Overview
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is seeking a very experienced, highly motivated and proactive orthoptist who will work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team for a part time (0.5WTE / 18.75hrs) 8a post. You will support the Head Orthoptist in a range of management activities and provide clinical leadership to the orthoptic team. You will have a proven track of undertaking in depth orthoptic assessment and management of highly complex orthoptic patients. Ideally you will have an interest in patients with learning disability.
Location: St. James\'s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF. Travel to health centres around Leeds is required.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate will have a varied caseload including stand-alone orthoptic clinics, joint clinics with optometry and with consultants, with referrals from a wide range of sources internally and externally. You will assist the Head Orthoptist in staffing, supporting delivery of activity and leave management, patient experience and continued quality improvement. A key part of the role will be fostering a positive and inclusive culture that supports learning, accountability and staff wellbeing. You will be expected to undertake audit and service improvement projects. There may be opportunity for research.
You will provide autonomous orthoptic management of ocular motility defects and maintain a personal caseload of a highly specialised/complex nature. You will lead within the orthoptic department and support clinical supervision of less experienced orthoptists and those in training. Deputising for the Head of Profession Orthoptics and aiding in development of local service-wide clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways for orthoptics and associated ophthalmology services to promote clinical effectiveness, evidence-based medicine and patient experience.
About us
We are a team of 16 orthoptists and 3 paediatric ophthalmologists/strabismologists with support from consultant oculo-plastics, retinal and corneal services. Optometrists provide paediatric refraction, contact lens and low vision clinics plus complex adult refraction for motility patients; there are dedicated psychology sessions. The Orthoptic and Children\'s Eye Clinic is based on the St James\'s University Hospital site in a dedicated unit. Day sessions may be undertaken in Health Centres around Leeds; ability to travel is essential. Our Eye Clinic is spread across a number of hospitals with 30 consultants covering all sub-specialities. Excellent communication skills are required to convey relevant and important clinical details clearly and concisely to non-ophthalmic colleagues.
Requirements
Qualifications
* HCPC orthoptic registration with appropriate qualification
* Masters or Masters equivalent post-qualification specialist training, expertise and experience
* Clinical teaching qualification
Desirable
* Leadership/management qualification
Experience
* Highly specialised orthoptic-specific expertise
* Significant post-qualification experience in specialist areas including congenital cataract management, learning disability and complex motility
* Goldmann or Octopus perimetry experience
* Pre-registration orthoptic student assessment
* Leadership experience
* Audit and service improvement experience
Skills & behaviours
* Personal integrity and responsibility
* Collaborative team worker and leader
* Completer-finisher
* Highly developed communication skills
Additional information
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. Skilled worker applicants must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18) are also subject to this requirement.
Details
Date posted: 21 October 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: C9298-HAN-123
Job locations: St. James\'s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
Employer details
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
St. James\'s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
Website: Leeds Teaching Hospitals (no link provided)
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