Job overview
The Optometrist will form part of the Ophthalmology team and is responsible for delivering the highest quality, patient focused care as well as contributing to the highest standards of clinical governance.
Main duties of the job
·The post holder will participate in the assessment and management of patients attending the Paediatric Ophthalmology clinic, Acute Emergency Eye service and contact lens clinic under the direction of the Clinical Lead.
·The post holder will work within the Ophthalmology clinic to meet the needs of the service.
·The post holder is expected to work without direct supervision. This involves taking action based on the post holders own interpretation of the NHS, Trust, College of Optometrists and General Optical Council policies and guidelines.
·The post holder will support the development of extended roles for optometrists, orthoptists and nurses within Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS trust.
·The post holder will ensure the service meets the highest standards. The successful candidate will be encouraged to participate in further training and development.
Working for our organisation
The Ophthalmology team consists of over 100 members of staff consisting off: Consultants, Doctors, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Nurses, Ophthalmic Technicians, HCA's, Reception and Admin staff. The department is split across two sites; St Helier Hospital and Epsom General Hospital. The department also holds an acute eye service at the St Helier, accessed by referral. The team works cohesively and with respect to deliver high quality patient centred care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will undertake a range of optometry services as required including:
·Slit lamp examination to include dilated fundoscopy and refraction where necessary of both paediatric and adult patients including those with significant visual loss and/or communication difficulties.
·The post holder will competently undertake patient assessment using visual fields equipment, Optical Coherence Tomography, contact tonometry, Pentacam, and retinal photography, as necessary.
·The post holder will use highly developed specialist knowledge and analytical skills to interpret specialist ophthalmology test results including visual fields, OCT and corneal topography and will act upon these appropriately or discuss with the clinician.
·The post holder will work within paediatric ophthalmology and contact lens clinics as well as within the hospital acute emergency eye service. These clinics involve responsibility for decision-making with support from consultants and the provision of assessment, management and education of patients.
·It is expected that the post holder’s patient assessment will enable you to decide on the most appropriate diagnosis and management plan for the patients on a case by case basis understanding each patients condition and differing and often complex requirements. As well as discussing cases with senior medical colleagues as appropriate for patients to be managed smoothly through the acute service.
·All patient episodes will be accurately documented in Medisoft to maintain accurate electronic patient records and letters sent to patients general practitioners through Medisoft as well as printing appropriate documentation for Hospital records.
·The post holder will also follow local policies in regards to infection control and maintenance of equipment used within optometric clinics ensuring it is fit for purpose.
·The post holder will prioritise own activity to meet immediate demands, performing under pressure with unpredictable interruptions.
Communication
·The post holder will be expected to communicate effectively and sympathetically with patients of all ages and abilities and their parents and carers. This can involve imparting sensitive and complex information about their eye condition, using explanation, persuasion and motivation as necessary and ensuring informed consent for treatment. This requires special skills where there are barriers to understanding such as deafness, learning difficulties, stroke damage, language or cultural issues (including where English is not the first language).
·The post holder will communicate effectively with other staff members of all disciplines within the hospital eye department, including ophthalmologists, orthoptists, nurses, optometrists, ophthalmic technicians and other professional groups.
·The post holder will deal appropriately with complex and/or sensitive information and ensure by liaison with peers and other professional groups the proper ongoing care plan for the patient and/or carers concerned.
Teaching
·The post holder will contribute to the delivery of optometric teaching to junior Doctors, Orthoptists, Optometrists, Nurses and Ophthalmic Technicians.
Professional and Organisational
·The post holder will be professionally and legally accountable for his/her own practice.
·The post holder will ensure accurate and efficient maintenance of patient clinical records with the recording of data in accordance with Trust and departmental policy.
·The post holder will ensure departmental protocols are followed including correspondence, patients who fail to attend, patients who are referred and discharged and infection control.
·The post holder will be expected to implement policies and propose changes to practises where necessary taking an active role in service development.
·The post holder will carry out and present clinical audits as and when required.
·The post holder will contribute to Service/ Team audit/ Research activity as required.
·The post holder will maintain a high level of personal continuing education and training to function effectively and as required by the General Optical Council.
·The post holder will actively participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
·The post holder will undertake other duties, as required by the Head Orthoptist, to ensure the day to day smooth running of the department.
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This job description is intended as an outline and is not exhaustive. The post holder will undertake any other duties which may be reasonably regarded as within the nature of the duties, responsibilities and grade of the post as defined, subject to the provision that appropriate training is given and that wherever possible significant changes of a permanent nature shall be mutually agreed and incorporated into the job.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
1. Significant post registration or hospital experience
2. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
3. Be able to demonstrate professional experience dealing with people of all ages and with a range of vision problems
Desirable criteria
4. Previous experience in community minor eye conditions service
5. Previous experience in ophthalmic subspecialty clinics or acute eye service/ eye casualty
Qualifications
Essential criteria
6. BSc or equivalent in Optometry
7. Previous experience working with specialist contact lenses
8. Completion of preregistration year
Desirable criteria
9. Independent prescribing certification
10. Contact lens qualification eg CL Hons
11. Post graduate professional certificate in ophthalmology subspecialty
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
12. Broad understanding of the developing roles of the ophthalmic professions, within primary, secondary & tertiary care
13. General ophthalmic knowledge and understanding of ocular disease and management
14. Ability to work unsupervised and to deal with own complex caseload
15. Excellent communication skills with staff and the public
16. IT literacy skills
Desirable criteria
17. Evidence of participation in research and audit
18. Demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance
Your recruitment team
The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:
E:
Your application
Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.
Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
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References
Please provide a minimum of 3 years’ employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.
Closing date
To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.
Shortlisting
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.
Application feedback
If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Safeguarding and DBS Checks
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
This vacancy may have an application cap, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Ensure your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the job specifications.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
NameAlia HarrisonJob titleHead of Orthoptics and OptometryEmail addressTelephone number02082962000Additional information
02082962000 ext 3802