Bank Optometrist

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 01 October 2024

Job summary

We are seeking skilled and dedicated optometrists to join our ophthalmology service. In this role, you will work closely with the clinical service lead and line manager to provide high quality care across various areas of our ophthalmology department.

As a bank optometrist, you will be responsible for patient assessment, investigation, diagnosis, and treatment. This will include interpreting test results, analysing images and scans, and conducting thorough patient examinations to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.

If you're passionate about eye health and delivering excellent patient care, we'd love to have you on our team!

Main duties of the job

To work within the ophthalmology team as a practitioner in an area suitable to the individual's skills, qualifications, experience providing patient care and treatment in partnership with the ophthalmologist.

To work within ophthalmology research team.

About us

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, and not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

We work hard to make sure that inclusion is part of everything we do. We know that true inclusion means we're able to provide the best care for our patients and provide a fulfilling career for all our colleagues.

We have six active and impactful colleague networks. These networks provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and learn from one another, but also influence change across our trust:

- Multicultural Network

- Women's Network

- Armed Forces' Network

- LGBTQ+ Network

- Lived Experience Network, for colleagues living with disabilities

- Autistic Colleague Network

We offer a form of weekly pay via Wagestream. Bank Pay is an easy way to automatically get paid a percentage of the money you've already earned from any bank shifts completed the previous week. It means you don't have to wait until the end of the month for your bank shift pay, giving you more flexibility.

Don't worry - the remaining portion of your pay is set aside to make sure your tax contributions are paid in full and if your tax contributions amount to less than the money set aside you'll receive it all back at the end of each month.

Date posted

27 September 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year pro rata

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-BA-1013

Job locations

Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities.

Communication & Working Relationships.

To contribute to operational planning for the ophthalmology department.

Work in close association with medical, orthoptic, nursing and administrative staff to ensure a high standard care for all patients.

To participate in personal development review, mandatory training and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of techniques and technology to improve professional knowledge and competence and keep CPD up to date.

To maintain General Optical Council registration and Continuing Education training accreditation.

Ensure effective lines of communication within the multidisciplinary team including GPs and community optometrists to achieve an optimal level of service for all.

Communicate complex clinical information to patients, including to those with impaired comprehension and learning difficulties. Manage patients who, due to their distressed state, age or learning difficulty may act in an unpredictable way.

Frequently deliver sensitive news appropriately and discuss potential implications on lifestyle (eg loss of driving licence, certification of blindness).

Work with the Eye Clinic Liaison Officer to ensure adequate support mechanisms are in place for visually impaired patients.

Planning & Organisation

To review clinics to take into account planned leave and liaise with the department leads and clerical team to ensure appropriate arrangements or cover.

To have full knowledge of the administration and appointment systems and day-to-day management of clinic arrangements.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

Undertake administration on intravitreal injections. They will have the required training and will need to follow departmental procedures for governance, training and reporting of incidents

To be familiar with a wide range of advanced clinical techniques and the interpretation of the results/clinical findings

To synthesise clinical information and determine management plan using an evidence based approach. Consider different treatment options and form individualised management plans, taking into account specific patient needs as well as local and national guidelines.

To utilise clinical skills to work as part of the ophthalmology research team.

To be responsible for independent clinical decision making and the medical treatment (including prescribing) and management of patients.

To recognise when patient clinical findings do not meet clinic criteria and require a medical opinion or referral back to the consultant clinic.

Triage referrals to a high standard, ensuring that patients are seen in the correct place by the correct person. Work with service leads to provide feedback to referrers and improve the appropriateness and quality of referrals.

To refer patients with other comorbidity to other ophthalmological services, when indicated.

To provide an expert opinion to optometric and non-optometric colleagues on the management of ophthalmic conditions within area of expertise within the ophthalmology department.

To carry out macular assessments, formulate treatment plan and provide IVT (when trained).

To review notes from the virtual assessment service, communicate the outcomes with patients and request further appointments.

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Ophthalmologists, Orthoptists, Optometrists, Nurses, Ophthalmic technicians, Healthcare Assistants and Administrators.

To provide condition related information to patients, relatives and other medical staff, where there may be barriers to communication. This information may be of a sensitive nature and will need to be phrased so there is full understanding of the condition.

To be legally and professionally responsible and accountable for the management of patients in your care.

Work autonomously where appropriate. Understand and work within the limit of own ability; recognising clinical situations beyond capability or experience.

To keep accurate and contemporaneous records.

To respond to patient queries and concerns by assisting in the management of incoming patient telephone enquiries.

To respect patient and staff confidentiality at all times

To collate statistics at agreed intervals and monitor activity.

To be able to use appropriate IT, including medisight electronic patient records for recording notes and audit.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

To demonstrate optometric techniques and training for various disciplines within ophthalmology.

To participate in departmental and multi-disciplinary audit and research and attend audit meetings as part of the Ophthalmology audit programme.

To be familiar with all Trust and departmental policies, procedures, standards and relevant legislation and work to agreed protocols.

To participate in, and contribute, to any relevant service development proposal discussions.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

To be responsible for the care of clinical equipment and to report any faults.

To report any stock shortages and requirements.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

To offer support to nursing staff and healthcare assistants in the ophthalmology department, actively contributing to their training, education and continuing feedback.

To contribute to glaucoma teaching within and for the ophthalmology department.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required