Head of Orthoptics and Optometry

Job summary

The department is based in two new eye units at both St Helier and Epsom Hospitals. It is a forward looking department with 13 consultants including 3 with an interest in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. There are close links with the Royal Marsden hospital and the St Georges Hospitals and we are part of the MDT team providing care for these oncology and neuro-surgical patients. The department also provides eye carefor children and young people at the Tadworth Children's Trust. The department is supported by 8 WTE orthoptists, 2 WTE optometrists and 6WTE technician staff. We provide in house contact lens service and low vision service. We have the benefit of state of the art ophthalmic imaging systems including Optos and OCT and FFA imaging which have allowed us to transform our pathways. This is a full time post which requires cross site working

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an experienced Orthoptist to join our Ophthalmology team and lead the Orthoptic and Optometry clinical service across Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. The post holder will be responsible for leading our team of orthoptists and for providing expert knowledge in the assessment of visual function and ocular motility disorders in all age groups, low vision services and stroke visual rehabilitation. They will manage our team of Optometrists and imaging technicians and be overall responsible for the ophthalmic imaging. The successful candidate will also provide a school vision screening service for the residents of Merton and support Ophthalmology clinical research. The post holder will ensure provision of and be accountable for, the delivery of an efficient, high quality and caring Orthoptic and Optometry clinical service across Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, which meets service and client requirements and encompasses a wide range of specialist expertise and client groups.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.