Job overview
Are you motivated & driven to deliver sustainable change and excellence in clinical care then we want to hear from you.
We are looking to appoint full-time Specialist Orthoptists to come and join South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The post will be based at The James Cook University Hospital with single-handed sessions undertaken each week across various sites which may include Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, Low Grange Middlesbrough & North Tees and Hartlepool.
Please note, if you do not meet the person specification for a Band 6, we will consider a Band 5 and we will develop you into a Band 6 Orthoptist.
Main duties of the job
As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will provide high-quality, advanced specialised orthoptic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as part of a busy multidisciplinary ophthalmology team across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and various satellite sites.
The post holder will work both as an autonomous practitioner as well as part of the ophthalmology team including orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, and nurses, providing orthoptic practice to both paediatric and adult patients, including those with complex conditions.
The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients referred to the Orthoptic department for patients of all ages using advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.
The post holder will be competent in the use of specialised examination techniques and equipment to provide a high-quality service.
The post holder may be required to help support other subspeciality specialist roles when required for ; Paediatrics, Stroke, and Neuro-ophthalmology.
The post holder will also participate in undergraduate/postgraduate teaching provided by the ophthalmology service.
Working for our organisation
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:
Your Leadership Impact
Leading your Team to Success
Leading Into the Future
Service Improvement for Beginners
Developing your Service Improvement Skills
Lean Practitioner
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
Explore leadership within the NHS
Promote Trust values and behaviours
Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Diploma/degree in Orthoptics (B5/B6)
2. HCPC registration (B5/B6)
3. Evidence/experience of supervising and mentoring undergraduate Orthoptic
Desirable criteria
4. Completion of the Orthoptic Clinical tutor course. (B6)
Experience
Essential criteria
5. Up to date knowledge of current practice and techniques (B5/B6)
6. Post-qualification practical clinical experience due to nature of role (B6)
7. Continuing professional development. (B5/B6)
8. Appropriate clinical experience and competence in relevant clinical setting which equips the post-holder to work in a clinical role. (B5/B6)
9. Teaching and supervising Orthoptic undergraduates. (B6)
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
10. Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with patients and other professionals. Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients and carers/relatives. Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to digress & adapt from current plans. (B5/B6)
11. Excellent planning & organisational skills and good time management. (B6)
12. Being able to make judgments relating to diagnosis and escalate findings where necessary. (B6)
13. Organises own workload and appointments. (B5/B6)
14. Able to carry out straightforward tasks. (B5/B6)
15. Manual dexterity in the use of orthoptic equipment. (B5/B6)
16. Ability to maintain clear and accurate patient records, written and electronic. (B5/B6)
17. Observe Patient confidentiality, teamwork, self-motivated, mature and clinically experienced. (B5/B6)
18. Ability to work single-handed. (B6)
19. Ability to work within the requirements of the Code of practice and Professional Standards of the British and Irish Orthoptics Society (B5/B6)
20. Demonstrates a good self-awareness of own role & levels of competence and awareness of responsibilities within a team. (B5/B6)
21. Reliable and self-motivated approach to work and self-motivated approach to CPD (B5/B6)
22. Ability to make decisions that will not cause any adverse situations at a later (B6)date.
23. Good planning & organisational skills and good time management. (B5)
24. Being able to make judgments relating to diagnosis. (B5)
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
25. Up to date knowledge of current practice and techniques. (B5/B6)
26. Evidence of continuing professional development. (B5/B6)
27. Ability to make clinical decisions autonomously to best meet patient needs, available evidence and service needs. (B5/B6)
28. IT Skills Use of Microsoft office access, excel, outlook, PowerPoint & word. (B5/B6)
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.
At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.
We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.
We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Supporting disabled people and people with longterm conditions
We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.
This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at or call us on 01642 854610
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.