Digital Facilitator - Optometry

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Roles & Responsibilities

1. Technical Support and Assistance

Provide hands-on support to optical practices and practitioners ensuring efficient digital referrals setup and troubleshooting for seamless integration.

Offer technical assistance for day-to-day usage of the digital referral platform, enabling optimal functionality and outcomes.

Host regular monthly drop-in sessions for optical practices to address support requirements, including additional specialist sessions focused on data transfer from specific diagnostic equipment and brands.

Provide hands-on support to secondary care providers by ensuring they can make the best use of referral reports and associated images received via a digital referral platform, optimising integration and data utility within their own systems and Electronic Patient Records (EPR).

2. Referral Data Quality and Optimisation

Ensure that referral data sent via digital referrals is complete, accurate, and clinically relevant, enabling effective decision-making.

Collaborate with providers to capture essential information within referrals, leveraging the platform to enhance quality of patient care.

3. Engagement and Best Practice Implementation

Act as a liaison between optical practices, secondary care providers, and referral centres to foster collaboration across the referral network.

Encourage best practices in referral documentation and address any technical challenges that may impede effective usage.

Support other digital transformation initiatives within optometry, as part of the Optometry Primary Care Board Network (OPBN) digital workstream, including and not limited to the Greater Manchester Care Record (GMCR) and electronic Prescription Service (ePS).

Work collaboratively with stakeholders to enhance digital integration in eye care across primary and secondary care.

4. Training

Develop and deliver training sessions for healthcare professionals to ensure a thorough understanding of digital referral functionality and best practices.

Encourage digital literacy across users, empowering them to leverage technology confidently and competently.

5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

Track the progress of digital referrals implementation, identifying areas for improvement and where additional support is needed.

Maintain a working knowledge of technical challenges, software issues, and other operational risks to mitigate issues proactively.

Regularly report to project leads on implementation status, highlighting successes and challenges, and recommending strategies for further digital optimisation.

6. Supporting Health Equity

Analyse referral trends and identify areas where digital referrals can address health disparities, with a focus on improving outcomes for high-deprivation populations.

Collaborate with data analysts to harness referral data, fostering equitable patient outcomes, particularly in populations of high deprivation.

7. Reporting and Accountability

The DFO will work closely with the Optometry Excellence team, and report to the Optometry Provider Board (OPB) via the Optometry Referrals Improvement Program Lead to support objectives outlined in the Optometry Excellence framework. This role is integral to enhancing the quality and efficiency of referral processes in optometry across the Greater Manchester footprint.

This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive but indicates the main areas of work and may be subject to change after consultation with the post-holder to meet the changing needs of the service.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Strong IT and technical skills, with experience in healthcare platform integration and digital systems support.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to engage and support diverse stakeholders across optical practices and secondary care providers.
• Skilled in facilitating feedback loops and maintaining clear communication channels to identify user needs, address concerns, and foster continuous improvement.
• Proficient in identifying and troubleshooting technical issues quickly and effectively to minimise disruption.
• The ability to contribute to CPD sessions that support best practices in optometry referrals and digital health solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly in training and supporting healthcare professionals in adopting digital solutions.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Organised and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Collaborative, with a strong ability to work across various care settings.
• Proactive in solving problems and improving processes.
• Passionate about using technology to improve healthcare quality.
• Eager to stay updated with the latest advancements in health technology and apply them effectively to enhance service delivery.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in data management and the implementation of digital processes.
• Able to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights to improve referral processes and outcomes.
• Ability to travel to varied locations across Greater Manchester.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree Level qualification in IT related subject or equivalent gained through practice.

Experience

Essential

• Experience in managing and delivering digital projects within set timelines, ensuring successful outcomes.
• Proven experience in delivering training sessions, with an ability to tailor to varying levels of digital literacy among healthcare professionals.
• Background in healthcare-related digital implementation or IT systems support, with an understanding of digital transformation principles in a healthcare setting.

Desirable

• Clinical experience within optometry or ophthalmology is preferred but not essential; IT and digital implementation skills are crucial.
• Knowledge of electronic referral systems, ideally within the NHS.
• Familiarity with optometry and ophthalmology workflows.
• Knowledge of change management strategies to facilitate digital adoption in healthcare settings.

Employer details

Employer name

Viaduct Care

Address

Office 25, Merseyway Innovation Centre

21-23 Merseyway

Stockport

Cheshire

SK1 1PN

Employer's website

https://www.viaductcare.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)