Orthoptist

As a Band 5 Orthoptist you will be based at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, a tertiary ophthalmology referral centre with a large A&E department. The Orthoptic team provide acute hospital-based care, community out-reach services, Primary Vision Screening, specialist Stroke, Genetic and Neuro-ophthalmology services

Band 5 post holders will provide clinical diagnostic and therapeutic services across a wide range of clinical conditions including, Ophthalmic Paediatrics, Neuro-ophthalmology and Accident and Emergency, at two acute hospital sites, Sandwell and the Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre.

You will be part of a team of 12 Orthoptists and 9 Ophthalmic Technicians. You will be supported by a Senior Orthoptic Mentor who will meet with you on a regular basis in line with the BIOS Preceptorship programme.

You will be working within a MDT of Medical, Optometric and Nursing staff to deliver high quality patient care.

The Orthoptic service of Sandwell and West Birmingham has an ethos of lifelong learning. Emphasis is place on regular CPD. Personal learning and development facilitated through online, face to face courses and peer learning. The aim is to develop new graduates giving them multiple learning opportunities to gain hands on experience with a wide range of clinical conditions allowing you to expand your theoretical knowledge and its application in clinical practice.

As a Band 5 Orthoptist you will be responsible for the management of patients referred to the Orthoptic service from GP's, Health Visitors, Primary vision screening and other hospital departments, including paediatrics, accident and emergency, maxillo-facial, neurology and endocrinology.

Following a period of induction with clinician buddy support and reduced clinical workload, you will work as an autonomous practitioner undertaking clinical investigation, diagnosis and management of a range of clinical conditions in line with evidence-based practice. The patient group includes patients suffering from strabismus, amblyopia (reduced vision with no apparent pathological cause), complex congenital and acquired conditions including cranial nerve palsy (neurological and systemic in origin), ocular trauma and genetic ocular disorders and associated ocular abnormalities.

You will work within a large team of Orthoptists who will provide peer support and advice.

The clinical role will encompass a wide range of paediatric and adult patients. A reduced case load and senior Orthoptic support will be provided to allow the post holder to develop their skills and knowledge and gain confidence.

Working for our organisation

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) provides healthcare services to 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 to “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.

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

Multi-site working

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:

Against this context, although this post is hosted by Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust , there may be an expectation to work flexibly across the four 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 programme.

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