Orthoptist - Development Role

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Orthoptist to join our friendly and dynamic team of Orthoptists, Ophthalmic Technicians and Orthoptic Assistants.

Main duties of the job

You will have a varied and interesting workload with the opportunity to work alongside ophthalmologists who are experts in their field including paediatric-ophthalmologists, neuro-ophthalmologists and more! Addenbrooke’s is a tertiary referral centre and the department supports the development of extended roles. You will have the opportunity to be involved in audit, weekly teaching sessions, regional teaching days and possibly research.

This role has the option to be a development post, so is ideally suited to a candidate wanting to further their career or a newly qualified Orthoptist. It will initially be a Band 5 role, and progress to Band 6 once the required criteria (including completion of preceptorship) have been met. Preceptorship will be provided if required.

Please contact us if you would like to visit the department.

Welcome subsidy provided to the successful candidate.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 11000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:

applied for a Graduate visa

or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Please note that we cannot accept applications from individuals who do not have the right to work in the UK or who have less than 6 months remaining on their visa from the proposed start date.

The advert will close at midnight on  24 August 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 3 September 2026. 

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Orthoptic qualification recognised for State Registration (Diploma or Degree)

State registration with the HCPC

Desirable criteria

Recognised clinical teaching qualification

Batchelor’s degree awarded at 2:1 or above

Exemptions qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of orthoptic assessment of children and adults

Experience of assessment of children with special needs and genetic anomalies

Experience in a tertiary referral hospital

Desirable criteria

NHS experience

Experience of Orthoptic / Optometrist led Clinics and Community Clinics

Experience of Humphrey visual fields including visual field interpretation

Experience of Optical Coherence Tomography

Experience of clinical supervision and assessment of students

Experience of audit / research

Experience in an Outreach setting

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Evidence of good orthoptic knowledge relating to management of complex ocular motility and assessment of children and adults

Good awareness of Health and Safety issues relating to the delivery of services off site

Desirable criteria

Demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance

Demonstrate an understanding of Trust policies and procedures

Skills

Essential criteria

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to maintain clear and accurate patient records

Able and willing to undertake ophthalmic training / ophthalmic course

Self-motivating

Demonstrates initiative

Desirable criteria

Excellent administrative skills

Demonstrates evidence of ability to educate others

Proficient in IT

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Good interpersonal and communication skills

Demonstrates a good awareness of own role and responsibilities within a team

Awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses

Maintain reflective CPD portfolio following BIOS / HCPC guidelines

Work to requirements of the Code of Practice and Professional Standards of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)

Desirable criteria

UK driving licence and access to car

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Deborah Mullinger

Job title

Advanced Orthoptist

Email address

View email address on careers.cuh.nhs.uk

Telephone number

View phone number on careers.cuh.nhs.uk