Lead and develop the orthoptic visual screening service which involves liaising with the education services and other members of the ophthalmology team. Ensuring that the service is audited regularly and complies with clinical governance and national guidelines. To deputise for the Head orthoptist in their absence ensuring that the orthoptic and optometry services continue to provide care for patients within the departments and hospitals policies and procedures. Manage an orthoptic caseload, providing assessment, diagnosis and treatments to patients of all age groups, with a wide range of medical and neurological conditions, ensuring each client receives the treatment and support they need in a timely manner. This includes working with vulnerable adults and children and involves developing individual care plans to meet their needs. To be part of the expert Orthoptic Service, which requires knowledge and interpretation of professional guidelines. This involves the assessment and diagnosis, treatment, planning and revaluation of patients attending as both in-patients and outpatients at local hospitals and external units where the service is provided e.g. Stroke patients on the rehabilitation ward at Overdale, visual screening in schools, ward rounds at the general hospital. Develop specialised individual orthoptic treatment care programmes and aid junior staff in developing care packages and onward referrals as appropriate so that patients receive tailored packages comprising multi-disciplinary treatment if necessary and specialist advice to support their recovery. Assess squint patients pre-operatively and post-operatively, discussing timing and surgery options with ophthalmic surgeons, to ensure the patients receive the most effective surgical option and care package and, if required, the surgeon is supported as required post-operatively in adjustable suture techniques. Discuss squint surgery options with the patient/carer and possible post-operative outcomes and complications, to ensure that the implications for surgery are well understood by them and that they receive the necessary pre and post- operative support. To ensure patients/carers understand the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment needs. This may involve vulnerable patients who have had a stroke, patients with severe learning difficulties or patients with visual or physical disabilities. There may be significant barriers to understanding especially where the diagnosis was previously unknown and the prognosis may not always be good. To ensure patients/parents understand the diagnosis and prognosis and treatment needs. This may involve patients who have had a stroke, patients with severe learning difficulties, parents/patients with visually disabled children, parents where English is not a first language. There may be significant barriers to understanding especially where the diagnosis was previously unknown.