Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Orthoptist
The closing date is 26 November 2026

Job summary
Band 7 Orthoptist
Blackpool Orthoptic Department is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Orthoptist to assist the Head Orthoptist with senior team leadership within the Orthoptic Service at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. This post is a Fixed term contract to cover maternity leave.

The team member will participate in the provision of comprehensive and highly specialised orthoptic duties, examining both adult and paediatric patients, whilst also being the adult service Lead.

The role requires a good communicator with excellent people skills as the potential exists to encounter patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and abilities.

The Orthoptist will support a friendly, well organised, and motivated team consisting of 9 Orthoptists, 3 optometrists and 6 Ophthalmic Technicians.

The trust employs 8 Consultant Ophthalmologists, including one Consultant specialising in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Ocular Motility.

For further information and/or informal visit please contact Conrad Beacham on 01253 953457 or email Bfwh.orthoptics@nhs.net

Main duties of the job
To Lead Adult Orthoptic Services (excluding Stroke), providing highly specialised adult strabismus assessments and management. To act as member of the management team supporting high quality and comprehensive Orthoptic services for the trust within the Ophthalmology directorate and extending the service/support to other directorates as requested.

About us
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage application from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS.

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 382-SWC175-26
Job locations: Blackpool Orthoptic Department, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Managerial:

• To provide operational, administrative and advanced managerial support associated with the day-to-day functioning of the Orthoptic service, particularly in the absence of the Head Orthoptist.
• To provide representation in the absence of the Head Orthoptist
• To be highly effective at prioritising and managing own clinical case load and administrative tasks. To oversee other staff clinics as necessary.
• To take the lead in the evolution and management of specialist adult strabismus clinics including endocrinology and neuro-ophthalmology.
• To be responsible for managing own adult patient clinics and paediatric hospital or community clinics. To determine and action appropriate outcomes for every patient seen.
• Ensure effective and efficient use of physical resources, making recommendations regarding equipment and supplies. To ensure clinical equipment and work areas are well maintained, cleaned regularly, and ensure all clinical equipment is stored appropriately.
• To formally appraise staff members, and action personal development plans arising from own appraisal. To contribute to attendance management and recruitment of Orthoptic department staff.
• To provide clinical supervision to staff members and provide support/mentorship and training to junior staff members.
• To be a key trainer for Orthoptic medical devices and to ensure competencies of staff remain high.
• To demonstrate own clinical practice to other professionals e.g., paediatric SHOs GP trainees and pre registered optometrists.
• To be an Orthoptic Clinical tutor having significant input to the training and assessment of Orthoptic students.
• To regularly attend and actively participate in staff meetings. To lead in-house training programmes, journal clubs and presentations to enhance own and department continued professional education. To present at other clinical meetings outside the Orthoptic Department when requested.
• Undertake reflective practice.
• To keep up to date with research and new developments in Orthoptics, to ensure best clinical practice is maintained within the department. To actively take part in local and national research and be the lead for some research projects within the department. Disseminate acquired knowledge within the department to uphold a high standard of patient care.
• Regularly initiate and participate in formal clinical and non-clinical audit, as well as specific service evaluations. Be able to gather and analyse complex data, drawing conclusions, and presenting information to benefit Orthoptic and Ophthalmology departments. Actively participate in implementing service improvements.
• Regularly communicate with medical, optometry, nursing, other health professionals and clerical staff to maintain a high level of patient care.
• To be involved in the development and instigation of new protocols and SOPs within the department/directorate and contribute to the planning and development of Orthoptic services including enhanced clinical pathways.
• To help ensure trust policies and procedures are adhered to and Health and Safety regulations are complied with.
• Develop and update relevant patient information including service user feedback.
• Act as a role model for the department, exhibit professional behaviour and treat all staff with dignity and respect. Take appropriate action to address behaviour inconsistent with Trust policies.
• To help promote the Orthoptic profession both within the Trust and to external partners.
• To be an active member within relevant BIOS CAG and local networking groups.
• To maintain own HCPC registration.

Person Specification
Education and Qualification

• Professional qualification in Orthoptics recognised by the Health Care Professions Council (Essential)
• Registration with HCPC (Essential)
• Relevant qualification in management/leadership or in process of acquiring (Essential)
• Relevant Orthoptic Post-graduate training (Essential)
• Clinical tutor Qualification (Essential)
• Full Driving License (Essential)

Experience and Knowledge

• Evidence of extensive post-graduate Orthoptic experience within the NHS involving specialist clinics (Essential)
• Experience in diagnosis and management of highly complex ocular motility disorders (Essential)
• Management/Leadership experience (Essential)
• Experience in clinical research and audit (Essential)
• Experience in Coaching and Clinical supervision (Essential)

Skills and Ability

• Ability to establish and maintain excellent communication with other individuals during routine or complex operational matters. (Essential)
• Adept at working within integrated healthcare partnerships as part of a multidisciplinary team. (Essential)
• Able to provide guidance and support with respect, as a clinical team leader and as part of the senior leadership team within the Orthoptic department. (Essential)
• Excellent time management skills with an ability to work towards deadlines. (Essential)
• Ability to be flexible and resilient when working under stress, with a capacity to manage competing clinical pressures. (Essential)
• Able to apply a sensitive and empathetic approach to difficult scenarios involving patients. (Essential)
• Effective presentation skills for formal and informal teaching of students and fellow health professionals (Essential)
• Able to use skills to develop and enhance Orthoptic services. (Essential)
• To have an awareness of research methodology and willingness to undertake research with the Orthoptic Department (Essential)
• Good I.T skills (Essential)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

Employer details
Employer name: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Blackpool Orthoptic Department, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head Orthoptist, Conrad Beacham, Conrad.beacham@nhs.net, 01253953457

Supporting documents
Privacy notice: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)