Job summary
An opportunity has risen for
a Orthoptist to join the Ophthalmology team at the Eye Treatment
Centre, West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
We are looking for an passionate
and highly motivated person to join our team of 3 orthoptists. Our purpose-built Eye Treatment Centre sees
approximately 1000 patients a week in a number of sub-specialities including
Paediatric Ophthalmology, Ocular Motility, Glaucoma, Medical Retina, Cornea and
Oculoplastics. There may be an opportunity to expand your knowledge into an
extended role within one of these areas.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a range of Orthoptic services
including vision screening, paediatric clinics and adult ocular motility
clinics.
You will possess a degree or diploma in Orthoptics, have
effective communication skills and the ability to work well within a team.
We are looking for somebody to help develop into an extended
role.
Benefits and Perks:
Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life
balance and accommodate personal commitments.
On-site nursery facilities to provide convenience and
peace of mind for working parents.
Access to an extensive library with excellent support,
fostering a conducive learning environment.
Car park arrangements available, ensuring hassle-free
commuting.
Free access to leisure facilities, enabling a healthy
work-life balance and promoting employee well-being.
Dedicated meeting room with teaching facilities, enabling
effective knowledge sharing and educational activities.
Designated office space for privacy and convenience.
About us
#BeKnown
at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
Were
a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to
more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for,
treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community
settings.
The
West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care
services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery
unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and childrens ward). It has 500+
beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult
and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk
Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing
temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We
do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our
values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we
work and behave as a team.
With
nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation
a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be
the best you can be.
We
promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you
can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join
us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description for full details.
To be responsible for both paediatric and
adult patients in our clinics.
To be responsible, as an autonomous
practitioner, for the orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management of
patients referred to the orthoptic department.
This may include referrals from other specialties including Paediatrics,
A&E, Maxillo-facial and referrals from other eye departments.
To be responsible for the evaluation of visual
acuity and visual behaviour in all patients.
This includes infants with strabismus and amblyopia, congenital or
developmental abnormalities, children and adults with significant learning
difficulties as well as acute ocular motility defects in both children and
adults.
To be responsible for planning, implementing
and monitoring individual orthoptic treatment plans/care pathways for patients
of all ages using advanced clinical reasoning skills and evidence based
practice.
To be responsible for the formulation of
discharge plans and onward referral when necessary.
KEY TASKS:
To
provide orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner. Assess, diagnose and manage patients referred
to the Orthoptic department.
Assess
and manage patients in specialist paediatric clinics and adult ocular motility
clinics.
To
help develop an extended role for the post.
To
be responsible for the community Orthoptic screening service.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
1. To be professionally and legally
responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the
management of patients in your care.
2. To be responsible for the assessment and
management of patients referred to the department. This group of patients may include children
with significant sight defects requiring considerable empathy and support or
adults with acute ocular motility disorders requiring sound knowledge of
anatomy and neurology e.g. patients with aneurysms or MS.
3. To provide accurate diagnosis, prognosis
and multidisciplinary discharge plans e.g. patient with an orbital floor
fracture being sent to a Maxillo-facial unit.
4. To provide orthoptic assessment of
ophthalmic emergencies if required.
5. To formulate individualised management and
treatment plans using clinical reasoning skills and a wide range of treatment
options. To communicate effectively with
patients, parents and carers those plans and to assess capacity and gain
informed consent to those treatment plans.
6. To carry out visual field analysis using
automated perimetry.
7. To undertake pre- and post-operative
measurements of motility defects and to discuss surgical options with the
patient and surgeon. Orthoptists will be
expected to be involved in the decision and timing of surgery. This requires up to date knowledge of
evidence-based practice.
8. To communicate effectively with staff,
students, patients and carers to maximise visual potential and ensure
understanding of the condition. Verbal communication skills such as persuasion,
motivation and explanation as well as non-verbal skills e.g. makaton sign
language to allow effective management of a patient and to gain informed
consent. There may be barriers to
effective communication e.g. special needs, hearing loss and pain.
9. Providing condition related information to
patients, which may be highly complex.
This may be sensitive information and will need to be explained in a
holistic and tactful way so that there is full understanding of the condition.
10. To be responsible as an autonomous
practitioner, for the decision to instil dilating drops for refraction tests,
diagnosis and treatment of visual problems.
