Job summary
Please note Interview for this post will take place 26/2/26
To
work in unison with the Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) Clinical Lead and
Programme Manager as an advanced senior retinal screener, providing higher
level grading including arbitration, referral outcome and digital surveillance
grading, interpretation of retinal images using slit lamp biomicroscopy, and
interpretation of images following Optical Coherence Tomography, evaluating the
results and providing the patient with complex information about potential
sight threatening diseases and possible outcomes.
Main duties of the job
The
post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking SLB clinics in
community locations using advanced clinical techniques to look for and diagnose
the signs of diabetic retinopathy along with any incidental findings of
non-diabetic related eye disease within a framework agreed by the Clinical Lead
and Programme Manager. Meticulous detail
is required to apply the specific examination outcomes through DESP and
National Grading guidelines. To ensure
patients requiring a referral to the Hospital Eye Service are referred in a
timely manner, referring all patients into correct pathways and record the
results on the DESP OptoMize system.
Responsible for the management of accurate and timely grading of digital
retinal images within the grading team and to manage the retinal
screening/grading team. To contribute to the departments overall goal of
providing an efficient screening/photography service for GP based diabetic
patients throughout County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust. To support the activities of the department
to ensure that National Quality Standards are maintained.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have been employed for a minimum of two years
of as a HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Advanced senior
diabetic retinopathy screener/graders have day-to-day responsibility for
theoperational running of
specialised screening clinics off site, dealing with people, staffing and
technical problems. The post holder manages the wider team and is responsible
for cover of their designated clinical duties
The post holder will ensure primary, secondary and tertiary
grading is undertaken according to NDESP grading criteria in a safe and timely
fashion. To provide clinical support for
the programme manager for service delivery of routine digital screening,
digital surveillance which
Includes the use of Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy and Optical
Coherence Tomography imaging and analysis.
The OCT images will be analysed, interpreted and evaluated within this
role. During the clinical visit and
following the patients screening appointment, the post holder will provide
sensitive information to the patient or their carer. Due to the nature of the findings high level
communication is necessary. However, due
to the complexity of the scans the post holder will be required to communicate
the findings in terminology that a patient would understand.
Maintain the quality of grading through regular monitoring
of grading staff performance. Take responsibility for the collation,
investigation, evaluation and any necessary action for all primary, secondary
and tertiary grading audits, rates of visual impairment/blindness and the Test
and Training sets, report/feed back to the programme manager and at Operational
Board.
In addition to screening and grading duties all staff are
involved in additional activities to support the service; these will include
working within the following areas: training/assessments (national
qualification) quality assurance visits, audit, health promotion, failsafe and
IT.
Working independently and as part of a large
multidisciplinary team to both local and national standard to deliver the
highest patient care and to ensure the early detection of sight threatening eye
disease to deliver appropriate and timely monitoring and treatment to reduce
blindness.
The post holder is required to undergo slit lamp
accreditation reviews and clinical supervision from the DESP clinical lead,
maintaining slit lamp competencies.
Carryout detailed assessment of patients within the slit
lamp biomicroscopy clinics.
Review of unassessable patients on a regular basis and
reporting back to the screening programme.
Post holder to provide clinical supervision to retinal
screener / graders.
Working closely with the administration team to ensure
processes and pathways are in line with the diabetic eye screening
standards.
Able to travel independently across County
Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Advanced senior
diabetic retinopathy screener/graders have day-to-day responsibility for
theoperational running of
specialised screening clinics off site, dealing with people, staffing and
technical problems. The post holder manages the wider team and is responsible
for cover of their designated clinical duties
The post holder will ensure primary, secondary and tertiary
grading is undertaken according to NDESP grading criteria in a safe and timely
fashion. To provide clinical support for
the programme manager for service delivery of routine digital screening,
digital surveillance which
Includes the use of Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy and Optical
Coherence Tomography imaging and analysis.
The OCT images will be analysed, interpreted and evaluated within this
role. During the clinical visit and
following the patients screening appointment, the post holder will provide
sensitive information to the patient or their carer. Due to the nature of the findings high level
communication is necessary. However, due
to the complexity of the scans the post holder will be required to communicate
the findings in terminology that a patient would understand.
Maintain the quality of grading through regular monitoring
of grading staff performance. Take responsibility for the collation,
investigation, evaluation and any necessary action for all primary, secondary
and tertiary grading audits, rates of visual impairment/blindness and the Test
and Training sets, report/feed back to the programme manager and at Operational
Board.
