Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Senior Orthoptist

The closing date is 11 March 2026

Job summary

The Orthoptic service at Sandwell and West Birmingham are looking for a Band 7 Orthoptist to cover a 12 month period of Maternity leave. You will be joining a team of 13 Orthoptists and 9 Ophthalmic technicians based at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.

The Orthoptic team deliver clinical services in three acute locations - Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and Midland Metropolitan Hospitals in additional to four out-reach clinics and Primary Vision Screening located in schools in Sandwell and west Birmingham.

The clinical roles and responsibilities of this post are complex and require the knowledge, skills and experience of a highly specialist Orthoptist. The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre is a tertiary eye centre with a large A&E service which refers directly to the Orthoptic team. We also provide in-patient Stroke and Neuro-ophthalmology services.

The team focus on evidence-based care with a strong ethos of lifelong learning. Staff are valued and given the opportunity to learn and develop their knowledge and skills within a supported learning environment.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to provide highly specialist clinical services to the Neuro-ophthalmology, A&E and specialist Paediatric services. This will include the ability to perform a comprehensive range of investigative procedures including Humphrey and Goldmann visual fields, Ocular Coherence Tomography in addition to a full range of orthoptic specific assessments.

As a highly specialist Orthoptist you will be managing patient referred from the Ophthalmic Accident and Emergency service and out-patient referrals from a range of ophthalmic sub-specialities including Oculo-plastics, Orbital and Paediatric as part of a diverse caseload.

Senior colleagues are on hand to support and develop your skills and knowledge and encourage you to provide support to junior colleagues and undergraduate Orthoptists on clinical placement to the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre..

You will be responsible for delivering high quality clinical care in line with evidence-based practice and national guidelines in order to practice safely and effectively in accordance with the HCPC Standards of Proficiency, Code of Ethics and Standards or CPD.

About us

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country - one of the country's most culturally diverse areas. It's a friendly and welcoming place - a place where you can belong, and a place where you can grow.

We care for our patients, we care about our population, and we care about our people.

Our values - Ambition, Respect and Compassion - are at the heart of who we are. They guide us every step of the way; how we work with each other, and how we look after our patients and their families; how we respect and value the rich diversity of our team and our community.

Our Trust has always aspired to be more than a hospital, more than a healthcare provider. Our purpose is to "Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population." It is what inspires, drives, and unites us every day. It's what makes us unique.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We want our Trust to be a place where you can feel you belong. A place where you feel happy, safe, and rewarded. A place where you can develop your career in whatever way you choose. When we say we're 'with you all the way' we want you to know that we mean it. Visit the SWB website to find out more about our ambitions and people plans.

Date posted

25 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

381-SS-7604603

Job locations

SWB NHS Trust-Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre

City Health Campus Dudley Road

Birmingham

B18 7QH

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role, please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Significant experience in all aspects of clinical orthoptics involving specialist services, paediatrics, neurology, community, glaucoma.
Demonstrable experience in a leadership role - lead clinician for a service area
To have experience of visual field assessment
Ability to use Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT and be proficient in keyboard use

Desirable

Some post graduate clinical experience with the assessment of visual fields
Some post graduate experience with trauma, neuro ophthalmology and specialised paediatrics

Experience

Essential

Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) and or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council
To be registered with the Health Professions Council
Post graduate British and Irish Orthoptic Society Clinical Educators Course or British Orthoptic Society Clinical Demonstrators Course
Post Graduate 730 7 City and Guilds Teaching in Further Education Teachers Course or equivalent.
NHS management qualification or appropriate experiential learning to enable the post holder to deputise for the Head Orthoptist during annual leave and other short periods of absence

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Significant experience in all aspects of clinical orthoptics involving specialist services, paediatrics, neurology, community, glaucoma.
Demonstrable experience in a leadership role - lead clinician for a service area
To have experience of visual field assessment
Ability to use Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT and be proficient in keyboard use

Desirable

Some post graduate clinical experience with the assessment of visual fields
Some post graduate experience with trauma, neuro ophthalmology and specialised paediatrics

Experience

Essential

Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) and or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council
To be registered with the Health Professions Council
Post graduate British and Irish Orthoptic Society Clinical Educators Course or British Orthoptic Society Clinical Demonstrators Course
Post Graduate 730 7 City and Guilds Teaching in Further Education Teachers Course or equivalent.
NHS management qualification or appropriate experiential learning to enable the post holder to deputise for the Head Orthoptist during annual leave and other short periods of absence

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

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

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

SWB NHS Trust-Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre

City Health Campus Dudley Road

Birmingham

B18 7QH

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Address

SWB NHS Trust-Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre

City Health Campus Dudley Road

Birmingham

B18 7QH

Employer's website

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