Orthoptist

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Orthoptist to join our department on a fixed-term basis to lead Audit and Governance. Based at Cheltenham General and Gloucester Royal Hospitals, the role includes community clinics county-wide and intravitreal injections within Medical Retina.

The successful candidate will be the clinical lead for audit and governance, work within multi-disciplinary teams, and support complex ocular motility, paediatric and neuro-visual

Qualifications

• HCPC registration.
• Extensive post-graduation experience.
• Clinical Tutor qualification.
• BSc or BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics degree.
• Experience with EPR/Medisight and spreadsheets/Microsoft Excel.
• Good presentation skills and experience with Microsoft Powerpoint for teaching.
• High level of literacy.
• Adaptable and flexible to meet service needs.
• Effective communication with patients, relatives and staff.
• Experience working single handedly and using own initiative; member of British and Irish Orthoptic Society.
• Management and leadership experience within the NHS.

Responsibilities

• Lead on clinical governance and audit for the orthoptic service.
• Deliver core orthoptic clinics across Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals.
• Work in sub-specialist clinics including ocular motility and neuro-visual field clinics.
• Provide intravitreal injections within the Medical Retina service.
• Lead and mentor staff within the sub-specialty area.
• Support cross-sectional orthoptic services county-wide.
• Attend departmental meetings and contribute to audits and research.
• deputise for Professional Lead for Orthoptics when needed.
• Ensure safety and liaise with multi-disciplinary team including Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and nurses.

Skills

HCPC registration

Extensive post-graduation experience

Clinical Tutor qualification

Good presentation skills

Communication skills

Adaptable and flexible

Single-handed working

Leadership experience in NHS

Medical Retina/ intravitreal injection

Education

BSc or BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics degree

Tools

EPR/Medisight

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Orthoptist with significant post-registration experience to join the team on a fixed-term basis to provide Maternity cover leading Audit and Governance for the department. The post is based at Cheltenham General and Gloucester Royal Hospitals and will include single-handed community clinics across the county. The successful candidate will be an integral member of our friendly and progressive department consisting of 11 Orthoptists. An ability to work well in a multi-disciplinary team and a flexible approach is essential. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading on clinical governance and audit for the service and will work in a range of sub-specialist clinics including ocular motility and stroke and will provide intravitreal injections within the Medical Retina service. The orthoptic service provides a diverse clinical caseload including secondary vision screening clinics, a large stroke service and supports a busy Eye Casualty department., The successfully appointed candidate will deliver a wide range of core orthoptic clinics across two acute units; Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals. There will be an opportunity to work within complex ocular motility, paediatric and neuro-visual field clinics and the post-holder will be the clinical lead for Audit and Governance within the department, reporting to the Professional Lead. The team participate in extended role clinics involving stroke, special educational needs and adnexa and Orthoptists carry out intravitreal injections for the Medical Retina service., To provide leadership in a sub-specialist area of the Orthoptic service under the direction of the Professional Lead for Orthoptics, and to provide professional leadership and mentorship for other staff members working within the sub-specialty area. - To provide input in to the cross-section of the full range of orthoptic services across the county. - To use own initiative in decision making when Professional Lead for Orthoptics is unavailable and to deputise at meetings. - Carry out intravitreal injections in a Consultant -led clinic on a pre-determined group of patients following a competency-based programme of training - Give support to junior members of the Orthoptic team and provide advice and support regarding the diagnosis and management of Orthoptic patients - To support the work of the Optometry Technicians, offering clinical advice, when appropriate. - Give support to the Optometry Technicians when testing challenging patients and patients with communication difficulties. - To prioritise referral letters coming from, GPs, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Stroke Physicians and other health professionals referring patients for an Orthoptic opinion - To undertake correspondence with GPs and other colleagues. - To deal with queries regarding appointments, internal referrals etc, that arise during the working day and to liaise with the senior Orthoptists to take the appropriate action and to organise Orthoptic appointments when requested. - To check clinical area is safe for patients and staff and report any hazards to the manager in a timely manner. - To be familiar with the Trusts Patient Administration System, to check clinic bookings are appropriate to the Orthoptic schedule. - To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, Optometrists, medical photographers, nurses, clerical staff and secretarial staff. - To plan and prioritise own workload. - To participate in regular Orthoptic departmental meetings giving feedback from courses and conferences attended. - To undertake a lead role in departmental audit and research. - To cover, as appropriate, for colleagues during periods of sick and annual leave. - To report damage or functioning problems to the manager in a timely fashion.

• HCPC registration
• Extensive post-graduation experience
• Clinical Tutors qualification
• BSc or BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics degree
• Experience working with EPR/Medisight and spreadsheets/Microsoft Excel
• Good presentation skills and experience with Microsoft Powerpoint for teaching
• High level of literacy
• To be able to adapt and work flexibly to suit the needs of the service
• To communicate effectively with patients, relatives and staff calmly in difficult situation
• Experience working single handily and using own initiative, Member of British and Irish Orthoptic Society
• Management and leadership experience within the NHS The trust employs 15 Consultants including one Consultant specialising in paediatric ophthalmology and adult ocular motility.