Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly team of x9 Orthoptists, x4 Optometrists and x9 Consultant Ophthalmologists at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching hospitals.
The successful post-holder will be required to undertake stand alone Orthoptic clinics, joint refraction clinics and joint adult motility/paediatric sessions working closely with the Ophthalmologists at St Helens Hospital and community sites across St Helens and Knowsley.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, dynamic and highly motivated Orthoptist, ideally (where possible) with an interest in specific learning difficulties to support the demands of the ever-increasing orthoptic literacy service. Experience in this area is not essential.
An Enhanced DBS with barred lists for both Adults & Children is required for this post.
Main duties of the job
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the clinical workload.
- Adhere to all relevant Codes of Practice within the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) Professional body & maintain an up-to-date professional registration at all times
- Abide by relevant Code of Professional Practice at all times.
- Provide the Orthoptic service autonomously both in the hospitals and at outreach clinics in the community as required
- Independently select and perform a broad range of comprehensive, qualitative and quantitative, investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic Orthoptic procedures which require high degrees of accuracy, hand eye co-ordination, acute observation and dexterity. Analyse and evaluate the results to aid diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The patient group includes all ages from early infancy to the elderly and comprises all cases of ocular motility defects, congenital and acquired. It also includes patients with significant learning difficulties and complex medical conditions. Referrals are received from a range of specialities e.g. paediatrics, neurology, maxilla facial, stroke rehabilitation and endocrinology. Direct referrals are accepted.
- Using specialist knowledge formulate individual management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning, a wide range of treatment skills and evidence-based practice
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information about this role please see attached job description and person specification.
Advertising Date: 21st October 2025
Closing Date: 28th October 2025
Shortlisting Date: 29th October 2025
Proposed Interview Date: TBC
Please be aware if a sufficient number of applicants are reached, we may close the vacancy early.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information about this role please see attached job description and person specification.
Advertising Date: 21st October 2025
Closing Date: 28th October 2025
Shortlisting Date: 29th October 2025
Proposed Interview Date: TBC
Please be aware if a sufficient number of applicants are reached, we may close the vacancy early.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Orthoptics
- State Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
- Post Graduate Clinical Tutor qualification or equivalent (level 6)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Proven clinical post graduate experience in broad range of adult & paediatric Orthoptic clinical practice
- Evidence of recent continuing professional development
- Previous experience in special educational needs
- Experience in audit
Desirable
- Previous experience in clinical tutoring of Orthoptics
Skills
Essential
- Wide ranging comprehensive clinical skills in the Orthoptic assessment & management of patients of all ages and individual needs
- Excellent communication skills (written & verbal) with all patients, carers, and all other health care professionals
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Good time management skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Responsible for independent clinical & administrative decisions
- IT literate
Other
Essential
- Outreach clinics in community settings therefore ability to reach locations as needed.
- Transporting notes, equipment and laptop computer to & from outreach clinics
- Working whilst maintaining an awkward posture during patient assessments e.g. kneeling, bending, twisting.
- High levels of manual dexterity to perform tests
- Continued use of computers to access patient case notes
- Continuous decision making in all aspects of investigation, diagnosis & management. Analysis and problem solving.
- Mental agility in assessing a diverse clinical caseload
- Ability to work to high standards of accuracy using analytical skills and judgements continuously when assessing and treating patients
- Ability to break bad news sensitively
- Communication with distressed/anxious/worried patients/carers. Demonstrate empathy.
- Exposure to verbal aggression at times
- Adapt to variability of clinic rooms in hospital and at outreach venues
- Working conditions may be unpleasant with exposure to e.g. fleas, lice, childhood illnesses, MRSA.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or Degree in Orthoptics
- State Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
- Post Graduate Clinical Tutor qualification or equivalent (level 6)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Proven clinical post graduate experience in broad range of adult & paediatric Orthoptic clinical practice
- Evidence of recent continuing professional development
- Previous experience in special educational needs
- Experience in audit
Desirable
- Previous experience in clinical tutoring of Orthoptics
Skills
Essential
- Wide ranging comprehensive clinical skills in the Orthoptic assessment & management of patients of all ages and individual needs
- Excellent communication skills (written & verbal) with all patients, carers, and all other health care professionals
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Good time management skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Responsible for independent clinical & administrative decisions
- IT literate
Other
Essential
- Outreach clinics in community settings therefore ability to reach locations as needed.
- Transporting notes, equipment and laptop computer to & from outreach clinics
- Working whilst maintaining an awkward posture during patient assessments e.g. kneeling, bending, twisting.
- High levels of manual dexterity to perform tests
- Continued use of computers to access patient case notes
- Continuous decision making in all aspects of investigation, diagnosis & management. Analysis and problem solving.
- Mental agility in assessing a diverse clinical caseload
- Ability to work to high standards of accuracy using analytical skills and judgements continuously when assessing and treating patients
- Ability to break bad news sensitively
- Communication with distressed/anxious/worried patients/carers. Demonstrate empathy.
- Exposure to verbal aggression at times
- Adapt to variability of clinic rooms in hospital and at outreach venues
- Working conditions may be unpleasant with exposure to e.g. fleas, lice, childhood illnesses, MRSA.
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
