Band 4 Ophthalmic Technician

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Ophthalmic Technician to support diagnostic services across Good Hope, Solihull, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth hospitals and community hubs. You will work under the ophthalmic technical service manager, assist in diagnosis and care, and participate in policy improvements.

Flexible hours across four sites are required. Essential qualifications include A-Levels/NVQ3 and GCSEs; desirable experience includes eye care and NHS work.

Qualifications

• Essential: A-Levels or NVQ3 or equivalent
• Essential: 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English and maths
• Experience: Knowledge of information governance, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding
• Desirable: Experience of working in eye care
• Desirable: Experience delivering technician-led ophthalmic services
• Desirable: Experience with adults including sensory impairment
• Desirable: Experience working within the NHS
• Desirable: Technical knowledge of Humphrey analysers and how to modify testing for accuracy
• Desirable: Knowledge of refractive errors and correction with spectacles
• Desirable: Knowledge of manual and automated lens analysers to assess single vision, bifocal, varifocal lenses
• Desirable: Knowledge to select appropriate method for assessing visual acuity per patient needs

Responsibilities

• Safely and effectively use a range of highly complex diagnostic instruments following defined protocols.
• Report diagnostic test results to ophthalmologists and staff; adapt tests to patient ability.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the department and diagnostic services; participate in departmental meetings.

Job description

Job Summary

As an Ophthalmic Technician you will work within the ophthalmology department and community-based diagnostic hubs to provide clinical and technical services. You will work under the direction of the ophthalmic technical service manager, lead ophthalmic technicians & senior ophthalmic technicians to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and care of new and follow-up patients. The postholder will be based at both Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital sites, but will also be required to work at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. You will need to be able to accommodate variable clinical hours and schedules, ranging between four hospital sites and community-based settings, including evening and weekend hours. You will be required to work autonomously and within a close-knit team, and contribute to the smooth running of the department and provision of diagnostic services. Also, you will be expected to recommend improvements and changes to departmental policies, guidelines and protocols at departmental meetings. Maintain personal knowledge and skills undertaking training and development as required.

Main Duties, Tasks & Skills Required

You will safely and effectively use of a range of highly complex expensive diagnostic instruments, adhering to defined protocols and guidelines. You will report diagnostic test results to ophthalmologists and professional staff, and adapt tests to the ability of patients. You will need to be able to accommodate variable clinical hours and schedules, ranging between four hospital sites and community-based settings, including evening and weekend hours. You will be required to work autonomously and within a close-knit team, and contribute to the smooth running of the department and provision of diagnostic services. Also, you will be expected to recommend improvements and changes to departmental policies, guidelines and protocols at departmental meetings. Maintain personal knowledge and skills undertaking training and development as required.

About Us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Job Description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A-Levels or NVQ3 or equivalent
• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English language and mathematics

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of information governance, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding

Desirable

• Experience of working in eye care
• Experience of delivering technicianled ophthalmic services
• Experience working with adults including adults who have significant sensory impairment or learning difficulties
• Experience of working within the NHS
• Technical knowledge of how to set up and operate Humphrey analysers and how to modify testing to ensure accuracy of the results obtained
• Knowledge of refractive errors and how they are corrected with spectacles
• Technical knowledge of how to operate manual and automated lens analyser to assess single vision, bifocal and varifocal lenses
• Knowledge of how to select the most appropriate method for assessing visual acuity taking into account the ability and understanding of individual patients

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Excellent hand / eye coordination, dexterity and speed when performing clinical investigations
• Innovative approach to work and must be able to respond quickly to changes in working practice
• Sound problem solving skills
• Ability to follow protocols accurately and to work under sustained pressure whilst maintaining high levels of concentration
• Ability to write clearly and interpret instructions
• Ability to keep and maintain detailed patient records at all times
• Ability to maintain and utilise department and Trust information systems and ensure the accuracy of the information held
• Experience using microsoft office
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and evolve professional relationships with staff at all levels
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and ability to overcome barriers to communication that may relate to language / hearing / vision / age / intelligence
• Ability to demonstrate well developed communication and persuasion skills needed to work with patients with long-term conditions that may require a lifetime of regular hospital attendance and treatment
• Willingness to acquire and develop new skills by attending training/short courses in the field of Ophthalmology
• Willingness to undertake self-study in the field of Ophthalmology as appropriate
• Willingness to attend external training courses and demonstrable commitment to personal development
• Willingness to complete on the job training in the field of Ophthalmology
• Must be able to identify own limitations in theoretical and practical skills and thus when to seek the advice of a senior colleague
• Self- motivated with strong commitment to high standard of patient care
• Methodical, well organised and efficient
• Effective time manager and able to prioritise own workload
• Must demonstrate a pleasant, helpful disposition at all times and be able to make decisions and resolve problems
• Ability to manage challenging complex cases where patients are distressed
• Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Flexibility over sessions worked as this post may involve some Saturday and evening working
• Cross site working will be expected

Desirable

• Previous experience using automated perimetry in line with set competency standards
• Ability to take OCT / OCT-A scans
• Ability to use Optos, Kowa, Anterion
• Ability to run a technician-led clinic
• Experience using Medisoft/Medisight/ clinical portal

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Pay scheme

Agenda for Change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28392.00 to £31157.00 Yearly

Contract

Fixed Term

Duration

12 Month(s)

Working pattern

Full-Time, Flexible Working

Reference number

304-9019353

Job locations

Trustwide

Mindelsohn Way

Birmingham

West Midlands

B15 2TH

Attachments

JD PS.pdf - 440KB Opens in a new window