DESP Slit Lamp Examiner *Internal Applicants*

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Important Information

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

• Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.

The changes mean that:

• youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
• the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Nacro Tel: 0300 123 1999, or email: helpline@nacro.org.uk

Unlock Tel: 01634 247350, email advice@unlock.org.uk or complete the online form on the Unlock website

Please note the cost of the DBS check is increasing from 2nd December and the new cost will be

Standard DBS check £21.50, Enhanced DBS check £49.50 + any admin costs.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.

A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

Excellent opportunities for development

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

These schemes are subject to availability

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Optometrist OR Qualified Diabetic Eye Screener (holding the grading unit of the Diploma in Health Screening or historical C&G equivalent and accreditation of Slit Lamp Examination
• Educated to postgrad level
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• A qualified practicing optometrist registered with the General Optical Council (if non NHS Screening Staff)
• Equivalent skills, knowledge and experience.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• NHSE Slit Lamp Accreditation completion, (Level 1 and Level 2)
• Experience of SLB technique and examination, including the correct use of the VOLK lens to examine the retina
• Understanding and capability to apply NDESP Screening and Grading policies.
• Ability to apply clinical knowledge and experience to interpret national and trust level polices to achieve appropriate clinical outcomes
• This role delivers detailed retina examinations for patients with complex history and the responsibilities associated, working independently.
• To report to Clinical Lead Ophthalmologist.
• To be able to demonstrate professional, experience dealing with people of all ages and with a range of vision problems and in particular those with diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy
• To be able to identify incidental pathology and manage appropriately
• Minimum 2 years experience in DESP
• Minimum 1 year experience in DESP secondary, referral outcome, digital surveillance and arbitration grading or working towards this through Clinical Lead approval
• In depth knowledge of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and grading pathways and associated risk factors
• Knowledge of National Standards and KPI's
• Apply professional knowledge acquired through the Level 3 Diploma, plus completion of SLB accreditation
• One to one OCT interpretation, clinical supervision and training by a Retinal Screening Clinical Lead/Associate Medical Retina Specialist.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the NHS DESP Common Pathways
• Experience of working autonomously in a clinical setting
• Experience of OCT Interpretation

Skills

Essential

• Ability to perform and apply techniques for Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations using industry standard devices
• Manual dexterity and co-ordination sufficient to operate and manoeuvre the Slit Lamp, Volk Lens and other clinic equipment
• Ability to line manage a team
• Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships
• Apply specialist leadership for colleagues with the ability to resolve conflict and deal with difficult situations remaining calm, assertive, fair and diplomatic
• Ability to communicate findings orally and by letter/reports to a wide range of professionals, patients and carers
• To deliver clinical training, sign off and annual competency sign off for diabetic eye screening and grading staff.
• To be responsible for the clinical governance, training, education and supervision aspects of the Diabetic Eye Screening Slit Lamp pathway
• To provide the equivalent above along side the other Band 6 roles (Grading and Quality Lead, Senior Specialist Grader) as needed
• This role entitles the responsible clinical and developmental responsibilities, which will be reported to Programme Manager and the Clinical Lead.
• Ability to deliver presentations and training sessions on clinical and non clinical required topics
• Ability to manage difficult conversations
• Good organisational ability
• Ability to apply prolonged levels of concentration
• Ability to utilise sophisticated, technical software for the manipulation and analysis of images
• Attention to detail
• Ability to write Protocols and Standard Operating procedures in line with national and local guidelines
• Ability to work in isolation but part of a team
• The ability to travel across the country, this requires the use of a vehicle
• Commitment to the role

Desirable

• Willingness and application to learn Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations through structured training, overseen by the DESP Clinical Lead

Personal Circumstances

Essential

• Professional Attitude
• Self-motivator
• Confident
• Enthusiastic
• Flexible to support service need of clinic delivery including covering clinics across the full service region

Desirable

• Full UK Driving License

Other requirements

Essential

• Actively acts as a role model in own behaviour and fosters a nondiscriminatory culture
• Promote equality and value diversity (Level 3)
• Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity (Level 4)

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).