The Orthoptic Support Workforce Project
Our vision is for all orthoptic staff wherever they work to feel valued, integrated into teams, able to work fully to their potential; with access to lifelong learning including relevant formal qualifications.
We wish employment in the clinical support workforce to be seen as a career that is valued and valuable. Moreover, whether staff wish to pursue their careers in the clinical support workforce or progress onto registered grades we want to ensure they have rewarding careers and are clear how they can develop, accessing the support they need.
The support workforce is an integral part of the orthoptic clinical team.
The Project
In 2020, at a dedicated conference focused on this vital group of staff, BIOS began a programme of work to address the needs of the orthoptic support workforce — a commitment that continues today. Central to this work has been listening to the views of our support workforce about their needs, challenges, and aspirations, as well as those of their registered colleagues and managers.
Over the past few years, BIOS has continued to enhance our Support Workforce Hub, which provides a wide range of resources to help orthoptic services integrate and develop their support workforce, and to empower individuals already working in these roles to grow and progress in their careers.
Through the latest phase of this project, the hub now offers even more tools and support, including:
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A dedicated area for Managers, featuring sample job descriptions, local recruitment pathway templates, and an Orthoptic Clinical Support Workforce Mapping Toolkit to help services plan and develop their support workforce effectively.
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A Learning and Development section with access to the latest webinars, learning materials, and training resources to support continued professional growth.
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A Case Studies section, sharing real-world stories from active Orthoptic Clinical Assistants (OCAs) and services that have successfully implemented support workforce initiatives.
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A Newsletter and Updates area, where you can access recent editions of our Support In Sight Newsletter and stay up to date with the latest developments and opportunities.
To complement this work, BIOS has also developed a dedicated careers page outlining How do I become an Orthoptic Clinical Assistant?, providing clear guidance for anyone interested in starting a career in this rewarding area.
We are pleased to announce that this work has now been extended until April 2026, enabling BIOS to further develop resources that support the growth and development of the orthoptic support workforce — and to encourage more support workers to join us on this important journey.
If you would like to find out more about the project, please contact s.elliott@bios-orthoptics.org.uk.
Explore other areas
Workforce Development Programme
Funded by NHS England, the Programme covers a number of projects aimed at developing and securing the orthoptic workforce throughout the UK now and in the future.
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Promoting careers in orthoptics
We are actively promoting careers in orthoptics through a variety of strategic campaigns and initiatives to enhance awareness and visibility of the profession and showcase the diverse and rewarding opportunities available.
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BIOS projects
Find out more about some of the work we’re doing to support the orthoptic profession.
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