Trust: NHS Borders

Band/Salary: Band 6 (Annex 21) – £43,231-£52,679

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 36 hours per week (RWW applied)

Closing date: 28/09/2026

Job description:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Orthoptist, with a special interest in glaucoma, to join our friendly and supportive team at the Borders Eye Centre, Melrose. The orthoptic team comprises 2.8WTE, and the successful candidate will work alongside our multidisciplinary team including ophthalmologists, nurses, technicians, healthcare assistants, eye clinic liaison officer and administrative staff.

We are looking for an autonomous practitioner who will assess, diagnose, and manage patients referred in to the orthoptic service using evidence-based practice. Your role will involve adult and paediatric motility patients, including patients referred from A + E, maxillofacial and neurology departments. You will be involved in the Pre-School Vision Screening programme. This post would be of interest to a candidate keen to deliver glaucoma subspeciality clinics. Training and support will be provided to help you develop the necessary clinical skills and confidence to deliver these services effectively.

As we are a teaching department, your role would involve providing practice-based learning to undergraduate orthoptic students, and other professionals as required.

We welcome applications from experienced and newly qualified Orthoptists and are committed to supporting your career growth. All newly qualified Orthoptists will be required to complete the NHS Flying Start and BIOS Preceptorship programmes. You will need to meet the requirements of the programme within your first year of practice and full support will be given to you for this. You will progress to a Band 6 after completion of the Preceptorship programmes and having evidence of upholding the professional standards and competencies as set out by BIOS and HCPC.

The post will be based in the Borders General Hospital but will include travel to outreach clinics.

** Please note, in the case of a newly qualified practitioner the Annex 21 applies **

For trainees covered by Annex 21, where the period of training lasts for between 1 and 4 years, pay will be adjusted as follows:

(i) up to 12 months prior to completion of training: 75 per cent of the pay band maximum of the fully qualified rate

(ii) more than one but less than two years prior to completion of training: 70 per cent of the pay band maximum of the qualified rate

(iii) more than two but less than three years prior to completion of training: 65 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate

(iv) more than three years from completion of training: 60 per cent of the pay band maximum for the qualified rate.

For further information please contact Dr Joanne Forster – telephone 01896 826771, email jo.forster@nhs.scot

www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk, job reference number 256908