The Workforce Development Programme is a programme funded by NHS England covering a number of projects aimed at developing and securing the orthoptic workforce throughout the UK both now and in the future.

The projects ran from March 2024 until the Spring of 2025.

• Read our final report compiled for NHS England
• Scroll down for a brief overview of the aims of each project, along with links to further information

We also have a live document here, showing the latest updates for each project

1. Refraction and Hospital Eye Services (HES)
This project is developing the evidence base to make the case for orthoptists to be able to prescribe glasses within hospital eye services. Extending the role of orthoptists in this way would improve the patient experience by improving efficiencies and providing more timely care.

Find out more or read the final report

2. Professional Development Framework
Working with the Creative Health Alliance, we’re co-creating a contemporary, inclusive Professional Development Framework to help us articulate, promote and support learning and career progression across all career levels and roles within the Four Pillars of Practice.

Find out more about the Professional Development Framework

3. Enhanced Clinical Practice
This project will develop the framework for orthoptic enhanced clinical practice (ECP), drawing on our previous scoping work and the existing schemas and work undertaken in other professions. The production of the schema will articulate what enhanced practice is in orthoptics and enable higher education institutions to develop ECP programmes of study for orthoptists.

Read more about our ECP Project here

4. Support Workforce Project
This project aims to develop resources and provide support for existing orthoptic support workers, enhancing their roles in practice-based learning and clinical service delivery. It also seeks to raise the visibility of support workers by showcasing successful models of practice and highlighting the significant value they bring to the orthoptic profession. Through these efforts, the project promotes best practices and advocates for the recognition and integration of support workers in professional settings.

Read the final report or find our resources on the support workforce hub.

5. Workforce Report
Making use of the extensive data from our workforce survey, we will produce an analysis of the current orthoptic workforce, identifying trends, challenges, and opportunities to inform future workforce planning.

Find out more and read the final workforce report here

6. Preceptorship
This is a scoping exercise, exploring the experiences of early-career orthoptists with the support currently offered. This will lead to a report with profession-specific recommendations to enhance the structured support and guidance for newly qualified orthoptists transitioning into professional practice, fostering confidence and competence in core orthoptic practice.

Read the scoping review and recommendations

7. Academic Educator Capacity
This project seeks to identify and address barriers to pursuing academic careers in orthoptics. It aims to generate greater interest in this career path by providing enhanced support for prospective applicants and exploring new pathways for individuals to gain the necessary experience. This includes developing opportunities such as specialized courses or secondments, enabling aspiring educators to build the skills needed to successfully apply for lecturer positions and contribute to the future of orthoptic education.

Read the final report or take a look at our dedicated careers page.

8. Re-Launch of Clinical Placement Expansion Project (CPEP)
Building on the success of the original CPEP initiative, the HoloLens and PERL Project aims to further enhance clinical learning experiences for orthoptic students and professionals. The initial project utilized HoloLens2 goggles for live patient assessments and created a repository of recorded assessments in the PERL (Placement Expansion Resource Library) to support student learning and professional development. The re-launch seeks to expand participation from more hospital sites, increasing the availability of high-quality online resources to enrich the educational journey of orthoptic students and advance clinical skills across the profession.

Find out more and get involved

9. Website Development Project
We are working to refresh the look and structure of the BIOS website to deliver a more structured and user-friendly experience. This project aims to enhance the site’s content and organisation to offer comprehensive information and resources, with a particular focus on career development and increasing visibility.

Find out more about our Website Development Project

10. Pre-Registration Apprenticeship
We are developing a structured apprenticeship pathway for those entering the orthoptic profession, combining academic learning with practical experience.

11. Advanced Clinical Practice
This project will develop a comprehensive resource on our website to clearly define Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) within the orthoptic profession. This project will focus on explaining the core components, roles, and scope of ACP, as well as highlighting the advanced knowledge, skills and leadership required for practitioners. It aims to provide clear guidance on pathways to achieving ACP status, showcase successful case studies, and outline the impact of ACP on patient care and service delivery. This initiative will serve as a central hub for information, supporting orthoptists in advancing their clinical practice and professional development.

14. Improving Equality and Diversity
We are implementing a comprehensive EDI strategy and initiatives to promote inclusivity within the orthoptic profession, ensuring equal opportunities and representation for all.

Read our EDI Strategy and find out more