Job Summary
Deputy Head Orthoptist

Department: Orthoptic

Band 7: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata

Hours: 32 per week , all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

The opportunity is for an experienced Orthoptist to take on a key leadership role within a busy Orthoptic service. As Deputy Head Orthoptist, you will support the Head Orthoptist in the operational management, service development, clinical governance and education of the Orthoptic team. You will combine clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, contributing to high quality, patient centred care across a range of ophthalmic subspecialties while helping the service respond to demand.

You are a highly skilled and experienced Orthoptist with advanced theoretical knowledge and well developed clinical expertise. You are able to independently assess, diagnose and manage complex Orthoptic conditions and provide clinical leadership and support to colleagues. You have experience of service development, supervision, and supporting education and training, and you are motivated to contribute positively to team development and service improvement.

The Department is based in the Community Diagnostic Centre in the city centre, five minutes away from the hospital site. The department includes dedicated orthoptic rooms, consulting rooms, optometry rooms, treatment rooms and a theatre. Supporting a wide range of ophthalmic services within a modern and well equipped environment.

Interview date:10 August 2026

Main Duties of the Job

• To take the lead and manage the operational element of the Orthoptic service.
• To deputise for the Head Orthoptist in their absence for other managerial elements of the service.
• To provide clinical and professional leadership to the Orthoptic service, deputising for the Head Orthoptist when necessary.
• To provide Orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner, working within professional guidelines and policies, to provide a comprehensive and competent Orthoptic service to both paediatric and adult patients within the hospital and other locations as required.
• To provide assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of patients presenting with a wide range of ophthalmic and ocular motility disorders.
• Undertake one or more specialised Orthoptic clinic roles such as Stroke, Orthoptic screening lead, intravitreal injections, ECLO, biometry clinics and assessment of children with additional needs (special educational needs/ visual impairment/ specific learning difficulties)
• To independently assess and manage complex neurological patients, referring on to the Consultant Ophthalmologist as required.
• Participate in departmental education programme, including the training of Orthoptic undergraduate students, pre-registration Optometrists, junior doctors, Health Visitors, School Nurses and others.

About Us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

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For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes

Job Responsibilities
Join #TeamSurgery at Milton Keynes University Hospital

The surgery division at MKUH, which covers specialties including theatres and the Intensive Care Unit, offers a variety of roles and opportunities, both clinical and non-clinical. The division are looking for passionate, enthusiastic and forward-thinking professionals to join the team.

MKUH is one of the leading hospitals in Europe for implementing robotics to assist in surgery, becoming the first in the continent to use the CMR Versius robot for gynaecological surgery. Since its introduction in 2019, the theatres team have completed over 500 surgical cases, the first hospital in the UK to reach this milestone, achieving this in March 2023.

As well as being an innovator in robotics, the Trust is proud to be part of the New Hospital Programme, with plans to expand and increase our surgical capacity to meet the health needs of our communities now and in the future.

With a leading benefits package, and a growing hospital estate to meet one of the fastest growing populations in the country, it is a great time to join MKUH.

Work autonomously, within professional boundaries, taking sole responsibility for the orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients referred from ophthalmology including booked urgent service, vision screening, paediatrics, stroke, and maxillofacial services. This will include babies, children and adults with varied complexity of medical conditions and neurological disorders.

Assess and diagnose paediatric and adult new and follow up patients. Develop and manage a specialised programme of care appropriate to the needs of the individual patient. This involves using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills, communicating effectively with patients and parents / carers. Assess understanding and gaining informed consent to the recommended treatment plan. Adhere to any national and local guidelines.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential

• BSc (Hons) Orthoptics or equivalent
• Registered with the HCPC.
• Master's degree or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Medical Exemptions qualification
• Post-degree study / qualifications in leadership / management in healthcare
• Completion of BIOS Clinical Tutors Course

Experience
Essential

• Significant post qualification experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics
• Demonstrable experience as a clinical lead in an orthoptic service
• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• Experience in audit
• Experience of working with children with special educational needs
• Evidence of advanced Orthoptic skills to be able to deal with complex and sensitive issues
• Knowledge of clinical governance and other current drivers and guidelines affecting practice
• Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities and identifying area of concern
• Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession

Desirable

• Experience in research
• Experience of undertaking intravitreal injections
• Trained in biometry and immersion as part of cataract service
• Experience in stroke service
• Experience in teaching and supervision of medical / orthoptic students
• Experience in formulating policies and guidelines
• Experience formulating EHCPs

Skills
Essential

• Significant computer literacy
• Excellent interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise effectively with multidisciplinary team members
• Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
• Demonstrates excellent team working
• Ability to demonstrate motivation
• Excellent negotiating and influencing skills
• Experience of involvement in successful change within a service

Personal and People Development
Essential

• To be approachable and maintain a good rapport with colleagues
• To be able to work independently
• Manually dexterous
• Receptive to change
• Adaptable

Communication
Essential

• Excellent communication skills - ability to provide and receive highly complex information

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.

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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Contact Details
Head Orthoptist: Maneeta Morarji
Email: Maneeta.Morarji@mkuh.nhs.uk
Phone: 01908995526