Associate Vision Science Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Ophthalmic Vision Science (OVS) Associates are an integral part of the patient pathway at Moorfields and pivotal to our clinical services.

The OVS Associate is part of a multi-professional team. The role involves using a range of highly specialised technology and imaging equipment to take various images of the eyes and collect data such as eye pressures and visual field data. OVS Associates also support the patients with their needs, either directly or by escalating appropriately. This enables clinicians to make important decisions in the care and treatment of our patients.

As an OVS Associate you may be the first person will see and therefore it is important to instill the Trust Values within your everyday working practices.

Our OVS Associates are individuals with a real passion for providing high quality healthcare to our patients. The role is the perfect position for those who want to make a real difference to peoples lives.

As an OVS Associate and developing your initial imaging experience, OVS Associates will be expected to have learnt and confidently perform all retinal fundus imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), OCT wide-field/anterior segment imaging, OCT-Angiography, visual fields testing static/kinetic and external studio photography.

MAIN RESPONSIBILTITES

Clinical Practice

1. Provide Diagnostic Imaging Services across Moorfields including the Trusts Outreach Clinics, Private Outpatients and Richard Desmond Childrens Eye Centre with support.
2. To deliver this diagnostic service you will:

1. Ensure good communication (verbal and non-verbal) with patients regarding their Imaging investigations.
2. To be competent in undertaking a routine and non-routine ophthalmic imaging procedure on medical devise, the provision of clinical work and any related tasks following formal training under Moorfields Ophthalmic Vision Science practitioners technical competency framework and where needed provide appropriate support for newly appointed staff.
3. Have a sound understanding and the theoretical knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine Ophthalmic imaging procedures.
4. Be able to make judgements involving a range of facts which require analysis and comparison to optimise images obtained during Retinal Photography, OCT, OCT Angiography and Autofluorescence (e.g. strategies to overcome small pupils, eye movement, cataract, blinking or a combination of these during Imaging).
5. Following the completion of training and confirmation of competency in practice, administer prescribed eye drops to patients in accordance with trust policy, being aware of contra-indications and side effects.
6. Be responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex imaging equipment

1. Respond appropriately to emergency situations.

1. Give clear and concise explanation and test instructions to ensure maximum patient understanding and co-operation, considering patients who have visual impairment, hearing loss, physical or mental disabilities, learning difficulties, different age groups, cultural differences and non-English speaking patients.

1. Observe and report to senior staff any change in a patients physical and psychological condition, ensuring any safeguarding concerns are raised with supervisor. Support families and carers when bad news has been shared.

1. Be an active participant in providing education and health promotion advice to patients and their carer.

Professionalism

1. Maintain and update relevant knowledge and skills with the awareness of training and developments needs and undertake the completion of further training and academic qualifications as relevant to the role and service requirements.

1. Recognise signs of stress and the emotional impact of care on self and others and take appropriate action, escalating to line manager as required.

1. Adhere to all trust policies, guidelines and standards ensuring a high standard of personal and professional behaviour and dress is always maintained whilst acting as an ambassador for the trust and a role model to others.

1. Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks.

1. The post holder may be deployed/expected to work in any part of the organisation should the need arise to ensure patient safety is maintained.

Communication

1. Communicate clearly and appropriately with patients, their relatives/friends, colleagues, and all other members of the multidisciplinary team, including responding to queries, answering the phone, taking messages, and passing on written and verbal information.

1. To comply with the trust information governance policy and patients confidentiality in accordance with Trust Policy.

1. Provide patients with information and advice ensuring that the information provided is in a format which meets their needs e.g. large, Braille or other languages, complying with AIS standards.

1. Build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication taking account of differences such as capability and needs of individuals.
2. Participate in discussions about patients care and ward/clinic/departmental issues at safety huddle /handover meetings.

Safety and Quality

1. Contributes towards the completion of clinical audits and research, and work in partnership with senior colleagues to continually improve on the quality and safety of care provided.

1. Ensure that prior to using any medical device, you have been trained and your competency assessed and recorded. Report immediately to a supervisor or registered nurse any fault with a medical device and ensure it is removed safely from use.

1. In line with the trusts Incident Reporting system, report any accidents, incidents, near misses and defects to your supervisor. Remove any hazards which could potentially cause injury to staff, patients or visitors.

1. Encourage service users to provide feedback through Friends and Family Test and work collaboratively with senior colleagues to develop robust action plans to continually improve on our patients experience.

1. Contribute to maintaining a safety culture within your department.

Education / Development

1. Take personal and collective responsibility to continually develop computer literacy skills/digital in order to use electronic systems to deliver safe and effective care in line with your agreed individual personal development objectives and trust wide goals.

1. Maintain your compliance with mandatory and statutory training and annual appraisals. Take responsibility for maintaining a record of your own personal development and inform your manager if there is any deviance from training compliance.

1. Undertake any appropriate training as deemed necessary by your line manager to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care.

1. Support and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff and students.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• 2 A-Levels (or equivalent) Maths and English (Grade C or above)

Desirable

• Level 2 Healthcare Science Diploma (or equivalent)

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstration of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Retinal fundus imaging systems
• Knowledge and understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology of the eye.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum one year experience in an Ophthalmology environment
• Demonstration of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Minimum one year experience performing diagnostic tests on a range of ophthalmic devices
• One year experience working in an NHS / private healthcare setting

Desirable

• Experience in undertaking biometry
• Experience in undertaking risk assessments

Skills/abilities

Essential

• Demonstrate good communication skills
• Promotes good patient experience
• Ability to use Microsoft packages
• Ability to reassure and support patients through their pathway

Desirable

• Experience of using a patient administrative system

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Brent Cross Diagnostic Hub

Brent Cross Shopping Centre Prince Charles Dr. Brent Cross

London , Hendon

NW43FP

Employer's website

https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)