Operational Lead Orthoptist | University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated Orthoptist to join our team as anOperational Lead Orthoptist.


This role will support and deputise for the Head Orthoptist and will play a key part in the delivery and ongoing development of a high‑quality Orthoptic service. You will provide clinical and operational leadership to teams based at our Burton sites, working collaboratively to ensure safe, effective, and patient‑centred care.


You will bring experience of supporting colleagues in their day‑to‑day roles, encouraging professional development, and providing compassionate support through both professional and personal challenges. We welcome applications from individuals who value inclusive leadership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

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 and who wishes to progress their leadership skills further whilst continuing to use your highly specialist clinical skills.

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 May 2026

Date of interview: 12 June 2026

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 4thbusiest 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.

Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB – this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.

UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AI generated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipImpacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers

Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).

This advert closes on Thursday 28 May 2026