Retinal Screener

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Retinal Screener at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Join a dedicated team to provide essential screening services to the diabetic population in Liverpool. The role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team. Ideal candidates will have experience in healthcare and a relevant qualification in diabetic eye screening.

Qualifications

• Experience in a healthcare environment.
• IT skills and experience.
• Experience working in an ophthalmic environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide photographic screening to diabetic patients.
• Measure visual acuity and acquire images for screening.
• Ensure compliance with NDESP standards.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Attention to Detail

Communication

Education

GCSE grade C or above in English, Mathematics, and Science

City & Guilds Level 3 Diabetic Eye Screening Qualification

Level 3 Certificate in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening

Job description

Go back Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Retinal Screener

The closing date is 21 May 2025

An opportunity has arisen for a Retinal Screener to join our progressive team at Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

You will be based within the Eye Screening Department and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Your duties will include performing ophthalmic photography delivered to the retinal screening services at various locations throughout the Liverpool & North Mersey Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.

We are looking for a reliable person who is able to pay close and accurate attention to detail. You must also demonstrate excellent communication skills, a caring manner with all ages and abilities, and be able to empathise with and support patients and team members. Previous experience of working in an ophthalmic environment is desirable.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Nicola Boult (Screener Grader Manager) on 0151 706 4103.

Main duties of the job

To provide photographic screening to the diabetic population in Liverpool & North Mersey.

To measure visual acuity, perform pupillary dilation, and acquire images for the retinal screening service.

To enter clinical information onto the Optomize system.

To comply with NDESP standards.

To ensure NDESP screening standards are met by the programme.

About us

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, and Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities — from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services, including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic, and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single-site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities

A. Follow LNMDESP, Liverpool University Hospitals Trust, and National Screening Committee policies and protocols at all times.

B. Act at all times as a responsible member of the screening team, showing respect and consideration for co-workers, patients, and visitors.

C. Take personal responsibility for keeping up to date and competent in the skills required for this post, including undertaking the Health Screeners Diploma.

D. Be personally responsible for ensuring that equipment is maintained at community screening sites and is in full working order. The screener will also be expected to take responsibility for the regular maintenance and upkeep of all screening equipment and for the routine ordering of relevant items. Faults should be identified and appropriate steps taken to remedy them.

E. Drive the screening van to community sites when required, to maintain stock, unload, and set up screening equipment. Driving will be subject to holding a clean driver’s license and, after training, passing a driving competency assessment. Lifting and handling training will be provided according to LNMDESP and Trust protocols.

F. Provide a safe environment for all visitors and patients attending the primary care-based screening base, Trust premises, or any other area where they are expected to work.

G. Ensure that the patient understands the process and is fully prepared for screening.

H. Assess and record patients' visual acuity.

I. Instil mydriatic eye drops as per LNMDESP Standard Operating Procedures.

J. Complete necessary paperwork and/or mandatory fields using the capture station software.

K. Perform fundus photography according to LNMDESP protocols using an indirect view, infra-red focus fundus camera, and digital imaging system. Photography will be subject to quarterly quality assurance (QA) review.

L. Provide patients with both written and verbal information about diabetic eye disease and diabetic eye screening.

M. Demonstrate activities or workplace routines to new or less experienced employees in their work area.

N. Suggest changes to improve services within the screening programme.

O. Act as a responsible member of the screening team, showing respect and consideration for co-workers, patients, and visitors.

Clinical Governance / Quality

Staff working within Diabetic Eye Screening are encouraged to undertake Voluntary Registration with the AHCS with a view to future professional registration.

Education and training development

All clinic-based screening staff are required to undertake and pass the mandatory units for their role of the Health Screeners Diploma unless already qualified in C&G Diabetic Eye Screening Diploma.

All staff must keep up to date with Trust Mandatory Training Units.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C (or equivalent) or above in English, Mathematics, and Science.
• Achieved City & Guilds Level 3 Diabetic Eye Screening Qualification or relevant modules of the Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners.
• Relevant qualification at Level 3 Certificate in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening 7359 (VRQ Level 3) or equivalent knowledge.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience working in a healthcare environment.
• IT skills and experience.
• Experience working in an ophthalmic environment.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, undertake own workload, manage time, and cope with the pressures of a busy department.
• The ability to communicate effectively with staff and patients, including patients with learning/communication difficulties, and deal with sensitive/unpleasant situations.
• Ensure accuracy, clinical precision, and attention to detail, filing test results appropriately.
• Professional manner.
• Show a caring and sensitive approach to dealing with the elderly, infirm, and visually impaired patients.

Knowledge

• Recognise limitations of own clinical competence and seek support from senior staff.
• Understand and accept the need to maintain confidentiality.
• Knowledge of digital photography.

Other

• Willingness to work flexibly and at other sites when required.
• Willing to travel to community clinics.
• Good colour vision as assessed by the Ishihara test.
• Ability and willingness to undertake further training as necessary.
• Able to work the hours required, maintaining a flexible approach to working patterns.
• Clean driving license and access to a car.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Liverpool & North Mersey Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, Royal Liverpool