Band 7/8A Lead Orthoptist

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 09 March 2025

Job summary

Band 7/8A Lead Orthoptist

Are you an experienced orthoptist looking to develop further leadership and management skills? Are you a highly organised individual with a passion for the delivery of outstanding patient care?

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Lead Orthoptist to support the Head Orthoptist in the delivery of our orthoptic, optometry and ophthalmic technician services across Berkshire.

We are a large team of 17 Orthoptists, 5 Optometrists and 11 Ophthalmic Technicians, delivering a varied service of core orthoptic and optometry activity, as well as enhanced and advanced practice roles across Ophthalmology.

We would love to hear from talented individuals with a passion for service development and leadership to support the needs of our population in Berkshire.

The role will include work at both the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and the Prince Charles Eye Unit in Windsor.

This role is being offered as a development post from Band 7 to 8a and would be ideal for someone looking to progress into a senior leadership role within Orthoptics. The Trust also supports staff in undertaking a Chartered Management Degree through Henley Business School.

Main duties of the job

The Lead Orthoptist is a senior leader in the Orthoptic department and is responsible for line management of Band 5 and 6 Orthoptists, as well as the Lead Ophthalmic Technician.

Alongside undertaking varied clinics in both core orthoptics and extended role practice, they are also responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the service, including rostering for orthoptics and optometry.

In the absence of the Head Orthoptist, the Lead Orthoptist will be responsible for budgetary management of the county-wide Orthoptic Service and Hospital Eye Service provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, as well as management of those people and financial resources within these services in order to ensure the effective operation of the department.

This post is cross-county and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to work in both the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and the Prince Charles Eye Unit in Windsor.

About us

Reading and Windsor sit on the river Thames and are both served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading and Windsor are wonderful places to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate,Aspirational,Resourceful,Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Date posted

17 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

193-6646231PCG-C

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading and Windsor

RG1 5AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of the post.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Greg Richardson (Head Orthoptist) to discuss the role in more detail -greg.richardson@royalberkshire.nhs.uk 0118 322 7682.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of the post.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Greg Richardson (Head Orthoptist) to discuss the role in more detail -greg.richardson@royalberkshire.nhs.uk 0118 322 7682.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Undergraduate degree or diploma in Orthoptics
  • Clinical teaching qualification
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Post graduate qualification in management or advanced orthoptics
  • Member of BIOS

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience working at Band 7 or above
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Experience of people management or supervisory responsibility
  • Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance gained from experience of working with such systems

Desirable

  • Financial responsibility
  • Knowledge of current health service culture and strategies
  • Experience in research/audit with published results
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Undergraduate degree or diploma in Orthoptics
  • Clinical teaching qualification
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Post graduate qualification in management or advanced orthoptics
  • Member of BIOS

Experience

Essential

  • Significant post qualification experience working at Band 7 or above
  • Evidence of continuing professional development
  • Experience of people management or supervisory responsibility
  • Knowledge and understanding of clinical governance gained from experience of working with such systems

Desirable

  • Financial responsibility
  • Knowledge of current health service culture and strategies
  • Experience in research/audit with published results

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading and Windsor

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading and Windsor

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Head Orthoptist

Greg Richardson

greg.richardson@royalberkshire.nhs.uk

01183227682

Date posted

17 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

193-6646231PCG-C

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

London Road

Reading and Windsor

RG1 5AN


Supporting documents

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