Job summary
- Main area
- Clinical
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 249-7428386
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospital
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 29/10/2025
Employer heading

Orthoptist
NHS AfC: Band 5
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
An opportunity has opened up to join a small team of orthoptists in Great Western Hospital.
This is an ideal first post for a newly qualified orthoptist. The post holder will be invited to join the BIOS and Trust Preceptorship schemes to support them in the start of their career.
We can provide you with a thorough grounding in all aspects of clinical work. We are a friendly and supportive team that will provide experience of paediatric patients, adult patients from newly acquired palsies, TED, accident and trauma cases.
Main duties of the job
To be an autonomous practitioner to provide orthoptic services. This includes assessment of new patients and management of infants, children, adults and the elderly. To maintain accurate patient records; paper based and digital.
The role will be mainly Paediatric Orthoptic Clinics and Ocular motility Clinics.
Continuing professional development and clinical audit are encouraged in the department.
Working for our organisation
Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To directly provide Orthoptic services as agreed with the Clinical Lead Orthoptist. This includes the
assessment of new patients and the management of infants, children, adults, and the elderly. - To contribute to the general running and functions of the Orthoptic service to include administration,
planning, and development. - To keep and maintain accurate patient records; paper based and digital using the Trust information
systems. - To take an active part in local and national research and audit, undertaking data collection as
required. - Maintain up to date knowledge of techniques and technology and to maintain required levels
professional clinical practice, competencies, and skills. To maintain own standards of professional
conduct and performance in line with HCPC and BIOS. - To be aware of and implement Trust and departmental policies and procedures, and participate in
the development of departmental policies. - To understand and maintain quality assurance standards, clinical governance, and clinical risk for
the Orthoptic service and Trust
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree BSc (or Diploma) in Orthoptics
- Current Professional registration with HCPC
- Membership of BIOS
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical experience in paediatric Orthoptics
- Knowledge of formulating treatment plans using problem solving and involving complex factors
- Evidence of ability to work on own and prioritise own workload
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of the significance to own practice of legislation including ; Confidentiality and Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding issues, Clinical governance
- Undergraduate experience of neuroophthalmology / other specialist areas
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Shital Patel
- Job title
- Clinical Lead Orthoptist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 604702
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