Specialist Orthoptist

Specialist Orthoptist

The closing date is 15 January 2026

The Children's Community Orthoptic Service is looking for a hard working, passionate and enthusiastic Orthoptist to join our team of 12 Orthoptists to work across Manchester and Trafford at a number of Health Centres and Special Schools. The post is to cover maternity leave for a 12 month period.

This position will be solely community based and requires exceptional organisational skills. The post holder will be required to work independently without the immediate supervision of other team members.

MFT adheres to the flexible working policy, which is available to all staff, to ensure that you have a healthy work life balance.

Main duties of the job

Reporting directly to the Head of the Children's Community Orthoptic Service, you will be an integral part of the team;

Providing comprehensive, high quality Orthoptic Services as an autonomous practitioner. This requires knowledge and interpretation of professional and departmental guidelines, applying this to patients accessing the community orthoptic setting.

Assessment, diagnosis and management (including onward referral and safe discharge) of new and follow up paediatric patients with, strabismus, ocular motility disorders and amblyopia, including children with SEND.

The position includes single handed community paediatric orthoptic/refraction clinics and special school clinics. There may be a requirement to support the paediatric ophthalmology clinics at Trafford General Hospital.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement. Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients. You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives. At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions. Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU for our patients, our communities, and each other.

As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification Qualifications

• oDegree in Orthoptics (or equivalent)
• oRegistration with Health and Care Professions Council
• oDriving Licence

Experience

• oMinimum of 3 years post qualification experience
• oExperience of working with children with special educational needs in special school
• oEvidence of recent professional development
• Experience of providing training to undergraduate orthoptic students
• oExperience of working with patients with vision impairment

Clinical Skills

• oManage patient care autonomously
• oAbility to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• o Aptitude for working in a caring environment with children of all abilities
• oTo have a wide understanding of conditions that are referred to the orthoptic service and the treatment plans that are required
• oAbility to contribute to clinical pathway development
• oKnowledge and skills of clinical audit

Management Skills

• oPlanning and organisation skills
• oSelf-directing

Interpersonal Skills

• oExcellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients including those with learning disabilities
• oCounselling skills to support patients and families coping with high levels of stress
• oStrength of character to cope with occasional exposure to highly distressing situations

Circumstances

• oFlexible to meet the service needs

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.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Manchester and Trafford Local Care Organisation

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearPer Annum (Pro Rata)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

349-LCO-

Job locations

Manchester and Trafford Local Care Organisation