Job Description
Job summary This post is to be offered under Annex 21 AfC Terms & Conditions, subject to experience, competency and suitability. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly team of x9 Orthoptists, x4 Optometrists and x9 Consultant Ophthalmologists at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals . We are seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced Orthoptist with a special interest in Stroke and Neuro-rehabilitation. The successfulapplicantwill berequired to work autonomously to deliver high quality Orthoptic assessment and management, including;stand alone Orthoptic clinics, joint refraction clinics andboth adult motility/paediatric strabismus clinicsworkingcollaborativelywith the Ophthalmologists at St Helens hospital and sites across St Helens and Knowsley. For this particular role, the successful applicant will also be required to support a well established and high-quality ward based Orthoptic-led stroke service (acute & rehabilitation) at Whiston hospital and provide Orthoptic screening for traumatic brain injury patients at St Helens hospital. Main duties of the job To perform a comprehensive range of investigative and diagnostic Orthoptic procedures as required by the Consultant Ophthalmologist. To provide expert analysis of clinical findings to colleagues, patients and carers and advise on any further assessment and treatment necessary. To work in partnership with Consultant Ophthalmologists, Paediatricians & other health professionals in order to make diagnoses and recommend treatment options. To formulate appropriate treatment plans and to instruct and support carers on continuous courses of treatment. To assist the surgeon in determining possible surgery and success rates. To assess and manage patients referred from Stroke rehabilitation. To undertake Reception Vision Screening sessions in schools. To run community clinics as an autonomous practitioner, accepting referrals and liaising with clerical staff as required As an autonomous practitioner, to be legally and professionally responsible and accountable for the management of Orthoptic patients. To undertake assessment of: Children and adults with special needs. Patients referred from the Maxillo-facial unit. Children with specific learning difficulties. Pre and post-operative assessment of squints About us Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care. Our Services: Acute Care Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites. Primary Care Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital. Community Services Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre. Specialist Regional Services We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales. Achievements: o Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018 o Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal) o National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme Job description Job responsibilities To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures. To actively participate in the annual performance review to identify personal development needs To attend Trust Statutory and Mandatory training sessions as required and any other training courses relevant to the post. To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement Mersey and West Lancashire Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work and the Trust corporate Health and Safety Policies and Procedures. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions. To be aware of the confidential aspects of the post. To keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. Breaches of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action that may involve dismissal. You must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and Caldicott principles The post holder should also be aware that, regardless of any action taken by the employing authority, breaches of confidentiality could result in civil action for damages. All staff will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect. Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, and gender or employment status. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. All staff therefore who come into contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults have a responsibility to ensure they are trained and competent to be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect and know how to act on their concerns in line with the policies and procedures of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust. To ensure that when creating, managing and sharing information records it is done in an appropriate way, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines. All employees are responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality, ensuring that records are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the post holder will actively participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. The Act requires the post holder to attend infection prevention and control training on induction and at regular updates and to take responsibility for the practical application of the training in the course of their work. Infection prevention and control must be included in any personal development plan and/or adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body (if appropriate) The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site. The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trusts continued organisational development. To adhere to the NHS Constitution and its principles and values. You must be aware of your Duty of Candour which means that you must be open and honest during your employment and if you see something wrong, you must raise it. You must read the NHS Constitution in full and can download this from the Trusts intranet site or the website. Hard copies are available from the HR Department on request. The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Bsc (Hons) Orthoptics/ BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics/Diploma of British Orthoptics Registration with the Health Care Professions Council Evidence of involvement in research or audit Documentary evidence of CPD in line with the HCPC requirements Willingness to attend external training courses and demonstrable commitment to personal development Teaching qualification Knowledge Essential Post-graduate experience must equate to a masters level Active participation in post-graduate training of orthoptic,optometry, nursing and medical students Experience of structuring and participating in clinical audit Ability to write clearly and interpret instructions to produce complex analytical reports Desirable Significant post-qualification experience in all areas of clinical adult and paediatric orthoptics Skills Essential Comprehensive theoretical understanding of all aspects of clinical orthoptics Specialist level of knowledge and skills (underpinned by experience) Technical knowledge of how to set up, operate and interpret synoptophore, Lees Screen, Arc perimeter, autorefractor, automated and manual focimeters Ability to select the most appropriate orthoptic tests based on knowledge of Ophthalmic conditions and previous patient performance Knowledge of patient confidentiality Computer skills, familiar with Microsoft office Maintain and utilise department and trust information systems and ensure the accuracy of information held Statistical analysis Self-motivated with a strong commitment to a high standard of care Effective time management and able to prioritize own workload Able to work independently and as part of a team Excellent record keeping skills Other Essential Must be prepared to travel to numerous locations clinics and schools