Band 8a Service Clinical Manager - Paediatric Eye Service

An exciting opportunity has become available for a highly motivated, innovative and experienced Orthoptist to join the team of clinical and operational leads within the Inclusion Services Group. This opportunity to share the role of Service Clinical Manager (SCM) has come about because of the planned partial retirement of the current post-holder.

We are looking for an individual who wants to be part of a group management team focussed on delivering safe, high-quality care in the community to children, young people, and families. The role sits within the Inclusion Services Group, which includes Paediatric Eye Service, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services, including traded teams, Community Paediatrics, Neurodevelopmental Pathway (NDP) and Child Developmental Centres. Collaborative working across the services in the interest of children and young people is actively encouraged, to share best practice and make efficient use of resources.

The Community-based Eye Department comprises of a small team of 4 Orthoptists, 1 team administrator and 1 Optometrist, who work together to deliver care to the children across the south Birmingham area. This includes provision of the National Vision Screening programme, assessment and treatment of children within 4 health centres and 6 special schools and a Multi-disciplinary Down's Syndrome clinic. Joint optometry and orthoptic clinics are based across the South of the City.

The successful applicant will have experience of line management of staff, coordination of service delivery and leading change relevant to this area of work as well as a strong working knowledge of a varied paediatric caseload.

A degree/diploma or relevant experience in Orthoptics and registration with the HCPC is essential. A Medicine Exemption qualification is desirable. A Clinical Tutor qualification would be advantageous, as we are involved in training Orthoptic undergraduates.

This post will provide clinical operational management for the Paediatric Eye Service, alongside a second SCM. The post being advertised is part-time, working 22.5 hours across 3 days, to include Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, although flexible working could be considered. Hybrid working is supported by the Trust.

We provide a comprehensive Eye Service for the children in South Birmingham.

Our team consists of orthoptists and optometrists who are extremely experienced in testing children of all ages and abilities. We specialise in assessing and treating vision and eye co-ordination problems. We are closely linked to Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital Eye Department.

We have run the National Vision Screening Service in South Birmingham since 1985, offering an eye test to every Reception age child in both mainstream (including local authority, academies, religious and private schools) and special schools. Home schooled children are offered appointments at our local clinics.

We provide follow up clinics, locally, where children can be monitored and treated until they are stable enough to be discharged. This is usually around the age of 7.

Children with special needs may be seen until they are of secondary school age if necessary, and this will generally take place within the school setting.