Job summary
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 description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
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.
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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Orthoptics (or equivalent)
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post qualification experience
- Experience of working with children with special educational needs in special school
- Evidence of recent professional development
- Up to date personal development plan
- Experience of providing training to undergraduate orthoptic students
Desirable
- Experience of working with patients with vision impairment
- Clinical tutor certificate
Clinical Skills
Essential
- Manage patient care autonomously
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Aptitude for working in a caring environment with children of all abilities
- To have a wide understanding of conditions that are referred to the orthoptic service and the treatment plans that are required
Desirable
- Ability to contribute to clinical pathway development
- Knowledge and skills of clinical audit
Management Skills
Essential
- Planning and organisation skills
- Self-directing
- IT skills
Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients including those with learning disabilities
- Counselling skills to support patients and families coping with high levels of stress
Desirable
- Strength of character to cope with occasional exposure to highly distressing situations
Circumstances
Essential
- Flexible 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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
