Operational Lead Orthoptist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, dynamic and motivated Orthoptist to join our team as an Operational Lead Orthoptist.

You will deputise for the Head Orthoptist across the whole of their roles and support with the smooth running of a high quality Orthoptic service by providing clinical and operational leadership for the teams at our Burton sites.

Current experience of supporting teams and individuals with their day-to-day roles and responsibilities, their ongoing development goals and any professional and personal challenges is essential.

This post combines highly specialist clinical skills with the day-to-day management of the service and is an ideal promotional opportunity for a motivated and aspiring Orthoptist currently undertaking leadership responsibilities and who wishes to progress their leadership skills further whilst continuing to use your highly specialist clinical skills.

Main duties of the job

Undertaking highly skilled clinical duties and direct patient care as an highly experienced Orthoptist. As part of your clinical role you will have a varied caseload of paediatric and adult motility and Orthoptic/Optometry led shared care clinics for amblyopia and strabismus. You will also provide Orthoptic support to Eye Casualty, Neurology and Maxillo-Facial departments. The Orthoptic service also provides paediatric low vision services, paediatric special needs services, visual processing clinics and adult stroke services.

Providing professional support and guidance to clinical staff in all areas of Orthoptic clinical care and provision, including complex care.

Day-to-day management and leadership of a clinical team of Orthoptists and Diagnostic Ophthalmic Technicians. Including tasks such as rota management, absence management, personal development, resolving daily problems in the service and all types of line management

Working with other leaders in Orthoptics, Optometry, Ophthalmology and other specialties within our organisation and partner organisations to help coordinate, lead and drive the Orthoptic and diagnostic service forward to meet the future needs of our local population and deliver service improvements.

Closing date of applications: 6 April 2026

Date of interview: week commencing 20 April 2026 (STC)

About us

As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together

Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.

In return we will offer:

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts:

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen's Hospital Burton

Belvedere Road

Burton

DE13 0RB

Employer's website

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

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Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen's Hospital Burton

Belvedere Road

Burton

DE13 0RB

Employer's website

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

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