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 9 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. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] adheres to the flexible working policy.

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 [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] ([Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]) 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. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working. At [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

Details

• Date posted: 06 May 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year (Per Annum, Pro Rata)
• Contract: Fixed term, 9 months
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 349-LCO-7987920*C
• Job locations: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Levenshulme Health Centre, Manchester, M19 3BX

Job Responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you'll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

Explore [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] for more information.

Person Specification Highlights

• Qualifications: Degree in Orthoptics (or equivalent), Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (essential). Driving Licence (desirable).
• Experience: Substantial post qualification experience, experience with children with special educational needs in special school, evidence of recent professional development (essential).
• Clinical Skills: Manage patient care autonomously, work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, wide understanding of orthoptic conditions and treatment plans (essential).
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills, counselling skills for patients and families (essential).

Employer Details

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]
Address: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Levenshulme Health Centre, Manchester, M19 3BX
Website: https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/

Contact

For questions about the job, contact: Head of Children's Community Orthoptic Service, Matilda Blythe, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], [contact hidden].

Application Instructions

Apply via the NHS Jobs system at this link. The closing date is 20 May 2026. Applications may close early if high volume is received. See also the supporting documents for full job description and person specification.