To decide on the appropriate strength of drops required and to advise
patients of potential side effects.
11. To participate in the development of an
extended role for an orthoptist e.g medical retina, glaucoma
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description for full details.
To be responsible for both paediatric and
adult patients in our clinics.
To be responsible, as an autonomous
practitioner, for the orthoptic assessment, diagnosis and management of
patients referred to the orthoptic department.
This may include referrals from other specialties including Paediatrics,
A&E, Maxillo-facial and referrals from other eye departments.
To be responsible for the evaluation of visual
acuity and visual behaviour in all patients.
This includes infants with strabismus and amblyopia, congenital or
developmental abnormalities, children and adults with significant learning
difficulties as well as acute ocular motility defects in both children and
adults.
To be responsible for planning, implementing
and monitoring individual orthoptic treatment plans/care pathways for patients
of all ages using advanced clinical reasoning skills and evidence based
practice.
To be responsible for the formulation of
discharge plans and onward referral when necessary.
KEY TASKS:
To
provide orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner. Assess, diagnose and manage patients referred
to the Orthoptic department.
Assess
and manage patients in specialist paediatric clinics and adult ocular motility
clinics.
To
help develop an extended role for the post.
To
be responsible for the community Orthoptic screening service.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
1. To be professionally and legally
responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the
management of patients in your care.
2. To be responsible for the assessment and
management of patients referred to the department. This group of patients may include children
with significant sight defects requiring considerable empathy and support or
adults with acute ocular motility disorders requiring sound knowledge of
anatomy and neurology e.g. patients with aneurysms or MS.
3. To provide accurate diagnosis, prognosis
and multidisciplinary discharge plans e.g. patient with an orbital floor
fracture being sent to a Maxillo-facial unit.
4. To provide orthoptic assessment of
ophthalmic emergencies if required.
5. To formulate individualised management and
treatment plans using clinical reasoning skills and a wide range of treatment
options. To communicate effectively with
patients, parents and carers those plans and to assess capacity and gain
informed consent to those treatment plans.
6. To carry out visual field analysis using
automated perimetry.
7. To undertake pre- and post-operative
measurements of motility defects and to discuss surgical options with the
patient and surgeon. Orthoptists will be
expected to be involved in the decision and timing of surgery. This requires up to date knowledge of
evidence-based practice.
8. To communicate effectively with staff,
students, patients and carers to maximise visual potential and ensure
understanding of the condition. Verbal communication skills such as persuasion,
motivation and explanation as well as non-verbal skills e.g. makaton sign
language to allow effective management of a patient and to gain informed
consent. There may be barriers to
effective communication e.g. special needs, hearing loss and pain.
9. Providing condition related information to
patients, which may be highly complex.
This may be sensitive information and will need to be explained in a
holistic and tactful way so that there is full understanding of the condition.
10. To be responsible as an autonomous
practitioner, for the decision to instil dilating drops for refraction tests,
diagnosis and treatment of visual problems.
To decide on the appropriate strength of drops required and to advise
patients of potential side effects.
11. To participate in the development of an
extended role for an orthoptist e.g medical retina, glaucoma
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Team oriented
- Good attendance and time keeping
- Willingness to learn
- Function as part of the multidisciplinary team
- Able to show empathy and compassion to patients and relatives
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Able to deal with difficult situations
- Able to travel to rural locations to carry out post
Experience
Essential
- Suitable for newly qualified Orthoptists
Qualifications
Essential
- DBO in Orthoptics
- Degree in Orthoptics
Desirable
- Understanding of CPD
- Understanding of Visual field testing
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Able to develop own skills
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Team oriented
- Good attendance and time keeping
- Willingness to learn
- Function as part of the multidisciplinary team
- Able to show empathy and compassion to patients and relatives
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Able to deal with difficult situations
- Able to travel to rural locations to carry out post
Experience
Essential
- Suitable for newly qualified Orthoptists
Qualifications
Essential
- DBO in Orthoptics
- Degree in Orthoptics
Desirable
- Understanding of CPD
- Understanding of Visual field testing
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Able to develop own skills
Additional information
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
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
West Suffolk Hospitals Nhs Trust
Hardwick Lane
Bury St. Edmunds
Suffolk
IP332QZ
Employer's website
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
