Optometrist

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Responsibility for patient care
• Assess the needs of patients and their families, diagnosed with eye disease.
• Undertake full assessment, implementation and evaluation of patient, and families/carers, to provide specific expert nursing care; advice, support and counselling from diagnosis.
• Low Vision Service which includes the assessment, prescription and training in low vision aids to help partially sighted adults and children. This also involves writing reports and liaison with the teachers of the visually impaired and the social services team for the visually impaired.
• To formulate individualised management and treatment programs using clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice and a wide range of treatment skills.
• Communicating effectively with patients and parents and carers those plans and to gain informed consent to those treatment plans.
• To assess young children, babies, patients with learning difficulties and physical disabilities requiring considerable skill, experience and patience. Skills of persuasion and motivation are essential to ensure assessment and treatment is carried out. Speed, accuracy and manual dexterity are essential.
• To assess the health of the eyes of paediatric patients using hand held ophthalmoscope and slit lamp examination if necessary and refer to the ophthalmologist if any pathology is found.
• As an autonomous practitioner the post-holder will be responsible for the decision to instill drops for diagnostic purposes, the appropriate strength required and to advise patients of the side effects.
• To accurately assess spectacle prescriptions using manual focimetry and determine accurately the present refractive error using objective retinoscopy and subjective if possible.
• To complete spectacle HES prescription vouchers accurately and authorise the vouchers for the ordering of glasses. To answer any queries from local opticians regarding glasses prescription if contacted.
• To determine if cases are suitable for discharge or liaise with the relevant sub- specialty leads to refer patients to their specialty
• To communicate effectively with GPs, community child health services, pediatricians and outside optometrists by dictating/documenting letters on every case seen via Medisight. To document all information in patients’ records and electronically on Medisight legibly and accurately.
• To participate in quality assurance within the orthoptic/optometry service involving the setting of standards and procedures and carrying out clinical and organisational audits.
• To participate in the identification of opportunities to improve and develop orthoptic/optometry services in order to provide the best patient care within the resources. To be aware and comply with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating of these with the Lead Orthoptist.
• To have documentary evidence of Continuing Professional Development. To attend appropriate training events, courses and lectures thereby maintaining up- to-date knowledge and skills.
• To ensure equipment is maintained and used appropriately, reporting defects and withdrawing any dangerous equipment.
• To meet the requirements of the General Optical Council in order to maintain registration.
• To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably regarded as within the nature of the duties, responsibilities and grade of the post as defined, subject to the provision that appropriate training is given and that wherever possible significant changes of a permanent nature shall be mutually agreed and incorporated into the job description in specific terms and the post re-evaluated if the change is likely to result in a job evaluation score change
• To maximize patient satisfaction and outcomes
• The trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, as a member of the trust, expectation would be to contribute towards this commitment. Any safeguarding concerns are to be raised and escalated to the trust safeguarding team immediately and manager of department/line manager must be notified. If this is a new safeguarding concern, follow trust policy/procedure to raise concern. Level 3 safeguarding mandatory training must be completed.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner in a single-handed capacity without supervision.
• Liaise and communicate with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, dealing with and communicating highly complex and sensitive aspect of clinical/nursing care including, providing Specialist Ophthalmic advice when required.
• May be required to communicate highly complex information regarding patient diagnosis/prognosis and where there are barriers to understanding. Persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills are essential.
• Participate in clinical supervision and demonstrate evidence of reflective practice.
• Provide leadership, supervision and support for junior members of staff. Required to teach and demonstrate to junior qualified / unqualified staff. Contribute to the learning of other team members and allied professionals. To be highly adaptive to developing roles to support the expansion of the service needs.
• Will be required to give specialist ophthalmic advice to other staff, departments and allied professionals. Ophthalmic Consultants, Lead clinician, Matron.
• Maintain and demonstrate up to date clinical and professional knowledge, undertaking extended roles by taking courses in sub-specialties within ophthalmology.
• To act as a health educator, ensuring that patients and their carers have an understanding and knowledge of their illness – diagnosis and proposed treatment where there may be barriers to understanding.
• To implement the policies of the Trust within the department and deal with / report any contravention of the policies using the Trust reporting procedures.
• Within scope of practice, review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and local practice protocols.
• Respond to clinical situations, utilizing clinical judgement and decision making to initiate appropriate interventions and treatments for the ophthalmic macular patients.
• Organize the clinical management of individual patients, utilizing clinical knowledge and advanced skills to assess, diagnose, plan and implement and initiate changes where required. This will include monitoring and evaluating the response to treatment through analysis and interpretations of clinical tests and investigations (OCT, Fundal diagnostic imaging, FFA).
• To recognize and deal with emergency situations following intravitreal injection,
• e.g. ‘endophthalmitis’.
• To assess patients pre-operatively and discuss with the ophthalmologist the need for surgical intervention, timing of surgery, risks and benefits, the type of surgery and alternative treatments.
• To assess patients post-operatively and carry out the appropriate treatment.
• Be aware of side effects of medication and offer appropriate counselling to patients.
• To help within the unit and cover for senior nurses and manager when required and help with responsibilities as a team player.
• Participate and carry out other tasks like ophthalmology audits, Incident management meetings (IMG), MDT, medical retina weekly meetings and any ophthalmology related meet Collaborate with medical colleagues in ensuring that appropriate investigations including, are requested.
• Ensure that there is a clear and concise reporting (both oral and written) of relevant information regarding the care and wellbeing of patients.
• Communicate information to patients and relatives in a compassionate and reassuring manner, considering the special needs of minority and disadvantaged groups.
• To undertake independently/supervised a wide range of specialty clinical services involving optometric extended roles set by senior management. This may include working as a part of a team in Low vision aid clinics, AMD, cataract (post- operative clinics), emergency and urgent care, glaucoma, macular, medical retina and paediatric ophthalmic services. Clinic and clinic templates will be set by senior management. This work requires frequent, prolonged periods of intense concentration and frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances. An extensive personal clinical commitment to these services is required. To undertake extensive core optometry services. These include refraction (routine, diagnostic and paediatric), specialist medical contact lens management, corneal topography, visual impairment rehabilitation and baseline ophthalmic screening.
• Work to support research in the Division as part of a team conducting clinical trials and research works
• Responsibility for patient care
• Assess the needs of patients and their families, diagnosed with eye disease.
• Undertake full assessment, implementation and evaluation of patient, and families/carers, to provide specific expert nursing care; advice, support and counselling from diagnosis.
• Low Vision Service which includes the assessment, prescription and training in low vision aids to help partially sighted adults and children. This also involves writing reports and liaison with the teachers of the visually impaired and the social services team for the visually impaired.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Optometry BSc (Hons)
• GOC registered optometrist CET compliance

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of Orthoptic/Binocular vision. Experience in dealing with Paediatric patients
• Ability to Interpret for diagnostics like OCT scans and images

Desirable

• Specialist clinical knowledge relating to optometry & extended role practice.
• Experience of Audit and other quality initiatives (desired)
• Experience in audit and research

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

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

Employer's website

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