Orthotist

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and proactive Orthotist to join our Orthotic Rehabilitation Team. The ideal candidate will bring clinical expertise, enthusiasm, and flexibility, and will play a key role in delivering high-quality, effective, person-centred care to our patients.

Our team provides both inpatient and outpatient Orthotic services for the local Central Lancashire population as well as regional tertiary services across Lancashire and South Cumbria. As part of this role, you will contribute to a wide range of multidisciplinary clinics, locally and regionally, supporting the management of conditions such as Talipes, Stroke, Diabetes, and Adult Neurology. This ensures excellent access to high-quality Orthotic assessment and intervention.

The department works across numerous specialities, including Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Diabetes, Vascular, Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Neurorehabilitation. Our clinicians manage highly complex presentations across the full scope of Orthotics practice, and the service has a strong reputation for delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care.

This is an exciting time to join the Orthotics Department within SMRC and LTHTR. We are committed to continuous service improvement and regularly review our care pathways to ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

If you are motivated, innovative, and passionate about making a difference, we would be delighted to welcome you to our team.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will undertake comprehensive, holistic assessments with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to develop personalised care plans and provide clinically appropriate orthotic prescriptions, including for complex needs. You will apply advanced clinical reasoning to design and implement effective interventions aligned with patient-centred goals and best practice.

You will deliver high-quality clinical, scientific, and advisory orthotic services to support recovery, rehabilitation, and functional improvement across specialties, including diabetes and vascular care, adult and paediatric neurology, musculoskeletal conditions, spinal orthoses, and upper and lower limb presentations in all age groups. You will conduct thorough clinical examinations, evaluate orthotic requirements, and ensure evidence-based assessments with clear documentation supporting clinical decisions.

You will maintain accurate, timely clinical records on Trust-approved systems, ensuring compliance with HCPC and BAPO standards, Trust policies, and national guidelines for safe, effective, auditable care.

The post-holder will contribute to service development, governance, and quality improvement through clinical audit, research, complex case discussions, training, and meetings, supporting continuous improvement within SMRC and LTHTR to enhance patient experience and outcomes.

About us

Preston SpecialistMobility Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) is part of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The SMRC is a regional Centre, providing Prosthetic, Orthotic, Wheelchair and Specialist Seating services throughout Lancashire, South Cumbria and beyond.

We are one of 9 centres that were awarded Specialist War Veteran Centre status with the associated Specialist facilities (e.g. high specification rehabilitation exercise area).

The Centre has a truly multidisciplinary team including; Consultant in Amputee Rehabilitation, Prosthetists, Prosthetic Technicians, Orthotists, Psychologist, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing Team, Assistant Practitioners, Physical Training Instructors, Rehabilitation Engineers and Administration Teams.

If you feel ready to take on this opportunity, then we look forward to hearing from you. Please make contact for an informal discussion or email with any queries. We are more than happy to schedule a MS teams call or site visit for anyone interested.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached documentation for the full description.

Role Summary -To undertake detailed assessments in conjunction with the CentresMulti-DisciplinaryTeam (MDT) to enable personalised care plans,facilitatingprovision of clinicallyappropriateOrthoticprescriptions(includingcomplexpatient presentations and prescriptions).

The post holder will be clinically responsible for the provision of treatment of patients under the supervision ofSeniorOrthotists.

The post holder willalways work within professional and Trust guidelinesand through informed consent will ensure the bestOrthoticoutcome for the patient within agreed resources.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

To provide clinical,scientificand advisory services to patientstoassisttheirrecovery andrehabilitationusing Orthoses acrossa number ofkey areas including but not limited to, diabetesandvascular,those withneurological conditions andmusculoskeletal complaints, spinal orthosesandfor both adults and children with upper or lower limb complaints. They will carry outclinical examination and evaluation of patientsOrthoticneeds,formulate design (prescription) ofappropriate Orthosisand ensureappropriateandaccuratefit to meet the needs of the patient. To manage owntime, case load and meet the clinical demand asrequired. Be flexible and responsive to that demand and take ownershipandaccountabilityforit.Seekto involve others asrequiredand work withother members of MDTwhenappropriateand possible. Inaddition,all staff are expected to actin accordance withthe values and behaviours of the Trust.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• BSc (Hons) in Prosthetics and Orthotics or historical equivalent.

Desirable

• oEvidence of post graduate studies

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent IT skills.
• Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement
• Competent in spoken and written English to enable effective communication regarding Orthotic service topics which can be demonstrated by one of the following: That applicants have undertaken undergraduate Prosthetic and Orthotic training in English. or Have the following scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 6, Reading 6, Writing 6.
• Demonstrable evidence of service development

Desirable

• Training in teaching methods.
• Experience of clinical audit and/or research.

Experience

Essential

• 3 years post-graduation clinical experience in Orthotics.
• Previous experience in treating both adult and paediatric populations.
• Demonstratable experience with complex orthoses.
• Experience and knowledge of current Orthotic practice including interactions between Allied Health Professionals and Medical Consultants in rehabilitation.

Desirable

• Experience of working with finite resources.
• Previous experience in treatment of complex long- term conditions

Knowledge

Essential

• A good knowledge of Orthotic Principles, prescription, manufacture and delivery.
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance Systems.
• Demonstrable comprehension of national priorities, NHS goals and 10-year plan.

Desirable

• Ability to manage a complex caseload with limited supervision.