About this role
Job summary
South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust are recruiting an Orthoptist to join our friendly team who deliver orthoptic services across Warwickshire. You will be supported by the team to deliver high quality orthoptic services and will include a varied orthoptic caseload.
The Orthoptic team supports adult motility services for the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire including assisting with Botox and adjustable sutures. The Orthoptic team also support paediatric services including ROP screening, urgent care clinics, Consultant clinics, joint optometry clinics and Orthoptic clinics.
As an AHP at South Warwickshire and George Eliot you will join a network of supportive and forward thinking AHPs across the trust who will support you in your role and who champion the work and development of the AHP community.
The department is committed to providing opportunities for continuous professional development and is active in audit and service improvement.
This role is Band 6 and so is most suited to an orthoptist with post qualification experience.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist comprehensive, high quality Orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner and to work as an effective member of the cross-site Orthoptic team in the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with ocular motility disorders and amblyopia; to develop and monitor effective treatment plans using specialist skills based on clinical and analytical reasoning and using evidence based practice.
About us
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Job description Job responsibilities
Key Result Areas:
Clinical and Professional:
To take responsibility for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Orthoptic patients referred to the Eye Clinic as a member of the Orthoptic team, using current evidence based practice. This requires knowledge and interpretation of professional guidelines and includes inpatients and outpatients attending the Orthoptic clinic and:
Patients with cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, benign intracranial hypertension, autism, learning difficulties, speech and language disorders, neurofibromatosis and referrals from the Special Care Baby Unit
Orthoptics of neurology, stroke and endocrine disorders, including Myasthenia Gravis, Thyroid Dysfunction, Diabetes, head injuries and maxillo-facial injuries
Pre- & Post-operative clinics
To ensure that each patient is seen professionally, efficiently and effectively
To ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care, taking into account the interpretation of a broad range of specialised clinical options, working as an autonomous practitioner
To provide a specialist service that enables each patient to obtain the best visual function including: visual acuity, binocular vision, ocular movements and ocular cosmetic appearance as appropriate.
To determine the diagnosis, prognosis and management of Orthoptic cases where clinical signs and symptoms are highly complex, may be sensitive and emotive, and do not always fall into particular categories and/or where information is limited or unavailable and there may be significant barriers to acceptance and understanding
To undertake pre- and post-operative measurements of motility defects. Significant hand-eye co-ordination, manual dexterity and speed will be required, especially in infants, to ensure accurate results of eye surgery. Surgery is based on the Orthoptic measurements
To identify risks from surgery, and to advise the patient (parents/carers) and surgeon of these risks providing patients with information to allow them to give informed consent
To advise the Consultant Ophthalmologist in the decision and timing of surgery. This requires an up to date knowledge of evidence based practice.
To assess patients post-operative outcome and modify / implement treatment accordingly.
To assist the surgeon with adjustable suture strabismus surgery. This requires taking accurate measurements to assist the surgeon with ocular alignment while the patient is under local anaesthesia.
To assess pre-verbal and/or mentally and physically disabled patients, some of whom will present with very challenging behaviour e.g. physically/verbally abusive.
To contribute to the multidisciplinary Stroke Team, advising the patient and stroke team of visual findings, implementing treatment plans, and advising of how this will affect the patients overall rehabilitation. These patients frequently have highly complex ocular motility disorders, are frail and have communication difficulties. Their accurate diagnosis and treatment require highly developed skills.
To participate in the provision of an effective Orthoptic-Led Vision Screening Programme through providing training and observation sessions for school screening personnel when required
To participate in the delivery of Pre-School Orthoptic Secondary Screening in community clinics across the county
To undertake assessment of visual fields using the Goldmann field analyser
To liaise with the Head Orthoptist regarding any problems arising from Orthoptic treatment
To work flexibly and provide internal and cross-site cover for colleagues when required during periods of annual leave, sickness, vacancies etc.
To attend appropriate training events, courses and lectures thereby extending and maintaining up to date knowledge and clinical skills
To maintain documentary evidence of Continuing Professional Development, attend and contribute to the departmental meetings
To participate in research projects which the department may be involved with, recruiting and assessing patients in line with a research protocol and recording results
To observe and maintain professional standards at all times using advanced theoretical and practical specialist knowledge, accumulated over a significant period
To keep and maintain appropriate records at all times, ensuring that all paperwork is filed promptly into in to case-notes in line with CNST standards, and to create and make use of databases where appropriate
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
To possess Batchelor of Science in Orthoptics BSc(Orth) BMedSci (Orthoptics) or Diploma from British Orthoptic Council (DBO). To be registered with Health and Care Professions Council Continued Professional Development evidence Specialist training
Desirable
Membership of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society
Experience Essential
Significant experience in all aspects of clinical Orthoptics such as paediatric and/or adult clinics, working autonomously and undertaking visual field assessment
Desirable
Experience undertaking and presenting audit experience of involvement with a vision screening programme experience of involvement in pre school Orthoptic secondary screening Previous experience of working with stroke patients
Skills Essential
To demonstrate an interest in Ophthalmology and be willing to keep up to date with current literature, including evidence of CPD Good organisational and planning skills and well developed interpersonal and communication skills Good presentation skills To be able to work as part of a team or independently Ability to deal tactfully and efficiently with patients Understanding of and ability to maintain patient confidentiality
Desirable
IT skills - for information + communication including Powerpoint and Excel
Personal Qualities Essential
Positive, proactive and enthusiastic attitude Works to high standards Flexible and adaptable to differing work patterns Good Communication abilities
Other job requirements Essential
Ability to travel round the county to other clinics under own means
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Machen Eye Unit Warwick Hospital
Lakin Road
Warwick
CV34 5BW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)