Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialised Orthoptist
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Band 7 Highly Specialist Glaucoma Orthoptist
Are you an experienced Orthoptist with an interest in glaucoma care and ready to take the next step into a Band 7 highly specialist role? If you are a Band 6 clinician passionate about delivering high-quality patient care and developing specialist expertise, this could be the ideal developmental opportunity for you.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Highly Specialist Glaucoma Orthoptist to join our friendly, innovative and supportive Orthoptic team in North Devon. This role offers the opportunity to develop advanced clinical, leadership and teaching skills whilst helping to shape and further develop our orthoptic-led glaucoma monitoring service and wider orthoptic provision.
We will shortly be welcoming an Orthoptic Apprentice. Candidates with an interest in education, clinical supervision and workforce development would be particularly welcome.
In return, we offer funded training and development, flexible working, career progression, and opportunities to contribute to research, innovation and service improvement.
If you are seeking an excellent work–life balance, North Devon offers an outstanding natural environment, including Exmoor National Park, beautiful coastline and world-class beaches, providing an exceptional quality of life.
About the Role
This is a dynamic and varied role with opportunities to develop advanced clinical and autonomous practice skills across both orthoptic and glaucoma pathways. You will be supported to expand your expertise through extended roles and innovative ways of working.
You will deliver clinics across both acute hospital and community settings and, depending on experience, spend a significant proportion of your time working in an extended-role capacity supporting the orthoptic-led glaucoma monitoring service.
Working alongside glaucoma clinical nurse specialists, orthoptic assistants and ophthalmology colleagues, you will play a key role in monitoring and managing glaucoma patients, identifying deterioration and facilitating timely escalation where required. You will also contribute to the ongoing development of the glaucoma service and the staff delivering it.
Within the orthoptic service, you will:
- Provide specialist orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management for paediatric and adult patients.
- Manage a diverse caseload including ocular motility disorders, diplopia, amblyopia, neuro-ophthalmic presentations and stroke-related visual problems.
- Work autonomously using advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.
- Contribute to service development, pathway redesign and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support waiting list management and elective recovery.
- Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality patient-centred care.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
As the department continues to develop its workforce, we will shortly be welcoming an Orthoptic Apprentice. Candidates with an interest in education, clinical supervision and workforce development would be particularly welcome. The successful candidate will have opportunities to support the training and development of students and apprentices and, for the right individual, there may be a supported pathway towards developing as an Orthoptic Clinical Tutor alongside their clinical role.
The successful candidate will:
- Be part of a forward-thinking team driving innovation in both orthoptic and glaucoma services.
- Work as an autonomous practitioner within the core orthoptic service.
- Contribute to service development and pathway improvement.
- Support the education, supervision, training and development of students, apprentices and junior staff.
- Develop leadership and teaching skills, with potential opportunities to progress towards an Orthoptic Clinical Tutor role.
- Participate in regular glaucoma multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
- Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Be willing to travel to community-based clinic locations.
Not Quite Ready for a Band 7 Post?
We welcome applications from suitable candidates seeking a developmental opportunity. A Band 6 developmental pathway may be offered to applicants who do not yet meet all Band 7 competencies. This will include structured training, mentoring and competency-based progression to Band 7 following successful completion of agreed objectives.
About the Service
The Orthoptic Department provides a comprehensive range of adult and paediatric services including patients referred from:
- Eye Casualty
- Neurology services
- Stroke rehabilitation services
- Paediatric ophthalmology services
- School vision screening programmes
- Special school screening programmes
- Acute and Community location clinics
In addition to core orthoptic services, we currently provide extended-role clinics including:
- Glaucoma Monitoring
- Dystonia/Botox
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
The department has a strong reputation for innovation and service development and is committed to developing both future services and future professionals.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Career Development and Progression
Training and development opportunities are readily available. Whether your interests lie in specialist clinical practice, leadership, education, research or service development, we will support you in finding the best way to grow.
We actively encourage CPD and offer opportunities to learn from a range of specialist clinicians across ophthalmology and orthoptics.
You will be involved in:
- Clinical audit and quality improvement
- Clinical governance activities
- Journal clubs
- Departmental meetings
- Relevant courses and seminars
- Service development projects
As we establish our Orthoptic Apprenticeship programme, candidates who are interested in teaching and workforce development will have opportunities to gain experience in education, mentorship and clinical supervision. For the right individual, there may be opportunities to develop towards an Orthoptic Clinical Tutor role, supporting apprentice and student learning alongside clinical responsibilities.
About North Devon
North Devon District Hospital is situated close to some of the UK's most beautiful coastline and countryside, including Exmoor National Park and the stunning beaches of the North Devon coast.
Known as England's Adventure Coast, North Devon offers an exceptional quality of life with outstanding natural beauty, vibrant communities and excellent opportunities for outdoor pursuits. The area is also home to the UK's first designated World Surfing Reserve.
There are good road links to the M5 and rail connections to Exeter and the wider national network.
HCPC registration is essential, and travel across community sites will be expected.
Working Pattern: 37.5 hours over 4 days - 3 x 9.5 hour days and 1 x 9 hour day
Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
For further information please contact: Susan Thorne, Head Orthoptist on 01271 322469 OR susanthorne@nhs.net
Inclusive Employer
As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills