ophthalmologists, including specialists in paediatric and strabismus, Oculoplastics, Glaucoma and Vitreal and medical retina. We are a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Birmingham and have three Ophthalmic Speciality trainees from the West Midlands Deanery. We have a strong emphasis on ongoing training and CPD.

Main duties of the job

To work autonomously as an advanced practitioner in undertaking highly specialised orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management.

To be the specialist lead in one of the following:- biometry, primary vision screening, pre-school screening, special educational needs, stroke or refraction

To undertake the role of mentor and clinical supervisor for the department with responsibility for providing mentoring for orthoptic students on placement to the department and to newly appointed junior orthoptic staff as required by the Clinical Tutor and Clinical Lead.

Applicants must have a degree/ diploma in Orthoptics and current registration with the HCPC and be able to demonstrate their experience and specialist knowledge in any one of biometry, primary vision screening, pre-school screening, special educational needs, stroke or refraction and to be a member of the BIOS special interest group and to feedback to the department when appropriate.

About us

Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South WarwickshireUniversity NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust.

Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care wed want for our family and friends.

More than 3,000 people work for the Trust they tell us its a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.

We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.

Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential."

Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

229-SUR-7597931

Job locations

Orthoptic Department, Eign Suite

Hereford County Hospital

Hereford

HR1 2ER

Job description

Job responsibilities

See the Job description and Person Specification - you will need to demonstrate a specialist knowledge and skill set in any one of the specialist roles detailed in the Job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See the Job description and Person Specification - you will need to demonstrate a specialist knowledge and skill set in any one of the specialist roles detailed in the Job description.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

To possess a BSC (orthoptics), Bmedski (orthoptics) or equivalent
To be registered with the HCPC (Health care professions Council)

Desirable

Previous knowledge and experience in any one of the following:- Primary vision screening, pre-school screening, Special education needs, stroke, biometry or cycloplegic refractions.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential

Ability to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
Ability to work independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Ability to manage time and resources
To have good organisational and planning skills
Ability to write clearly and keep and maintain appropriate records at all times ensuring that paperwork is filed promptly into case notes
To have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people
To demonstrate the ability to deal tactfully and efficiently with patients and their carers
Good written and verbal communication skills, and ability to utilise a range of verbal and non verbal communication methods

Experience

Essential

Proven experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics and specialist services

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

To possess a BSC (orthoptics), Bmedski (orthoptics) or equivalent
To be registered with the HCPC (Health care professions Council)

Desirable

Previous knowledge and experience in any one of the following:- Primary vision screening, pre-school screening, Special education needs, stroke, biometry or cycloplegic refractions.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential

Ability to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
Ability to work independently or as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Ability to manage time and resources
To have good organisational and planning skills
Ability to write clearly and keep and maintain appropriate records at all times ensuring that paperwork is filed promptly into case notes
To have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people
To demonstrate the ability to deal tactfully and efficiently with patients and their carers
Good written and verbal communication skills, and ability to utilise a range of verbal and non verbal communication methods

Experience

Essential

Proven experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics and specialist services

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Wye Valley NHS Trust

Address

Orthoptic Department, Eign Suite

Hereford County Hospital

Hereford

HR1 2ER

Employer's website

https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Wye Valley NHS Trust

Address

Orthoptic Department, Eign Suite

Hereford County Hospital

Hereford

HR1 2ER

Employer's website

https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)