Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the South East London Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, provided by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
The service is one of the largest eye screening programmes in the country, responsible for providing screening to over 100,000 patients and has close links with both ophthalmology and diabetes services across SE London.
Screening is delivered in Hospital outpatient clinics, NHS health centres and high street opticians across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich.
This fixed term position is an excellent entry level role into the NHS, for those seeking experience in a clinical role. Comprehensive training and support will be provided. It would also suit candidates from a healthcare background who are looking for a new challenge.
The role will provide candidates with the experience to move onto the nationally recognised Health Screeners Diploma (HSD) training programme, should a permanent position become available.
Once qualified with the HSD, candidates can progress to more skilled clinical roles in the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.
Main duties of the job
Screening involves taking patients relevant medical history, conducting visual acuity assessments, instilling eye drops and taking retinal photographs using specialist digital cameras. Screeners work in pairs or independently, running their own clinics with remote support from a Team Leader.
Excellent customer/patient care and communication skills are essential for this post. Candidates must be self-disciplined, focused and able to work independently providing the highest quality care to our patients.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Greet patients who arrive for retinal screening courteously and explain the screening process to the patient from assessment to results reporting.
- Carry out the pre-screening assessment test including checking patients identify, checking, and if appropriate updating the patients demographics
- Install mydriatic eye drops into patients eyes, in line with appropriate protocols, and update this information on the IT system.
- Take digital photographs of patients eyes using the retinal screening camera
- Respond to requests from admin team or diabetes staff to add additional patients to the list and walk them into appointment slots
- Refer any issues preventing the patients being screened on that day to the administration team so that they can rearrange appointments, and record this in the patient notes.
- Ensure the daily clinic list is kept up to date and record any DNA patients appropriately
- Deal with any telephone and drop in enquires, providing information to patients and colleagues that is commensurate with training and referring any clinical queries to a senior grader or the Screening Manager.
Technical Duties and Responsibilities
- Gain good quality images which meet DESP standard for appropriate image quality
- To be confident with the use of the camera and recognise when additional images may be required
- Adjust the camera settings appropriately, and troubleshoot any camera/hardware issues that arise before reporting any problems up the line
- To be confident with the use of the DESP IT system, finding patients, adding new patients, updating patients and archiving patients in line with DESP screening and administration policies.
Communication Duties and Responsibilities
- Act professionally and courteously at all times to patients and colleagues
- Explain the screening process to patients, and the importance of eye screening in detecting sight threat-threatening disease
- Explain to patients who their images will be assessed following their attendance, and when and how they will receive their results
- Deal with any complaints or issues they arise and attempt to resolve, but to know when to report them up to line to the screening manager or programme manager as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Greet patients who arrive for retinal screening courteously and explain the screening process to the patient from assessment to results reporting.
- Carry out the pre-screening assessment test including checking patients identify, checking, and if appropriate updating the patients demographics
- Install mydriatic eye drops into patients eyes, in line with appropriate protocols, and update this information on the IT system.
- Take digital photographs of patients eyes using the retinal screening camera
- Respond to requests from admin team or diabetes staff to add additional patients to the list and walk them into appointment slots
- Refer any issues preventing the patients being screened on that day to the administration team so that they can rearrange appointments, and record this in the patient notes.
- Ensure the daily clinic list is kept up to date and record any DNA patients appropriately
- Deal with any telephone and drop in enquires, providing information to patients and colleagues that is commensurate with training and referring any clinical queries to a senior grader or the Screening Manager.
Technical Duties and Responsibilities
- Gain good quality images which meet DESP standard for appropriate image quality
- To be confident with the use of the camera and recognise when additional images may be required
- Adjust the camera settings appropriately, and troubleshoot any camera/hardware issues that arise before reporting any problems up the line
- To be confident with the use of the DESP IT system, finding patients, adding new patients, updating patients and archiving patients in line with DESP screening and administration policies.
Communication Duties and Responsibilities
- Act professionally and courteously at all times to patients and colleagues
- Explain the screening process to patients, and the importance of eye screening in detecting sight threat-threatening disease
- Explain to patients who their images will be assessed following their attendance, and when and how they will receive their results
- Deal with any complaints or issues they arise and attempt to resolve, but to know when to report them up to line to the screening manager or programme manager as appropriate.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Good customer service and communication skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy
- Understanding of the requirements of a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme.
Previous experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with members of the public
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or health and social care
- Experience working in an Ophthalmology department, Opticians Practice (clinical post) or retinal screening programme
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of general education, 5 GCSES A-C or equivalent
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or equivalent experience
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Good customer service and communication skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy
- Understanding of the requirements of a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme.
Previous experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with members of the public
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or health and social care
- Experience working in an Ophthalmology department, Opticians Practice (clinical post) or retinal screening programme
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of general education, 5 GCSES A-C or equivalent
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare or equivalent experience
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
