Job overview
We are recruiting for a Specialist Orthoptist who share our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.
We would encourage new graduates to apply for the post also. Should they be successful at interview the post would be offered as a Band 5 to Band 6 run through post. Preceptorship and mentorship would be provided to support this professional development.
The Ophthalmology service is currently provided by 7 consultant ophthalmologists, specialising in the areas of Paediatric Ophthalmology, Medical retina, Glaucoma, Oculoplastic and Vitreoretinal surgery.
The consultants are supported by a comprehensive team of associate specialists, including junior training posts which are part of the Cambridge deanery.
The Trust is actively supporting the development of extended role working for Allied Health Professionals in line with the Royal College of Ophthalmology’s Common Core Clinical Competencies Framework; the successful candidate would be instrumental in aiding the development of these roles within the orthoptic service.
In addition, you will receive a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of your basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,121 per annum pro rata.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will provide comprehensive orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner and to prioritise own clinical caseload.
You will assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the Orthoptic Department and to liaise with appropriate professionals.
You will also organise your caseload efficiently and effectively regarding clinical priority and use of time, to maintain clear and accurate patient records.
The post holder will also be responsible for the planning, implementing and reviewing of treatments for a mixed caseload, using advanced clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice.
Working for our organisation
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
* The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
* New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
* Hertford County, Hertford
* Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential criteria
* Orthoptic qualification recognised for State Registration (Diploma or Degree
* State registration with the HCPC
* Evidence of CPD
Desirable criteria
* Recognised clinical teaching qualification
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Able to demonstrate post qualification experience
* Experience of assessment of patients with special educational needs
* Clinical audit experience
* Post graduate experience at a Junior level (Band 5 Orthoptist)
Desirable criteria
* Experience of clinical supervision of students
* Experience in working single-handed
Skills
Essential criteria
* Ability to assess patients and develop a comprehensive care plan
* Well-developed interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with a wide range of staff, patients and the public
* Ability to maintain clear & accurate patient records
* Well developed skills in working with children
* Well-developed organisational and administrative skills
* Team working skills and being able to work independently
Desirable criteria
* IT skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Evidence of extensive orthoptic knowledge
* Ability to work under pressure and self-motivated.
* Ability to assess, prioritise and manage time and resources
Desirable criteria
* Awareness of own strengths and weaknesses
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
* Experience and evidence of engagement around equality, diversity and inclusion issues in relation to policy, service development and service delivery in respect of both services to users and the management of staff
* Role model our Trust values every day
Our values
We want our staff to believe in, demonstrate and live our values in everything we do.
Include
We value the diversity and experience of our community colleagues and partners, creating relationships and climates that provide an opportunity to share, collaborate and grow together.
Respect
We create a safe environment where we are curious of the lived experience of others, seek out best practice and are open to listening and hearing new ideas.
Improve
We are committed to consistently delivering excellent services and continuously looking to improve through a creative workforce that feels empowered to act in service of our shared purpose.
Committed to our Community
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all job applicants, staff, patients and the wider community. We want to create a workforce which represents the communities we serve. We are on a journey to become a more inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone regardless of their background. In particular we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds who are currently under-represented in various parts of our workforce .
We understand the importance of balancing work and home life. We are committed to support flexible working for our staff wherever possible and all our employees are given the opportunity to discuss potential for flexible working.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and achieved our status in 2019.
We will remove barriers that prospective candidates might face at any stage of our recruitment process. If you have a disability and would like the advert in an alternative format, or would like to talk about how we can adjust the interview process to best support you, please contact us by emailing resourcing.enh-tr@nhs.net
We are also proud to support our UK armed forces by supporting Reservists, Cadet Instructors, Veterans and military spouses/partners into employment and offering supportive policies that value their contribution to the community and to our Trust.
We are committed to being a carer-friendly environment, addressing the complex needs of families with caring responsibilities. In partnership with Carers in Hertfordshire, all our working carers have access to support from recruitment. We are also a member of Carers UK, providing resources to make balancing work and caring easier. Our approach is inclusive, recognizing diverse challenges and creating a supportive environment where carers feel valued.