Specialist Orthoptist - Band 7 - London

Job Purpose

Location: Whipps Cross University Hospital

Reports to: Head Orthoptist, Whipps Cross (WX) & Newham (NUH) sites

Responsible to: Head Orthoptist, WX & NUH sites

What experience and skills do you need?

The suitable candidate must have these following skills and experience:

Experience

• Post-registration experience including experience in specialist services, paeds, neuro, community, glaucoma & visual fields
• Experience of working as part of a team, uni-professional and multi-professional
• Advice, training and support to junior staff, support staff and students
• Member of a relevant specific interest group

Knowledge

• Developed knowledge of current best practice in Orthoptics in the relevant setting
• Understanding legal responsibilities of the profession and the associated code of ethics
• Keen to invest in continued professional development
• Audit and research experience & knowledge
• Demonstrates understanding of clinical governance
• Knowledge of MS Office (including Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Keyboard skills
• Knowledge of Cerner Millennium/equivalent system
• Knowledge of electronic patient records e.g. Medisoft Ophthalmology

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Orthoptics: BSc (Orth), BMedSci (Orth) and/or Diploma in British Orthoptics(DBO)
• Member of Health Professional Council (HCPC)
• Member of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)
• Documented evidence of CPD, in accordance with the HCPC
• City & Guilds (or equivalent) teaching qualification

Skills

• Specialist clinical skills in all areas of orthoptics
• Ability to analsye and prioritise complex medical information to help devise appropriate specialist care plans
• Ability to present information both orally and written in a clear, logical manner
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism through patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
•  Ability to pass on knowledge and deliver training
• Autonomous working and use of initiative, guided by broad orthoptic guidelines
• Time management skills
• Ability to organize, plan and prioritise workload
• Team working and people skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to present information both orally and written in a clear, logical manner
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism throughout patient consultations and achieve sound clinical outcome, even when receiving/delivering complex or distressing information
• Ability to pass on knowledge and deliver training
• Presentation skills
• Flexible and reliable approach to working patterns
• Caring and considerate attitude
• Well motivated and enthusiastic
• Confident
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to carry out moderate to intense effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities with frequent interruptions
• Demonstrates attention and accuracy to detail
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
• Commitment to non-discriminatory practice
• Professional approach in difficult or emotional situations

Main professional/clinical duties and responsibilities

• As an autonomous practitioner to be responsible for the orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management of patients referred to the orthoptic department from the Ophthalmologist and other departments including accident and emergency, neurology, endocrinology and stroke rehabilitation unit and community orthoptic-led clinics. In adults, the diagnosis of acute onset ocular motility defects requires a significantly high level of anatomical and neurological knowledge.  To participate either with the Ophthalmologist or independently
• To undertake extended role orthoptic-led clinics within the neuro-ophthalmology service. To undertake & maintain appropriate training and competencies and work to department, Trust and professional body (BIOS and HCPC) guidelines and protocols
• To undertake extended role orthoptic-led paediatric clinics including JIA, NLD and chalazion and virtual assessments. To undertake & maintain appropriate training and competencies and work to department, Trust and professional body (BIOS and HCPC) guidelines and protocols
• To undertake extended assessor and injector roles within the AMD and DRSS injection clinics. To undertake & maintain appropriate training and competencies and work to department, Trust and professional body (BIOS and HCPC) guidelines and protocols
• To undertake extended roles within the ophthalmology glaucoma and cataract clinics. To undertake & maintain appropriate training and competencies and work to department, Trust and professional body (BIOS and HCPC) guidelines and protocols
• To undertake telephone and video consultations for identified patient groups and improve service delivery
• To formulate individualised management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning, evidence based practice and a wide range of treatment skills. Communicating effectively with patients, parents, carers those plans and to assess capacity and gain informed consent to those treatment plans
• To assess patients referred from the other specialities such as the maxillary-facial unit and formulate accurate diagnoses, prognoses and multidisciplinary discharge plans
• To determine the possible diagnosis, prognosis and management where clinical signs and symptoms do not always fall into particular categories and/or where information is limited or unavailable
• To assess and manage children with visual impairment and refer to the peripatetic service for the visually impaired as appropriate.  To liaise and provide consented information on these children as requested to assist the co-ordination of their medical and educational needs
• To co-ordinate pre and post-operative care of all patients undergoing strabismus surgery. To undertake pre-operative and post-operative measurements of motility defects, discussing surgical options with the surgeon. Identify post-operative risks and discuss this with the patients (parent/carer) and surgeon. It is the orthoptist’s role to take the lead in the decision and timing of surgery. This requires an up to date knowledge of evidence based practice and significant manual dexterity and speed to ensure accurate results especially in infants who will be having eye surgery
• To assess patients’ post-operative outcome and modify treatment accordingly
• To assist the surgeon with adjustable suture strabismus surgery.This requires accurate measurements to ensure satisfactory ocular alignment while the patient is under local anaesthetic
• To liaise with the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) and Social Services team to contribute to the holistic care of adult patients requiring rehabilitation support for their complex needs
• As an autonomous practitioner, to be responsible for the decision to instill drops for diagnostic and refraction purposes, the appropriate strength required and to advise parents/carers of side effects accordingly in line with Patient Group Directives (PGD)
• To liaise with the Ophthalmologist when using atropine (a prescribed drug) as an alternative treatment for amblyopia (non-pathological visual loss) and to advise parents/carers of side effects accordingly
• To use Goldmann applanation tonometry to assess the intraocular pressures of glaucoma patients and assess effectiveness of glaucoma treatment, liaising with the Glaucoma Consultant and his team.  To ensure the patient has a clear understanding of their condition and treatment and to answer any queries regarding this
• To perform detailed automated perimetry and manual visual field assessments of patients
• To interpret visual field results of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser and Goldmann Perimeter.  To act upon these findings and liaise with the Ophthalmologist to ensure best patient care e.g. changes in glaucoma treatment
• To accurately assess spectacle prescriptions using manual and automated focimetry
• The post-holder will be required to work autonomously and to make clinical decisions using his/her own judgement and initiative

Key Working Relationships

Internal                                               

Bank Partners is an employment agency/employment business (as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003) and is acting on behalf of its client in relation to this vacancy.