Ophthalmic Imaging Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

• Coworkers in all other departments in Sussex Eye Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital and Hove Polyclinic. Consultant and medical Staff, Clinical Nurse specialists, orthoptists, opticians, retinal screeners, photographers, multidisciplinary team. i.e., medical social worker, eye clinic liaison officer, discharge teams, clerical staff, etc

• To ensure effective communication within the team, including team briefing and departmental meetings

Service Delivery and Improvement

• Ability to work as part of a team

• Able to identify and discuss when care needs of patients exceed their own knowledge, skills and ability.

• Ability to work alone but supervised/managed by imaging team leader as required

• Reports to the imaging team leader.

• Contributes and actively participates in the correct reporting and handling of incidents and accidents

• Reports when care is compromised by shortage of staff or when they can no longer manage the patient themselves as a change in patients' condition or dependency.

• Ability to prioritise care for patients and delegate to co-workers as necessary

• Ability to provide supervision to junior team members, Healthcare Assistants and learners

• Works closely with all members of the care team to ensure the needs of the patient are met

• Aware of department and team dynamics, staffing level issues and ward stock control and budgetary constraints

• Identifies incidences of concern to patients and deals effectively with the consequences, completing appropriate documentation

• Ensures that the department environment is safe and promptly report any issues of concern

• Provide clinical data advice where required within the organisation to affect change or progress decisions and agreements.

• Provide accurate and timely clinical information to support all aspects of the quality agenda, including audits and evaluation of own work

• Provide subject matter expertise relating to patient data

• Attends and contributes at departmental meetings and teaching sessions

• Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role and delegated or requested by the manager or supervisor, as the needs of the service require.

• At no time should clinical staff work outside their defined level of competence. If the postholder has concerns regarding this, they should immediately discuss this with their Team leader, Manager, and/or Matron. The post holder has the responsibility to inform those supervising their duties if they are not competent to perform a duty.

Clinical

• To undertake on the job training and a period of induction, to gain an understanding of the role and on completion of competencies carry out to a high level technical and diagnostic tests and scans on patients ensuring all results are accurate and reliable and performed within set parameters.

• To provide a safe environment for patients within their clinical area using safe handling guidelines and risk assessment procedures.

• To adhere to all infection control guidelines and policies with strict observance of hand washing and disinfection protocols.

• To demonstrate manual handling skills that may be required to assist patients of all ages and abilities e.g., infirm patients or those in wheelchairs.

• Providing clear and precise information and explanation to patients regarding the tests to be undertaken to gain verbal consent and patient cooperation, which is required to achieve the best possible result. Sometimes patients may have difficulty understanding instructions and it will be the post holder's responsibility to ensure that any concerns are addressed and clarified.

• Monitor and support patients through the diagnostic tests procedures providing advice and instruction for patients to ensure accurate test results.

• To learn to recognise and rectify artefacts during testing that might represent a barrier to accurate and meaningful results.

• The post holder will assess visual acuity in patients as appropriate, using logMAR, Snellen and other relevant acuity tests and record results accurately and clearly in patients paper and electronic records.

• To accurately perform Optical Coherence Tomography, Topography, Specular Microscopy, Visual Field test and retinal imaging

• To demonstrate necessary health and safety awareness as these tests are carried out within a dark environment.

• To accurately input relevant information gained from the patient's notes, set up each test and observe the patient.

• To prioritise workload allowing for the smooth running of clinics whilst delivering a high-quality service.

• To administer the appropriate dilatation drugs by the correct method within their scope of work as authorised by the Trust.

• Undertake a range of ophthalmic diagnostic imaging to a high level of competence. Learn to recognise common performance errors in the imaging and how to remedy these. The test will be always supervised by the post holder while being undertaken and re-started if the results are found to contain errors.

• To assess and evaluate special needs of individual patients and tailor positioning and procedures to their clinical needs, which involve overcoming barriers to understanding.

• To anticipate where patient communication difficulties might make completion of the pre-examination checklist impossible and to implement alternative methods to ensure patient safety is always maintained.

• To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients, paying particular attention to patients' anxieties.

• Have an understanding of a range of common ophthalmic conditions to understand which imaging modality is usual for these conditions and allow fact checking if another test is requested

• To determine the prescription of patients spectacles using a manual focimeter and to assess the correct lens to be used for accurate visual field assessments and other tests as requires.

• To perform automated visual fields assessments for patients with the Humphrey field analyser.

• Work closely with colleagues to provide virtual clinics for relevant conditions. Be the main point of contact for patients during these clinics and make a judgement if the patient is unsuitable for such a clinic in future. In addition to imaging, undertake and record patient interview including taking a short ophthalmic history, visual acuity testing and instillation of drops where required. Explain the possible outcomes to patients and be able to respond to questions and queries or escalate these as appropriate.

• Assisting other ophthalmic imagers and clinical photographers in the department and on location.

• To undertake image management including accurate saving and any appropriate electronic image editing. Ensure accurate documentation of imaging requests using medical notes and electronic patient and imaging databases

• To be involved in research activities, to undertake OCT to set protocols for current research trails undertaken within Ophthalmology. This will involve specific training regarding each study, certification from the associated reading centre and a requirement to be up to date with GCP training.

• To act as a point of advice for patient enquires regarding their referral/ appointment, for and Liaison Service (PALS), Interpretation Services and hospital Transport.

• Liaise with teams which are external to ophthalmic imaging e.g. ward, clinics, hotel services and facilities.

People Management and Development

• Participate in the Trust appraisal process and work towards meeting identified development needs

• Demonstrate on-going professional development

• Promote the development of an acceptable learning environment within the department

• Participate in team/department developmental strategies and assists in the positive promotion of team building

• Demonstrates a positive attitude to the supervision of learners advising the team leader of any difficulties as appropriate

• Supports and contributes to any department-based teaching programmes

• Assesses the learning needs of patients and carers

Patient Care Delivery

• Have both a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role

• Have a personal obligation to act to reduce Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) and must attend mandatory training in infection prevention and control. Post holders must comply with the trust's Infection Control Policies as they apply to their duties, including the hand decontamination policy, dress code and personal protective equipment policy.

Learning and Development

• Attend mandatory training updates as required.

• Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.

• Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager

• Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.

Person Specification

Person Specification

Essential

• Qualified to at least ONC level (or equivalent experience); GCSE passes including English and Maths at Grade C or above (literacy and numeracy).
• Sound knowledge of digital imaging and associated IT skills
• Understands the need to attend mandatory training as part of own personal development.
• Expected to undertake the appropriate continuing professional development required.
• Experience working in a busy outpatient department preferably within an acute setting.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to relate to and deal with a wide range of people including patients (some of which could be visually impaired), clinicians, nursing and administrative
• To have a sympathetic and professional attitude towards patients. Be caring and motivated to do the best for every patient
• Ability to work accurately, calmly and confidently at all times particularly when under pressure. Communicate effectively with patients, medical staff and the general public.
• To be aware of, and comply, with all standards of conduct, dress codes and patient care that relate to imaging and act within the approved guidelines of the trust.
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Prepared to work across sites as an autonomous practitioner.
• Dexterity, hand eye coordination and fine adjustment used to control equipment.
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
• Works without direct supervision but with access to a supervisor
• Demonstrate a commitment to achieving high quality standards of work

Desirable

• Enthusiastic and keen to get involved in service development and change
• Current GCP training.
• Certification with OIA, IMI & AHCS
• Interpretation Certification
• Knowledge of Electronic Patient Record, Electronic Document Management, and other hospital related IT systems

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Sussex Eye Hospital

Eastern Rd, Kemptown

Brighton

BN2 5BF

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)