Job summary
A post has become available for a Specialist Orthoptist at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. This is a dynamic department with a strong focus on quality which is constantly striving to improve services for our patients and ensure that their experience is as good as possible. We are looking for a forward thinking and innovative Orthoptist to become part of our team

Main duties of the job
The candidate will hold their own general Orthoptic caseload and will perform both new and follow-up assessments. The post holder will work alongside our urgent care clinic seeing urgent Orthoptic case and also to provide secondary screening clinics. There will be opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary clinics with both our paediatric Ophthalmologist and Optometrists. The successful candidate may be required to work at any of our Trust sites and will therefore require excellent organisational skills. Our service has an active Orthoptic stroke service and there may be opportunity to gain experience in this area.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will act as a source of expertise on the diagnosis and management of ocular motility disorder to patients, carers, G.P.s, Ophthalmology Medical staff and other health care professionals. They will be required to accurately diagnose and develop effective treatment plans for patients and ensure timely review. They will appropriately discharge and make onward referral to other services within the Trust for both Ophthalmology and emotional support, involving external agencies such as the DVLA and local government sensory support services where necessary. The post holder will be required to educate and train other Health care professionals, undergraduate Orthoptic students, medical students, Optometry and work experience students. They will be required to participate actively in continuous professional development to benefit both themselves and the Orthoptic services

Essential

• Experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics including specialist services ideally e.g. Paediatrics, Neurology, Community services, adjustable suture squint surgery
• HCPC registration
• Ongoing CPD
• Good communication with patients and other professionals
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Ability to organise own workload and clinics
• Manual dexterity in the use of Orthoptic equipment
• Up to date knowledge of clinical techniques and technology
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
• Diploma/degree in Orthoptics

Desirable

• Experience of Goldmann visual field testing
• Experience of clinical teaching ideally including Orthoptic undergraduates
• Experienced with computer software
• Research skills
• Clinical teachers qualification

Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Band: Band 6
Closing date: 25 November 2026
Contact: Helen Downey, Head Orthoptist, Helen.downey@nhs.net, 01325743135

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.