Specialist Optometrist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To be involved in the following highly specialist clinics:

Contact lens

Cornea.

Paediatric.

Medical retina.

Research.

Low visual aids.

To co-ordinate clinics ensure patients are given appropriate checks:

Adult refraction, paediatric objective refraction.

Visual function (visual acuity, colour vision, contrast sensitivity, binocular function).

Assessment of eye movements, lid and pupils.

Tonometry (Goldmann, ICare, Reichart) and pacymetry.

Advanced imaging (e.g. swollen discs, pupilometry).

Work as an autonomous practitioner in a single-handed capacity without supervision.

To undertake highly skilled, specialist and extended roles.

To take sole responsibility for the assessment of your workload which will cover a wide, varied and complex patient group.

To be responsible for the prioritising appropriate onward referral of patients.

To conclude a diagnosis, supported by sound investigative techniques using problem solving and advanced analytical skills

To develop treatment plans for individual patients (orthoptic, ophthalmic, optical and surgical).

To provide advice and support to patients and relatives regarding visual problems.

To assess patients pre-operatively and discuss with the ophthalmologist the need for surgical intervention, the timing of surgery, risks and benefits, the type of surgery and alternative treatments.

To assess patients post-operatively and carry out the appropriate treatment.

To discharge patients or organise appropriate onward referral for their on-going care.

At all times to observe safe working practices and equipment procedures that comply with legislative requirements and health and safety regulations.

Dispenses medication using patient specific directions.

To deal with accidents untoward occurrences and complaints according to accepted procedure.

To ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff and report all outpatient hazards.

To respect patients privacy, dignity, gender, sexuality and have due regard to patients cultural and religious beliefs.

Administrative Responsibilities

To take responsibility for all administrative paperwork ensuring it is kept in order and up to date. Follow-up appointments should be made and sent as appropriate.

Undertake general clerical duties and clinical queries (appointments, filing etc).

To deal with telephone queries and make appropriate decisions on limited information.

To maintain the integrity of computerised patient appointment systems, inputting data accurately and ensuring proper storage, back up and retrieval of information.

Ensure all patient episodes, including coding appropriate activity is recorded.

To write appropriate patient records and hospital case notes.

To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team. Ensure information regarding treatment, outcomes, diagnosis and discharge summaries are appropriately communicated.

Liaise with the referrer, the on-call ophthalmologist or early referral service regarding onward care of the patient.

Liaise with other departments (including admissions, medical records and wards) ensuring effective and efficient communication and work practices.

To work with the community visual impairment team to ensure all patients access the appropriate services.

Deal with patients in a sensitive manner and act with empathy, tact and understanding with their needs especially those with highly complex medical and ophthalmological conditions.

To be sensitive to patients cultural identity and overcome language and other barriers to understanding (e.g. hearing or visual impairment, learning difficulties).

To actively participate and positively contribute to departmental meetings, discussing the operational aspects of the department and set agreed standards for care.

Education and Training

Mentor junior members of the team and new starters, leading by example supporting others within the wider ophthalmic team

To support competency based learning objectives for ophthalmic technicians (including perimetry, imaging and tonometry).

To give clear, informative and well presented practical demonstrations and theoretical talks to colleagues, undergraduate orthoptists, ophthalmologists, medical students, optometrists and primary care practitioners.

Research and Service Development

To collaborate with research leads over recruitment to studies.

To assess research participants according to protocol and good clinical practice guidelines.

To support the delivery of the service facilitating the use of clinical governance and development of competencies.

Forecast clinical demand, triage clinics to manage demand and capacity.

Management of the patients journey through the clinic.

To maintain and develop guidelines on the extended care.

To effectively manage your annual leave.

To actively participate and positively contribute to the senior leadership team regarding the operational aspects of Optical Services.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Optometry Degree
• Registration with General Optical Council
• Relevant post-graduate study

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Post graduate experience with evidence of role extension.
• Evidence of appropriate knowledge base and CPD.
• Mentoring junior staff
• Teaching experience and skills

Desirable

• Working within MECS
• Paediatric Refraction (cycloplegic and subjective Refraction)
• Hospital experience
• Complex Contact Lens fitting and management.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Able to manage own workload and use own initiative.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Able to organise and prioritise workload, managing time effectively and deliver within agreed timescales.
• Self-motivated with a flexible approach to working practice, evidence of responding to service needs.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Able to foster good relationships with colleagues and all patients.

Desirable

• Understands the importance of safeguarding, especially children and vulnerable adults.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

london

SE5 9RS

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)