Job summary
As an Ophthalmic Technician you will work within the ophthalmology department and community based diagnostic hubs to provide clinical and technical services. You will work under the direction of the ophthalmic technical service manager, Senoir Ophthalmic Technicians and ophthalmic Technicians to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and care of new and follow-up patients. Make safe and effective use of a range of highly complex expensive diagnostic instruments adhering to defined protocols and guidelines. Report diagnostic test results to ophthalmologists and professional staff. Adapt tests to match clinical observations and the age, cognitive and physical ability of patients. Accommodate flexible and variable clinical schedules, potentially ranging between four hospital sites and community based settings, including evening and weekend hours. Contribute to smooth running of the department and provision of diagnostic services recommending adjustments to match patient priority and case mix. Recommend improvements and changes to departmental policies, guidelines and protocols at departmental meetings. Maintain personal knowledge and skills undertaking training and development as required.
Main duties of the job
Visual field assessments using the Humphrey visual field analysers. Measure VA using the appropriate refractive correction using a Snellen, Sheridan Gardner, Kays or LogMAR. Measure and record colour vision function using Ishihara pseudo isochromatic plates and the automated CAD analyser. Obtain refraction measurements using autorefractors. Accurately measure spectacle prescriptions using manual and automated focimetry. Perform ONH and retinal imaging using OCT on patients with a range of ocular diseases. Scan assessments will include Spectralis of the macular, optic disc and extramacular areas, BAF imaging and multi-coloured imaging. Perform Optos Red/Green (Multicolour), Auto-fluorescence (BAF) reliably and efficiently. Measure IOP using ORA and iCare. Measurements of corneal using electronic topographers. Specular microscope to capture detailed images of the corneal endothelium. Undertake Aseptic Non-TouchTechnique (ANTT) training and apply within all elements of the clinical setting where appropriate or required. Take responsibility for the safe use of visual field testing, OCT and all imaging equipment. Prioritise own clinical caseload effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and time available. Keep accurate contemporaneous records in line with legal and professional standards and requirements.
About us
We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.
Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:
Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.
UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.
University Hospitals Birmingham is a Smoke-Free premises hospital.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- * A-Levels or NVQ3 or equivalent
- * 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English language and mathematics
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of information governance, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding
Desirable
- Experience of working in eye care
- * Experience of delivering technician-led ophthalmic services
- * Experience working with adults including adults who have significant sensory impairment or learning difficulties
- * Experience of working within the NHS
- * Technical knowledge of how to set up and operate Humphrey analysers and how to modify testing to ensure accuracy of the results obtained
- * Knowledge of refractive errors and how they are corrected with spectacles
- * Technical knowledge of how to operate manual and automated lens analyser to assess single vision, bifocal and varifocal lenses
- * Knowledge of how to select the most appropriate method for assessing visual acuity taking into account the ability and understanding of individual patients
Additional Criteria
Essential
- * Excellent hand / eye coordination, dexterity and speed when performing clinical investigations
- * Innovative approach to work and must be able to respond quickly to changes in working practice
- * Sound problem solving skills
- * Ability to follow protocols accurately and to work under sustained pressure whilst maintaining high levels of concentration
- * Ability to write clearly and interpret instructions
- * Ability to keep and maintain detailed patient records at all times
- * Ability to maintain and utilise department and Trust information systems and ensure the accuracy of the information held
- * Experience using microsoft office
- * Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and evolve professional relationships with staff at all levels
- * Excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and ability to overcome barriers to communication that may relate to language / hearing / vision / age / intelligence
- * Ability to demonstrate well developed communication and persuasion skills needed to work with patients with longterm conditions that may require a lifetime of regular hospital attendance and treatment
- * Willingness to acquire and develop new skills by attending training/short courses in the field of Ophthalmology
- * Willingness to undertake self-study in the field of Ophthalmology as appropriate
- * Willingness to attend external training courses and demonstrable commitment to personal development
- * Willingness to complete on the job training in the field of Ophthalmology
- * Must be able to identify own limitations in theoretical and practical skills and thus when to seek the advice of a senior colleague
- * Self- motivated with strong commitment to high standard of patient care
- * Methodical, well organised and efficient
- * Effective time manager and able to prioritise own workload
- * Must demonstrate a pleasant, helpful disposition at all times and be able to make decisions and resolve problems
- * Ability to manage challenging complex cases where patients are distressed
- * Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- * Flexibility over sessions worked as this post may involve some Saturday and evening working
- * Cross site working will be expected
Desirable
- Previous experience using automated perimetry in line with set competency standards
- * Ability to take OCT / OCT-A scans
- * Ability to use Optos, Kowa, Anterion
- * Ability to run a technician-led clinic
- * Experience using Medisoft / clinical portal
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- * A-Levels or NVQ3 or equivalent
- * 5 GCSEs at grade C or above to include English language and mathematics
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of information governance, health and safety, infection control, safeguarding
Desirable
- Experience of working in eye care
- * Experience of delivering technician-led ophthalmic services
- * Experience working with adults including adults who have significant sensory impairment or learning difficulties
- * Experience of working within the NHS
- * Technical knowledge of how to set up and operate Humphrey analysers and how to modify testing to ensure accuracy of the results obtained
- * Knowledge of refractive errors and how they are corrected with spectacles
- * Technical knowledge of how to operate manual and automated lens analyser to assess single vision, bifocal and varifocal lenses
- * Knowledge of how to select the most appropriate method for assessing visual acuity taking into account the ability and understanding of individual patients
Additional Criteria
Essential
- * Excellent hand / eye coordination, dexterity and speed when performing clinical investigations
- * Innovative approach to work and must be able to respond quickly to changes in working practice
- * Sound problem solving skills
- * Ability to follow protocols accurately and to work under sustained pressure whilst maintaining high levels of concentration
- * Ability to write clearly and interpret instructions
- * Ability to keep and maintain detailed patient records at all times
- * Ability to maintain and utilise department and Trust information systems and ensure the accuracy of the information held
- * Experience using microsoft office
- * Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and evolve professional relationships with staff at all levels
- * Excellent communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and ability to overcome barriers to communication that may relate to language / hearing / vision / age / intelligence
- * Ability to demonstrate well developed communication and persuasion skills needed to work with patients with longterm conditions that may require a lifetime of regular hospital attendance and treatment
- * Willingness to acquire and develop new skills by attending training/short courses in the field of Ophthalmology
- * Willingness to undertake self-study in the field of Ophthalmology as appropriate
- * Willingness to attend external training courses and demonstrable commitment to personal development
- * Willingness to complete on the job training in the field of Ophthalmology
- * Must be able to identify own limitations in theoretical and practical skills and thus when to seek the advice of a senior colleague
- * Self- motivated with strong commitment to high standard of patient care
- * Methodical, well organised and efficient
- * Effective time manager and able to prioritise own workload
- * Must demonstrate a pleasant, helpful disposition at all times and be able to make decisions and resolve problems
- * Ability to manage challenging complex cases where patients are distressed
- * Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- * Flexibility over sessions worked as this post may involve some Saturday and evening working
- * Cross site working will be expected
Desirable
- Previous experience using automated perimetry in line with set competency standards
- * Ability to take OCT / OCT-A scans
- * Ability to use Optos, Kowa, Anterion
- * Ability to run a technician-led clinic
- * Experience using Medisoft / clinical portal
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.
