Eye Care Liaison Officer - Northern Ireland

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO)

Job Level: M3

Directorate: Services

Department: Eye Clinic Support Service

Location: Northern Ireland (WHSCT Ophthalmology service area)

Type of Contract: Maternity cover

Hours: 35 per week

Reports to: Service Manager

Purpose of Job:

In this role, you will be a vital member of the team working directly with people diagnosed with conditions causing sight loss. You will provide critical emotional support, information and guidance face to face within hospital settings, in community locations and via telephone or digital platforms as required.

Each day you will support people affected by sight loss to identify their needs, access information and make informed choices which enable and empower them to maintain their independence.

You will be critical in developing referral pathways and partnerships with Statutory and Third Sector partners, NHS Eye Care Services and community-based partners to develop referral routes, relationships and partnership working to support the needs of people living with a sight condition in Northern Ireland.

Financial Responsibility:

No budget responsibility.

Decision Making Responsibility:

Required to make judgements and to solve problems within discipline and within defined area.

Main Accountabilities:

1. Provide advice, information, practical and emotional support, to people of all ages affected by sight loss.

2. Provide a person-centred screening of needs by telephone, in person and via digital platforms, ensuring those affected by sight loss feel more confident about where and how to get support, advice and guidance, signposting and referring patients to a wide range of services and organisations, as identified in the screening of needs.

3. Develop positive working relationships to establish and maintain referral routes with a range of health, statutory and third sector organisations.

4. Provide basic visual awareness training to eye clinic staff and others as required.

5. To provide information and guidance on the certification and registration process for people with sight loss. To support eye clinic staff with the processing of the Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)

6. Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive information resource relating to services available for people with sight loss.

7. Support patient's, family and carers with advice on falls prevention and refer to available services where appropriate.

8. When needed, act as an advocate for patients to navigate the complexities of the sight loss pathway to ensure they receive appropriate services.

9. Collate and maintain accurate patient records and input quality data using multiple IT systems. Undertaking high-quality case recording in line with the highest standards and best practice principles and ensuring compliance with all GDPR and information governance policies and procedures.

10. Engage patients, their family members or carers to gather feedback on the ECLO service. Positively contribute to RNIB evaluation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the service.

11. Attend clinical audit meetings, steering groups, forums and other events to promote the benefits of the service.

12. Positively contribute to a range of local and national ECLO team meetings, networks, training and information events. Attend mandatory ECLO seminars and take responsibility for own CPD.

13. Ensure that specific safeguarding risks, GDPR and regulatory requirements are understood, applied and managed in line with relevant NHS and RNIB policies.

General

The following points are common to all job descriptions:

1. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the post

2. Adhere to all RNIB policies and procedures

3. In addition to the safeguarding induction information, you will receive when you join RNIB you are required to complete safeguarding training, this must be completed within four weeks of joining RNIB.

To complete training on Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and be able to understand and implement the training accordance with Safeguarding policies and procedures.

Taking responsibility for reporting any safeguarding concerns to the Safeguarding Team and Line Manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Person Specification
• If applying through the NHS website, please tell us how you meet 1.1-1.5
• 1Specialist Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• 1.1Proven experience of delivering information and advice services, preferably within a health, social care or community setting.
• 1.2Demonstrable experience of delivering person-centred support to customers and their family and carers.
• 1.3Demonstrable experience of working in health, social care or community support services and understanding the functions of their practitioners.
• 1.4Proven advanced communication skills, including positively influencing other professionals across health, social care or community services.
• 1.5Demonstrable IT literacy with proven experience of working with Office 365 and bespoke systems whilst adhering to GDPR Information Governance Policies and maintaining appropriate customer records.
• 2Planning and Organisational skills
• 2.1Ability to organise and manage time effectively and to prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines.
• 2.2Flexibility and adaptability in order to meet the demands of the role and to work within varying locations and different settings.
• 2.3Self-motivation and an ability to work independently and on own initiative.
• 3Communication skills
• 3.1Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a structured way and with a range of individuals, both verbally and in writing.
• 3.2Experience of the preparation and delivery of presentations to varied audiences in a manner which meets their needs.
• 3.3Ability to listen to and have empathy with patients whilst remaining impartial and non-judgemental.
• 4Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• RNIB expects an understanding of and demonstrated commitment to its Equality Diversity and Policy and to ensure all activities and behaviours are consistent with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. This includes all staff activities and their interface with all employees, customers and service users.
• 5Special Conditions
• 5.1RNIB & City University Eye Clinic Support Studies qualification, or a willingness to undertake and obtain the qualification is essential
• 5.2Adhering to the RNIB ECLO Services Quality Framework and Practice Guidelines.
• 5.3Must be prepared to travel and attend meetings and training as required which may involve occasional overnight stays.
• 5.4Appointment is subject to an Enhanced DBS check/PVG checks, as appropriate.
• 5.5 Must be prepared to travel and attend meetings and training as required which will involve occasional overnight stays.
• 5.6A Criminal Record Check may be required.
• 5.7Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Safeguarding is about preventing and stopping both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure we promote staff, service users and customers people's wellbeing.

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

RNIB

Address

Altnagelvin Hospital

Altnagelvin

Londonderry

BT47 6SB

Employer's website

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