In addition to screening and grading duties all staff are
involved in additional activities to support the service; these will include
working within the following areas: training/assessments (national
qualification) quality assurance visits, audit, health promotion, failsafe and
IT.
Working independently and as part of a large
multidisciplinary team to both local and national standard to deliver the
highest patient care and to ensure the early detection of sight threatening eye
disease to deliver appropriate and timely monitoring and treatment to reduce
blindness.
The post holder is required to undergo slit lamp
accreditation reviews and clinical supervision from the DESP clinical lead,
maintaining slit lamp competencies.
Carryout detailed assessment of patients within the slit
lamp biomicroscopy clinics.
Review of unassessable patients on a regular basis and
reporting back to the screening programme.
Post holder to provide clinical supervision to retinal
screener / graders.
Working closely with the administration team to ensure
processes and pathways are in line with the diabetic eye screening
standards.
Able to travel independently across County
Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust sites.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Accredited slit lamp examiner to ensure safe practice by Clinical Lead.
- Substantial experience of working within a Diabetic Eye screening Programme as a senior grader
- Experience of working in healthcare setting
- Experience of photography in healthcare setting.
- Experience of SLB technique and examination.
- Understanding and capability to apply NDESP Screening and Grading policies.
- Ability to apply clinical knowledge and experience to interpret national and trust level policies to achieve appropriate clinical outcomes.
- Experience in DESP secondary, referral outcome, digital surveillance and arbitration grading.
- Experience and Knowledge to interpret Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans.
- In depth knowledge of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and grading pathways and associated risk factors.
- Knowledge of National Standards and KPIs.
- One to one OCT interpretation clinical supervision and training by a Retinal Screening Clinical Lead.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS DESP Common Pathways
- Experience of working autonomously in a clinical setting
- Experience of OptoMize System
Special Requirements
Essential
- Slit Lamp Examiners must undertake a minimum of 100 Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations per annum to maintain competency.
- Undertaking of monthly test and training sets.
- Actively acts as a role model in own behaviour and foster a non-discriminatory culture.
- Promote equality and value diversity.
- Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity.
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to perform and apply techniques for Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations using industry standard devices.
- Ability to line manage a team.
- Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to deliver one to one training plans.
- 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.
- Professional Attitude.
- Patient and Understanding.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
- Committed to further training.
- Self-motivator.
- Confident.
- Enthusiastic.
- Commitment to the role.
- Flexible to support service need of clinic delivery including covering clinics across the full service region.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level 5 (in a healthcare related subject) plus further training to postgraduate diploma level 6 (in a healthcare related subject) or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Interpretation in Diabetic Retinopathy.
- Understand and follow the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening and Programme grading criteria.
Desirable
- Equivalent skills, knowledge and demonstrable experience.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Accredited slit lamp examiner to ensure safe practice by Clinical Lead.
- Substantial experience of working within a Diabetic Eye screening Programme as a senior grader
- Experience of working in healthcare setting
- Experience of photography in healthcare setting.
- Experience of SLB technique and examination.
- Understanding and capability to apply NDESP Screening and Grading policies.
- Ability to apply clinical knowledge and experience to interpret national and trust level policies to achieve appropriate clinical outcomes.
- Experience in DESP secondary, referral outcome, digital surveillance and arbitration grading.
- Experience and Knowledge to interpret Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans.
- In depth knowledge of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and grading pathways and associated risk factors.
- Knowledge of National Standards and KPIs.
- One to one OCT interpretation clinical supervision and training by a Retinal Screening Clinical Lead.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS DESP Common Pathways
- Experience of working autonomously in a clinical setting
- Experience of OptoMize System
Special Requirements
Essential
- Slit Lamp Examiners must undertake a minimum of 100 Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations per annum to maintain competency.
- Undertaking of monthly test and training sets.
- Actively acts as a role model in own behaviour and foster a non-discriminatory culture.
- Promote equality and value diversity.
- Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity.
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to perform and apply techniques for Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations using industry standard devices.
- Ability to line manage a team.
- Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to deliver one to one training plans.
- 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.
- Professional Attitude.
- Patient and Understanding.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
- Committed to further training.
- Self-motivator.
- Confident.
- Enthusiastic.
- Commitment to the role.
- Flexible to support service need of clinic delivery including covering clinics across the full service region.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level 5 (in a healthcare related subject) plus further training to postgraduate diploma level 6 (in a healthcare related subject) or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
- Interpretation in Diabetic Retinopathy.
- Understand and follow the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening and Programme grading criteria.
Desirable
- Equivalent skills, knowledge and demonstrable experience.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
