About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced Band 7 Specialist Orthoptist to join our Community Paediatric Eye Service in the London Borough of Barnet. This part-time role (0.2 WTE) is ideal for an Orthoptist with paediatric experience who is passionate about delivering high-quality, child-centred care within a multidisciplinary team.
You will manage a varied paediatric caseload, carrying out comprehensive assessments and developing treatment plans for children with a range of ophthalmic conditions. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you will provide complex information to families, colleagues, and partner services.
Working alongside a supportive team of Orthoptists and Optometrists, you will contribute to service development, supervise Orthoptic students and junior staff, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH). Strong organisational skills, a positive approach to innovation, and the ability to build effective working relationships are essential.
This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership skills, contribute to service improvement, and make a meaningful difference to the visual health and wellbeing of children and their families. If you are committed to delivering outstanding paediatric eye care, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
The Post holder will run the Orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner both preventative and curative as directed by the standards of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) To use advanced clinical expertise, reasoning and experience to assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the Orthoptic service as part of a multi-disciplinary team To provide education and competencies support for the qualified Orthoptic team. The post holder will work as an active member of a multi-disciplinary team and will undertake clinical supervision, clinical audit and to take responsibility for own continuing professional development. The post holder will be responsible for line-managing all staff involved with Paediatric eye service in the absence of the clinical service manager in addition co-ordinating vision strategy programmes in Barnet. Support the team with operational management To actively teach and educate other healthcare professionals including undergraduate orthoptic students, pre-registration Optometrists, Health Visitors, School Nurses, General Practitioners (GP), junior doctors and medical students
About us
We are proud to be one of the largest community healthcare providers in the country, with more than 4,500 colleagues caring for over four million people across London and Hertfordshire. Every day, our teams bring their skill, compassion, and determination to the people who depend on us.
What inspires us is at the heart of who we are: when we work together, we can help people move forward in ways that truly matter. Our teams support children as they take their first steps in life, and they stand beside adults as they rebuild strength, confidence, and independence. From newborn health visiting to community nursing, stroke rehabilitation, and palliative care, we are there for people through some of life's most important moments.
Joining Central London Community Healthcare means becoming part of a community that lifts each other up. It means working in an organisation that values compassion, welcomes new ideas, and believes in the potential of every colleague. Your development matters here. Your wellbeing matters. Your voice helps shape the future of the care we provide.
We offer a competitive employment package because the work you do matters. At Central London Community Healthcare, you will join an inclusive organisation that invests in its people, supports development, and helps you thrive while delivering high-quality care.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post-holder will be required to work autonomously and to make clinical decisions using his/her own judgement and initiative. To independently undertake the assessment and planning of treatment in respect of children with ocular motility and related disorders in conjunction with the Optometrist and other primary health professionals.
Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate alignment with the Trusts values - Accountability, Inclusion, Compassion, and Empowerment, alongside fulfilling the duties detailed in the attached Job Description and Person Specification
Person Specification
Education/Qualification Essential
Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc (Orth) or Bmed Sci (Orthoptics) and or Diploma of the British Orthoptic Council To be registered with the Health Professions Council Member of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) NHS management qualification or appropriate experiential learning to enable the post holder to deputise for the Lead Orthoptist during annual leave and other short periods of absence
Desirable
Teaching and Assessing certificate Post graduate British and Irish Orthoptic Society Clinical Educators Course or British Orthoptic Society Clinical Demonstrators Course Member of a relevant specific interest group
Experience Essential
Clinical experience in specialist paediatric Orthoptics to provide an expert opinion in assessing, diagnosing and managing highly complex paediatric Orthoptic patients To have experience in a leadership role - lead clinician for a service area Post-registration experience including experience in specialist services, paeds, neuro, community, glaucoma & visual fields Experience of working as part of a team, uni-professional and multiprofessional Experience in delivering training and support to junior staff, support staff and students Experience of supervising staff and / or students Knowledge of current vision screening policies Leading and developing teams Quality assurance Policy implementation Service development Risk management
Desirable
Experience in research and clinical audits Experience managing budgets
Skills and Knowledge Essential
Advanced skills in assessment and treatment of children with complex eye conditions Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical AF, C, IV 14 outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information Ability to problem solve, prioritise and demonstrate advanced clinical skills Skills in supervision and appraisal of staff Presentation skills appropriate for teaching Computer literacy Acute levels of hand eye co-ordination. To demonstrate active participation in undergraduate and post graduate education of Orthoptists, Optometrists, Nursing and Medical staff. Ability to keep accurate patient notes Developed knowledge of current best practice in Orthoptics in the relevant setting Understanding legal responsibilities of the profession and the associated code of ethics Audit and research experience & knowledge Demonstrates understanding of clinical governance Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
Other Essential
Must be able to identify their limitations in theoretical and practical skills and thus when to seek the advice of a senior colleague
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Central London Community Health Trust
Address Vale Drive Primary Care Centre
Vale Drive
Barnet
EN5 2ED
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://clch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)