Ophthalmic Technician

Shireal R. Lewis; Bolton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking a motivated individual to join their ophthalmic technician team. This role involves providing exceptional patient-centered care and technical support using advanced ophthalmic diagnostic equipment in a busy clinical environment. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with healthcare professionals to ensure high-quality assessments and patient safety. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a dedicated team within a supportive organization that values its staff and promotes professional growth. If you're passionate about ophthalmology and eager to make a difference, this position could be the perfect fit for you.

Qualifications

• Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in ophthalmology required.
• Competency in various ophthalmic clinical technical skills is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support using ophthalmic equipment.
• Conduct visual acuity and field testing as part of patient assessments.

Skills

Ophthalmic clinical technical skills

Visual acuity testing

Visual field testing

Photography using Kowa and Optos equipment

Drop instillation techniques

Calibration of equipment

Ability to follow protocols

Communication skills

Education

Relevant NVQ level 3 in ophthalmology

GCSE in Maths and English

Tools

OCT equipment

Humphrey field analysers

Kowa equipment

Optos equipment

Job description

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

About

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated care organisation, providing care in the community at over 20 health centres and clinics as well as services such as district nursing. We also provide services at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

We have three fundamental aims:

1. Best care for better health (for our patients and our community).
2. Responsible use of resources (for the taxpayer).
3. Valued, respected and proud (by our staff, patients and public).

We aim to:

1. Meet the health needs of our population.
2. Improve the safety and quality of care.
3. Improve patient experience.
4. Make our services more efficient.

Key details

Location

Site: Royal Bolton Hospital

Address: Minerva Road, Bolton

Postcode: BL3 0JR

Major / Minor Region: Lancashire

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (To cover hours of 08:00 - 21:00 - Monday to Friday)

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Covering the hours of 07:30 - 21:00 - Monday to Friday (Patterns of work to be discussed))

Salary

Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Grade: (NHS AfC: Band 3)

Specialty

Main area: Nursing and Midwifery Ophthalmology

Job overview

Full time - 12 month Secondment/Fixed term post.

We are looking for applicants who are forward thinking, enthusiastic and motivated with a passion for Ophthalmology. The successful applicant will work in a busy environment on H2 and community settings. They will work closely with their Colleagues and Clinicians providing excellent Patient centred care using Ophthalmic Diagnostic Photography equipment.

As with all secondment opportunities, interested parties should discuss the opportunity with their line manager before applying.

Advert

The post holder will work as a member of the ophthalmic technician team, supporting trained staff in all specified aspects of care and providing technical support using a range of Ophthalmic equipment.

• To provide cross cover into other services including laser, AMD, ward and theatre based services.
• To provide technical assistance to a range of ophthalmic clinics including but not limited to, glaucoma and retinal virtual model clinics, through operating a range of medical devices underpinned by comprehensive competency standards and compliance with a range of specific clinical guidelines.
• To work closely with patients ensuring high quality assessments are undertaken, ensuring Trust values and patient’s rights to private and dignified assessment are observed in a risk managed working environment.

The post holder will liaise closely with Optometry, Orthoptist, Ophthalmologists, Nursing, Medical Illustration, other professional and clerical staff, patients, their relatives and carers. The post holder will be required to work in various sites which deliver ophthalmic technical services.

Working for our organisation

Staff Engagement.

As an organisation we are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do and in the provision of safe, effective patient care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit staff who share the organisation’s values and beliefs. The department has an excellent recruitment and retention rate, which reinforces the supportive team approach to our staff.

Bolton itself is a culturally diverse university town within easy motorway access of Manchester and surrounding areas.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. VOICE values: We will expect your values and behaviours to reflect the values of Bolton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

2. EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING:

• Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in area of ophthalmology
• Ability to demonstrate competency in Ophthalmic clinical technical skills.
• Experience of working within ophthalmic technical roles
• GCSE in Maths and English, or equivalent levels.

3. OPHTHALMIC CLINICAL TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• History taking and documentation using specific pro-formas.
• Visual acuity testing using LogMAR and Snellen’s/COMPLOG focimetry.
• Visual field testing using Humphrey field analysers.
• Using the OCT to capture optic discs, macula, corneal thickness and anterior angles.
• Photography using Kowa and Optos equipment.
• Auto refraction.
• Drop instillation for investigative purposes.
• Calibration of equipment.
• Assisting in intravitreal injection lists.
• Assisting in laser clinics.

4. OTHER CLINICAL SKILLS:

• Knowledge and training regarding eye drop compliance aids- ability to educate and teach patients in drop techniques.
• Ability to follow departmental protocols including escalation policies to mitigate patients' clinical risk.
• Able to work on own initiative and within the boundaries of the role.

5. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Driven to achieve a high quality standard of care and motivated to learn new skills.
• The ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, undertake own workload, manage time and cope with the pressures of a busy out-patient department.
• The ability to communicate effectively with staff & patients, including patients with learning / communication difficulties and deal with sensitive / unpleasant situations.
• Show a caring & sensitive approach to dealing with patients.
• An ability to ensure accuracy, clinical precision & provide attention to detail, filing test results appropriately.
• Ability to demonstrate reliability and commitment to the service and your team.
• Understand & accept the need to maintain confidentiality.

The vision of this Trust is to be recognised by the people of Bolton and beyond as an excellent provider of health and care services and a great place to work. We are striving to attract, recruit and retain high calibre skilled staff which reflect our communities. We are an inclusive employer who trains and develops our staff in a positive learning environment.

We thrive on cultivating cultural architecture, if you have the right skills, attitudes and behaviours, in line with our Trust values, we welcome and appreciate the diversity you bring to our organisation.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits please click on the link below to see what current benefits we have.

Staff benefits - Bolton NHS FT (boltonft.nhs.uk)

From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Applicant requirements

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.

Person specification

OTHER CLINICAL SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and training regarding eye drop compliance aids- ability to educate and teach patients in drop techniques.
• Ability to follow departmental protocols including escalation policies to mitigate patients' clinical risk. Able to work on own initiative and within the boundaries of the role.

Grades

Essential criteria

• Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in area of ophthalmology.
• Ability to demonstrate competency in Ophthalmic clinical technical skills.
• Experience of working within ophthalmic technical roles.

Desirable criteria

• GCSE in Maths and English, or equivalent levels.

OPHTHALMIC CLINICAL TECHNICAL SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Visual acuity testing using LogMAR and Snellen’s/COMPLOG focimetry.
• Visual field testing using Humphrey field analysers. Using the OCT to capture optic discs, macula, corneal thickness and anterior angles.
• Photography using Kowa and Optos equipment. Auto refraction. Drop instillation for investigative purposes. Calibration of equipment. Assisting in intravitreal injection lists. Assisting in laser clinics.

Desirable criteria

• I-Care tonometry. Ultrasonic pachymetry.

Documents

• jd (, 240.4)PDFKB
• PS (, 280.6)PDFKB
• Trust Profile (, 334.1)PDFKB
• What Makes Bolton Brilliant (, 924.2)JPGKB
• Applicants with a Disability (, 207.9)PDFKB
• Open letter (, 235.7)PDFKB

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Jamil Patel

Job title: Department Manager

Email address: [email protected]

Telephone number: 01204 390736