Specialist Orthoptist
| Posting date: | 17 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Negotiable |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 June 2024 |
| Location: | Luton, LU1 1HH |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9448-24-0258 |
Summary
You will be based in the community at Liverpool Road Health Centre in Luton, or Kempston Health Centre, Bedford with a requirement to travel frequently to hospital and community clinics throughout Bedfordshire. Main Duties and Responsibilities 1. To be professionally responsible and accountable for the management of Orthoptic patients inBedfordshire as an autonomous practitioner.2. To assess, diagnose, treat and manage (including discharge when clinically appropriate) thepatients referred to the Community Eye Service. These include Paediatric visual disorders(squint, amblyopia, and reduced visual responses), ocular motility disorders, other ophthalmicconditions and congenital developmental abnormalities.3. To formulate specialist individualised management and treatment plans using advanced clinicalreasoning and a wide range of treatment skills.4. To assess patients pre- and post-operatively and discuss surgery options with the ConsultantOphthalmologist. To identify the opportune timing of surgery and discuss post-operative riskswith the patients, carers, and surgeon. The degree of surgery will be based on the Orthopticmeasurements. To assist the surgeon in postoperative adjustable suture techniques. Thisrequires accurate measurement to assist the surgeon with ocular alignment while the patient isunder local anesthetic.5. To diagnose and treat children with special needs in community and multidisciplinary clinicsand special schools. The caseload will include children with complex neurological disorders,high level medical needs, autistic spectrum disorders and sensory impairment. Close liaisonwith other members of multidisciplinary team/early years contributes to the management of thewhole child. When patients are wheelchair-bound and with young children it is necessary toadapt tests, be mobile and work at awkward angles at times.6. To take responsibility for advising patients, relatives, and carers of the prognosis regardingtheir eye condition, including visual outcomes, squint surgery and any possible complications.Informing relevant clinicians and members of the multidisciplinary team where needed.Patients may have very complex medical problems requiring a high level of neurological andmedical understanding to manage the case effectively prioritising ophthalmic care as required.7. To support/advise the Orthoptic Support Workers (OSW) providing the 4-5 year school visionscreening service.8. To promote the need for early intervention and treatment of childhood eye problems.9. To offer advice and support in the clinic and over the telephone, and deal with queries frompatients, carers and other health professionals.10. Assess, diagnose and manage children presenting with visually related reading difficultiesseeking advice from the Orthoptic Team Leader where necessary.11. Undertake specialised assessment of patients admitted to the Stroke ward. Determine thepresence of any ophthalmological conditions and manage as required, liaising with ward staffand Ophthalmologists as appropriate. Organise patient referral and follow up as needed.Provide the patient and other health professionals with information to maximise rehabilitationpotential and adapt to visual symptoms.12. To contribute to Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for patients with Special Educationalneeds when required.13. To triage new referrals prioritising their urgency.14. To direct referrals appropriately to the Consultant Ophthalmologist, Specialist Optometrist orthe Orthoptist Team Leader.15. To analyse, diagnose, and formulate treatment plans for patients with complex ocularmovement disorders referred by Consultant Ophthalmologists and Acute referrals at Moorfieldsat Bedford and Luton and Dunstable Hospital trusts.16. To analyse patients referred from other medical specialists, to make an Orthoptic diagnosisand contribute to the multidisciplinary care plan.17. To assess and interpret visual fields using Goldmann Field Perimeter using knowledge of thevisual pathway and to forward the results to the appropriate medical and surgical teams e.g.,Neurology teams at local acute trusts, tertiary centres and DVLA.18. To maintain and check current and discharged clinical records on SystmOne.19. To work independently in busy community children's clinics within professional guidelines andOrthoptic competencies, referring selected patients for ophthalmic/optometric care.20. To provide support for the Orthoptist Team Leaders and:21. Act as a deputy in her absence22 Assist in the monitoring and maintenance, development and implementation of professionaland organisational quality standards Planning1. To prioritise and organise own clinical caseload.2. To be responsible for booking patient appointments and related administration at singlehanded peripheral community paediatric Orthoptic clinics on SystmOne, (S1) and ensuringcompliance with 18 week criteria for initial appointments.3. To organise additional sessions as required and take responsibility for the quality of the servicein peripheral clinics in Bedfordshire.4. To plan and organise joint Ophthalmic and Orthoptic community clinics across Bedfordshire.5. To formulate joint ophthalmic/orthoptic treatment plans for complex cases with the SpecialistOptometrist /Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon giving an informed professional opinion. Policy development:1. To contribute to the improvement of the service and development of agreed policies andguidelines. Information Resources:1. To collate statistics and submit in a timely manner.2. To have a good standard of computer skills and adhere to the Trust IT policy.3. To maintain accurate contemporaneous patient records in line with the Records Keeping Policy4. To respond to requests for data and information following Trust procedures. Communication1. To communicate condition-related information, including the diagnosis and its implications topatients, relatives and carers, especially where this may have a major impact e.g. a child ispartially sighted or blind. This may require explanation of clinical information to those whohave difficulty understanding i.e. learning difficulties, hearing problems, stroke, emotionalproblems, people with a high level of anxiety i.e. with sudden onset double vision and thosewho use English as a second language.2. To liaise with and provide detailed medical information to all members of the Community EyeService and other professions as necessary in order to establish a high quality co-ordinatedService, e.g. Education, other health care professionals, GPs and Eye Clinic Liaison Officer(ECLO).3. To gain informed consent and compliance for assessment and treatment by negotiation andencouragement for children and adults of all ages and abilities.4. To communicate effectively by transferring patient information and records (in accordance withlocal Information Governance processes) in a timely and organised manner when patientstransfer between North, South and Mid Bedfordshire clinics, into acute ophthalmic services atMoorfields at Bedford Hospital or Luton and Dunstable Hospital or child developmentmultidisciplinary centres.