Assistant Ophthalmic Vision Science Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN RESPONSIBILTITES

The post holder works as part of a team under supervision and will:

1. Participate in the delivery of patient centred care, always maintaining a compassionate and professional attitude
2. Contribute to the ward/clinic/department/organisation
3. Support senior staff in the provision of a caring and safe environment
4. Demonstrate competence in generic and specialist skills following the completion of the appropriate training and education and within twelve months from commencement in role
5. Function at a competency level in line with the requirements of the post and achieve and maintain both mandatory and statutory training requirements associated with the role.

Clinical Practice

1. Support qualified staff in the assessment of health needs and the delivery of care for a number of individuals or groups of patients, including clinical risk assessment
2. Work collaboratively with others as part of the multi-disciplinary team, assisting nursing and other clinical staff in duties associated with patient care
3. Treat patients with dignity and respect and maintaining their confidentiality both inside and outside the hospital environment.
4. To be competent in undertaking a routine ophthalmic imaging procedure on medical devices, 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
5. Be responsible for the initial reporting of faulty equipment and follow-up repairs, keeping the supervisor or nurse in charge informed ensuring the clinical areas are prepared and maintained throughout the day
6. Liaise effectively with all stakeholders in the care process including carers and relatives as well as to support colleagues to ensure patients receive care in a timely manner during their visit to any site under the care of Moorfields
7. Respond appropriately to emergency situations
8. Act as a chaperone when required
9. Manage patient flow by monitoring patient times along the patient journey. Report any delays to the supervisor or nurse in charge. Ensure those patients that require special assistance are monitored and supported
10. Ensure effective handover of patients between shifts/healthcare professionals /departments using a range of communication aids such as verbal handover/ safety huddle/ written documentation/referral
11. To assist or attend patient basic care where required
12. Give clear and concise explanation and test instructions to ensure maximum patient understanding and co-operation, taking into account patients who have visual impairment, hearing loss, physical or mental disabilities, learning difficulties, different age groups, cultural differences and non-English speaking patients
13. Observe and report to senior staff any change in a patients physical and psychological condition
14. Obtain verbal consent from the patients before any clinical intervention is undertaken, where this is not given report this to senior staff
15. Ensure any safeguarding concerns are raised with team leader / nurse in charge
16. Be an active participant in providing education and health promotion advice to patients and their carers
17. Support patients and/or relatives that are in need of assistance
18. Identify and act upon acutely unwell members of the public and/or colleagues according to their BLS training.

Professionalism

1. Maintain and update relevant knowledge and skills, undertaking and completing further training and academic qualifications as appropriate to the role and service requirements
2. Adhere to all trust policies, guidelines and standards ensuring a high standard of personal and professional behaviour and dress is maintained at all times whilst acting as an ambassador for the trust and a role model to others
3. Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks
4. Maintain professional boundaries and working relations with patients and colleagues,
5. 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
2. Identify patients individual communication needs and assure correct communication support is provided to those who need using available translating services
3. To comply with the trust information governance policy and patients confidentiality
4. 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
5. Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and ensure effective communication with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and relatives, mindful of own and others body language and barriers which may affect communication
6. 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 colleagues to continually improve on the quality and safety of care provided.
2. Be aware of and comply with all trust policies and procedures which govern health and safety and clinical practice
3. 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
4. Support colleagues to ensure the quality metrics are displayed and are kept up to date in order to keep our patients informed of our quality and safety data and how we are improving our services.
5. Be aware of the trust procedures on risk register and clinical incidents and participate in ensuring lessons learnt are implemented and embedded in practice, to maintain a safety culture within your department.

Education/Learning Development

1. Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational needs and personal development plan as agreed with your line manager
2. 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
3. Undertake any appropriate training as deemed necessary by your line manager to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care
4. Support and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff and students
5. Contribute and participate towards patient engagement and involvement initiatives e.g. patient focus groups, patient information sessions
6. Continually develop computer literacy skills/digital in order to use electronic systems to deliver safe and effective care both within the department and the trust level.

Leadership, Teamwork

1. Lead by example and act on own initiative
2. Contribute to team meetings and service improvement management initiatives and where appropriate, propose changes and if approved implement the changes
3. Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks
4. Understand the patient complaints procedures and work in partnership with senior colleagues to ensure that lessons learnt and changes in practice required is embedded as a result of feedback from complaints
5. Utilise opportunities to support ongoing professional development by undertaking delegated tasks for your line manager in his/ her absence
6. Actively participate in department team huddles and / or debriefs, ensuring you contribute to improving both staff and patients experience quality and safe care.

The post holder will undertake other duties as may be required to achieve the trusts objectives, commensurate with the grading of the post. This includes acquiring additional skills to use new pieces of equipment.

Risk Assessment:

This post involves manual handling activities and exposure to body fluids and chemicals. May involve some VDU work and individuals may be exposed to violence and aggression.

The post holder is also required to undertake physical task such as moving and handling, leading and guiding for example as well as clinical tasks as identified in the Person Specification.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• GC/GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English (Grade C or above)

Desirable

• Willingness to complete level 2 healthcare apprenticeship

Experience

Essential

• Demonstration of working in a team

Desirable

• Experience working in a NHS / private healthcare setting
• Minimum one year experience in a customer service / front facing role

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of equal opportunities

Desirable

• Providing good care

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Shares Trust values - Excellence, Equity, Kindness
• Team player
• Pleasant reassuring manner
• Working on own initiative
• Ability to be flexible to the needs of the service

Skills / Abilities

Essential

• Good communication skills written and verbal
• Ability to use Microsoft packages

Desirable

• Demonstrates good customer skills

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

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

City Road

London

EC1V 2NX

Employer's website

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