Job summary
Are you an experienced orthoptist ready to take the next step on the career ladder? Are you an innovative leader who thrives on service development? Then this may be the ideal post for you!
To be a highly competent, autonomous, knowledgeable and visible practitioner able to manage own clinical caseload and provide lead specialist expertise and training to others.
As the head orthoptist you will work with service managers in providing effective, professional leadership and direction for the orthoptist workforce. You will be supported and guided, working with colleagues in ophthalmology to deliver service and Health Board objectives, working effectively within the multidisciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
To work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Nurses and Ophthalmology management team.
To be responsible for Orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management of patient referred to the Orthoptic Department from various departments.
To provide operational, day to day management of the orthoptic team.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
47 general practices (6 of which are managed practices), 45 dental practices (including 4 orthodontic), 96 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh isdesirablefor this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 06/11/2024.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh isdesirablefor this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 06/11/2024.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) and or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council
- Registered with the Health Professions Council
- Post graduate qualifications in area of clinical expertise or evidence of working at post grad Masters level
- Highly specialist knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of orthoptic patients
- In depth knowledge of formulating, planning and co-ordinating specialist treatment plans involving complex facts and situations
- Specialist area of clinical expertise
- Knowledge of visual field testing techniques
Desirable
- Teaching and Assessing certificate
- Post graduate British and Irish Orthoptic Society Clinical Educators Course or British Orthoptic Society Clinical Demonstrators Course
- Health and Safety and Risk management
- Knowledge of lesson planning, teaching techniques and assessment methods
- Evidence of participation in audit and research in area of clinical expertise
Experience
Essential
- To have significant experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics
- Experience of organising and managing clinical workload
- Post registration experience in area of clinical expertise
- Teaching of healthcare professionals
- Work unsupervised and deal with own highly complex caseload
- Evidence of CPD
- Evidence based practice
Desirable
- To have experience in a leadership role - lead clinician for a service area
- Management experience
- Active participation in special interest group relevant to post
- Experience in policy implementation and service development
- Experience in undertaking audits
- Experience in risk management
- NHS management qualification or appropriate experiential learning
Language Skills
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) and or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council
- Registered with the Health Professions Council
- Post graduate qualifications in area of clinical expertise or evidence of working at post grad Masters level
- Highly specialist knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of orthoptic patients
- In depth knowledge of formulating, planning and co-ordinating specialist treatment plans involving complex facts and situations
- Specialist area of clinical expertise
- Knowledge of visual field testing techniques
Desirable
- Teaching and Assessing certificate
- Post graduate British and Irish Orthoptic Society Clinical Educators Course or British Orthoptic Society Clinical Demonstrators Course
- Health and Safety and Risk management
- Knowledge of lesson planning, teaching techniques and assessment methods
- Evidence of participation in audit and research in area of clinical expertise
Experience
Essential
- To have significant experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics
- Experience of organising and managing clinical workload
- Post registration experience in area of clinical expertise
- Teaching of healthcare professionals
- Work unsupervised and deal with own highly complex caseload
- Evidence of CPD
- Evidence based practice
Desirable
- To have experience in a leadership role - lead clinician for a service area
- Management experience
- Active participation in special interest group relevant to post
- Experience in policy implementation and service development
- Experience in undertaking audits
- Experience in risk management
- NHS management qualification or appropriate experiential learning
Language Skills
Desirable
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).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
