Deputy Head Orthoptist / Operational Lead Orthoptist

Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated Orthoptist to join our team as a Deputy Head Orthoptist . The Orthoptic team at UHDB is a team of Orthoptists, Diagnostic Ophthalmic technicians, Optometrists and Orthoptic administrators working across the Burton and Derbyshire sites who have recently been recognized in the UHDB Cultural Trail Blazer as one of the top 2 high performing teams for People Experience within the Surgery business unit. These results have been measured using the annual staff survey along with appraisal metrics, sickness rates and mandatory training compliance. The successful post holder will deputise and provide support for the Head Orthoptist and will be based at the Burton sites to include Queens hospital Burton, Sir Robert Peel Hospital Tamworth and Samuel Johnson community Hospital Lichfield. Main duties of the job Undertaking highly skilled clinical duties and direct patient care as an highly experienced Orthoptist. As part of your clinical role you will have a varied caseload of paediatric and adult motility and Orthoptic/Optometry led shared care clinics for amblyopia and strabismus. You will also provide Orthoptic support to Eye Casualty, Neurology and Maxillo-Facial departments. The Orthoptic service also provides paediatric low vision services, paediatric special needs services, visual processing clinics and adult stroke services. Providing professional support and guidance to clinical staff in all areas of Orthoptic clinical care and provision, including complex care. Day-to-day management and leadership of a clinical team of Orthoptists and Diagnostic Ophthalmic Technicians. Including tasks such as rota management, absence management, personal development, resolving daily problems in the service and all types of line management Working with other leaders in Orthoptics, Optometry, Ophthalmology and other specialties within our organisation and partner organisations to help coordinate, lead and drive the Orthoptic and diagnostic service forward to meet the future needs of our local population and deliver service improvements. Closing date of applications: 29 September 2026 Date of interview: 13 October 2026 About us As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work. In return we will offer: Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond. Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes Key Facts: We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day. We are the 4 th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week. An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country. Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily. Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres. We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres. We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day. UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff. Details Date posted 16 September 2026 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 320-SURG-1337-C Job locations Queen's Hospital Burton Belvedere Road Burton-On-Trent DE13 0RB United Kingdom Job description Job responsibilities This post combines highly specialist clinical skills with the day-to-day management of the service and is an ideal promotional opportunity for a motivated and aspiring Orthoptist currently undertaking leadership responsibilities who wishes to progress their leadership skills further whilst continuing to use embedded highly specialist clinical skills in both paediatric and adult Orthoptic assessment. The successful post holder will play a key part in the delivery and ongoing development of a highquality Orthoptic service providing both clinical and operational leadership to the Orthoptic and Ophthalmic Technician teams and work collaboratively with other Ophthalmology leaders and clinicians including the Deputy Head Orthoptist based at the Derbyshire sites to achieve shared goals for Orthoptics and Ophthalmology and to ensure safe, effective, and patientcentred care. They will be involved in the current service developments within Ophthalmolo