Specialist Orthoptist

EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a qualified Orthoptist in Lancashire to manage ocular motility disorders and train healthcare professionals. Responsibilities include diagnosing patients in the Community Eye Service and Emergency Eye Clinic. Ideal candidates will hold a Diploma or Degree in Orthoptics, be registered with the HPC, and possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This position offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Qualified Orthoptist with appropriate UK professional registration.
• Experience in teaching and mentoring others.
• Knowledge of investigation and management of specialist ophthalmic patients.

Responsibilities

• Act as an expert source for ocular motility disorders.
• Record clinical findings and manage treatment plans.
• Educate healthcare professionals and mentor students.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work flexibly

Good time management skills

Caring and compassionate

Ability to assess and make clinical decisions

Education

Diploma/Degree in Orthoptics

Registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Job description

Responsibilities

• To act as a source of expertise on the management of ocular motility disorders to patients, carers, other health care professionals, GPs and consultants.
• Record clinical findings management plans and other relevant information and refer to other professionals as required.
• To provide the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients presenting with acute or nonacute ocular motility defects in the Community Eye Service and Emergency Eye Clinic.
• Educate and train other health care professionals, junior doctors, and other senior medical staff.
• Mentor and help train student Orthoptist as part of their degree and help give feedback to aid their learning and training.
• Provide information and training to colleagues and the wider public to improve self-management of life long visual impairment.
• To see Ophthalmology patients that are under the paediatric Ophthalmologist before or after being seen by her or her junior doctors to help free appointment slots in her clinic where my knowledge and skills can deal with this cohort of patients.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Orthoptics
• Registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Desirable Criteria

• BIOS Recognised Teaching Qualification
• Previous Orthoptic experience
• Previous experience in stroke
• Knowledge of Orthoptic hospital and outreach clinic services / caseload.
• Ability to independently assess and make clinical decisions
• Proven knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis, and management of a range of specialist ophthalmic patients
• Knowledge of relevant national policies and procedures relating to role
• Fine motor skills
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information in a range of situations
• Good communication skills for a range of individuals including patients / parents / carers / students / GP's and other health professionals on varying levels.
• Able to obtain and evaluate information to aid decision making.
• Ability to prioritise.
• Good time management skills.
• Ability to use IT systems relevant to role.
• Accurate record keeping.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Ability to travel where necessary
• Caring and compassionate
• Commitment to promote and develop good practice
• Commitment to teaching of others
• Commitment to CPD of self and contribute to that of others
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and single handed.
• Flexible approach to clinical duties and service delivery, adaptable, strong partnership working.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and professionalism
• Ability to project a professional image
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Motivated to self-develop within profession and contribute to development of service
• Fosters good relationships with colleagues and all patients.
• Keen to promote their profession to work experience students / school / college / hospital open days.
• Access to a vehicle/transport for work purposes.
• You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Recruitment Information

• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
• Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.