Job overview

The Orthotic Department, based at Sandwell Health Campus (formerly Sandwell General Hospital), are looking to appoint a full time Band 5 or a Band 6 Orthotist, dependant on experience. The department currently consists of three Orthotists and a P&O Apprentice. The Trust has recently opened a new Hospital site in December 2024, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. It is an interesting and exciting time to join this Trust and develop your career.

The majority of our current outpatient clinics are held at the Sandwell Health Campus, what was Sandwell General Hospital. Some of the focused outpatient clinics include; Neuro, Paediatric, KAFO, and MSK. The Sandwell Health Campus site also includes an administrative office and workshop suitable for carrying out modifications and adjustments to orthoses. We also have some outpatient clinics at the City Health Campus, Rowley Regis Hospital and Victoria Health Centre. We anticipate these clinics will expand in the coming years and the successful candidate will be part of this expansion.

Main duties of the job

Orthotists are expected to manage their own case load of patients. This may be as a single clinician or as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team. Our practice incorporates detailed assessment, measurement, fitting and review of patients, informed by sound biomechanical and neurophysiological reasoning. We are responsible for providing appropriate advice and guidance to patients and carers, alongside clinical support to referrers, medical staff and AHPs.

As part of the role, the successful Orthotists should demonstrate an understanding of patient’s presenting pathologies together with a precise knowledge of indications and contra-indications in relation to the orthosis and the clinical condition. They will need to order the most appropriate stock orthosis or for the manufacture of custom-made orthosis with an appropriate supplier in terms of quality and cost effectiveness within the established guidelines for approved manufacturers.

Orthotists will need to ensure compliance with our local clinical governance framework and provide and maintain documented patient information. This is in line with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) guidelines.

Working for our organisation

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWB) is an integrated care organisation with a budget of approximately £600 million and over 7,000 staff. Diversity and social care is at the core of what we do as the Trust provides Community and Acute Services to over half a million people in an urban centre that demands massive regeneration and has substantial premature mortality. 

We have three newly emerging strategic objectives:

1. Our People – to cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff
2. Our Patients – to be good or outstanding in everything we do
3. Our Population – to work seamlessly with our partners to improve live