Specialist Orthoptist

Here at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust we're committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities whilst employing people to our organisation who meet our Trust values of ambition, respect and compassion. With the opening of our new hospital, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, it's the coming together of expertise from every corner of our organisation and a show of our commitment to provide better healthcare and create more jobs and so much more. We at the Trust actively encourage Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and disabled applicants, as well as members of the armed forces community and value the positive impact that difference has on our teams. We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce.

Job overview

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust provides an environment where Orthoptists can develop their knowledge and skills with peer group support.

The post holder will work within a large team of Orthoptists who form part of an Ophthalmic multi-disciplinary team based at the Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre (BMEC). They will work across a number of sites including Sandwell Health Campus and community clinics to deliver orthoptic services to paediatric and adult patients. The post holder will be involved in vision screening and Community Orthoptics Outreach services.

Orthoptists are encouraged to participate in clinical audit and research to develop themselves as members of the clinical team and to share best practice within the service and other Orthoptists via the British and Irish Orthoptic Society and via publication of research.

Main duties of the job

As the Specialist Orthoptist you will be actively involved in the investigation, diagnosis and management of a wide range of ophthalmic conditions presenting to the orthoptic service. This will include patients referred from the Emergency department at BMEC.

The post holder will be required to use evidence based practice to formulate management plans and postulate prognosis. Clinical administrative duties will form part of the job role, working with other clinical colleagues to ensure safe and effective patient care.

You will be expected to demonstrate continuing professional development in line with the requirements of the Health and Care professions Council.

Working for our organisation

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) serves Birmingham and the Black Country - one of the country's most culturally diverse areas. It's a friendly and welcoming place - a place where you can belong, and a place where you can grow.

We care for our patients, we care about our population, and we care about our people.

Our values - Ambition, Respect and Compassion - are at the heart of who we are. They guide us every step of the way; how we work with each other, and how we look after our patients and their families; how we respect and value the rich diversity of our team and our community.

Our Trust has always aspired to be more than a hospital, more than a healthcare provider. Our purpose is "Improve the Life Chances and Health Outcomes of our Population." It is what inspires, drives, and unites us every day. It's what makes us unique.

We want working at SWB to feel like more than just a job. We want our Trust to be a place where you can feel you belong. A place where you feel happy, safe, and rewarded. A place where you can develop your career in whatever way you choose. When we say we're 'with you all the way' we want you to know that we mean it. Visit the SWB website to find out more about our ambitions and people plans.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details on what this role entails

Person specification Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Orthoptics
• To be registered with the Health Professions Council
• Evidence of CPD

Experience

• Relevant orthoptic clinical experience
• Experience with OCT Assessment and Analysis
• Experience with Visual Field Asessment and Analysis

The four partner Trusts of the Black Country Provider Collaborative (Dudley Group NHS FT, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust) are actively working in partnership to deliver a collective vision focused on providing "better, faster and safer care to the population of the Black Country and beyond".

To support this vision, we are (where appropriate and safe to do so) actively looking at new models of care which:

• Better protect elective / planned care service delivery across the system by organising on a 'hot and cold' arrangement
• Consider the optimal use of resources through consolidation and specialisation, and
• Seek to reduce unwarranted variance, level up / standardise care through a 'Networked Service Solution' approach across the four sites

Against this context, although this post is hosted by Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, there may be an expectation to work flexibly acrossthefour partner Trusts to better meet patient and service needs.

As a major employer in the Black Country and West Birmingham region we are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. We want the Black Country and West Birmingham region to be the best place to work and as such will consider all requests to work flexibly taking into account personal and individual circumstances alongside the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Healthcare services have a significant impact on the environment. We are committed to embedding sustainable practices. We expect all colleagues to support the delivery of our Green Strategic Plan and to drive positive changes in their department by joining our Green Impact (opens in a new tab) programme.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.