Orthoptist

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 April 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Band 5 Orthoptist for maternity leave cover.

An opportunity has become available for an enthusiastic Orthoptist to join our friendly and hardworking team of 10 Orthoptists, 2 Orthoptic Assistants and 2 Optometrists.

Wigan Eye Unit has 4 Consultant Ophthalmologists. It is a modern and well equipped dedicated eye unit. The clinics are varied and interesting and include Paediatric, Motility clinics as well as general Orthoptics and some community clinics.

We are a recognised Orthoptic undergraduate student placement centre for Liverpool University. A diploma/degree in Orthoptics and HCPC registration is essential.

Wigan Eye Unit is open 6 days a week, with some evening clinics and covers more than one site. This post is full time with the hours to be completed within thehours, and at the locations, the department is open.

The post holder will be expected to travel between the hospital sites and various locations and a full driving license and car access is essential.

Main duties of the job

To autonomously deliver a range of comprehensive core orthoptic services including investigation, diagnosis & management or a wide variety of Orthoptic clinical conditions in children & adults.

This vacancy is open to all internal and external candidates. NHS Employees should ideally secure their manager's agreement for a secondment arrangement ideally prior to applying, as this will be a condition of any offer made. This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term basis as It has been established to provide cover for an employee on maternity leave and will end in 12 months or when the substantive postholder returns. Whilst this post is advertised on an acting / secondment basis there is the potential that this post may become permanent in the future.

About us

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

On-Call

Please note that senior positions (AFC band 8A or above) may be expected to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£28,407 to £34,581 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

302-25-7094166S

Job locations

Boston House

Frog Lane

Wigan

WN6 7LB

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be responsible for assessment and diagnosis of Orthoptic patients presenting to the department and provide relevant treatment programmes in accordance with departmental guidelines.

To provide condition related information to patients, relatives, and other medical staff. This may be of a sensitive nature and will need to be phrased so there is full understanding of the condition.

To be responsible for appropriate selection of patients for squint surgery. To undertake pre and post operative assessments and identify and possible post operative risks and discuss with Ophthalmologist and patient as appropriate.

To be able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of patients, including adults and children, English and non-English speaking patients/parents.

Use appropriate skills, offer reassurance to patients, to achieve effective communication in difficult circumstances for example stroke patients, those with physical disability, learning disability, children with significant sight defects.

To assess patients pre and post operatively, to discuss surgical management options with patients and Consultant ophthalmologist. Identify post-operative risks and discuss this and prognosis with patients/ parents/ carers.

To instil drops into childrens eyes to allow for a full refraction and fundus check to take place.

To competently assess visual fields (using the automated field analysers) to enable cover of ophthalmic technicians in periods of absence.

To participate in the primary vision screening program for reception class children by visiting and assessing them in the school.

To work effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team with consultants, optometrists, GPs, health visitors and other health professionals and maintain these professional links appropriately.

To be responsible for the evaluation of visual acuity, binocular functions and ocular motility disorders in all patients referred to the service including infants with congenital and developmental abnormalities, children and adults with complex needs and/or learning difficulties and patients with neurological conditions.