Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to become part of the Orthoptic team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
This role is a permanent and full time position. Flexible working is encouraged in order to promote a better work-life balance and is in place for the majority of the team.
The post is primarily based at Worcester Royal Hospital but opportunities for cross county working at our other sites (Kidderminster, Bromsgrove and Redditch) are available.
The Orthoptic team at Worcester are involved in all aspects of Orthoptic clinics and also carry out/assist in Vision Screening, Paediatric, Ocular Motility, Botulinum Toxin, Stroke, Low Vision and Neurology clinics.
Extended roles are currently in place and others in development to further diversify the caseload of our team.
The successful applicant will be joining a team of 8 Orthoptists and 2 Optometrists, in addition to the 23 Ophthalmologists who work across the trust.
Main duties of the job
To provide a comprehensive and high
quality Orthoptic Service as an
autonomous practitioner in the acute and community sectors. To act
as a source of expertise, providing the
diagnosis, management, treatment and discharge planning of patients presenting
with acute visual and ocular motility deficits.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Orthoptic Assessment of all types of Squint and Ocular
Motility defects
including History Taking, Specialised Vision Assessment, Assessment of
Eye Movements Systems, Investigation of Binocular Vision, Specialised
Measurements and Diagnosis in all age groups from very young babies (including
premature babies or those with congenital or developmental abnormalities) to
the elderly and infirm.
To diagnose any squint or any defect
of Ocular Motility, including complex clinical cases such as those with
Neurological conditions, paralytic
squints, head and facial injuries,
endocrine and other medical
disorders. In adults the diagnosis of
acute onset ocular motility defects requires a significantly high level of
anatomical and neurological knowledge.
To assess and diagnose any defect of
Vision as part of Paediatric assessment including Multi-handicapped
children/adults, illiterate/Non-English speaking children/adults, and
Deaf/blind/partially sighted children /adults
To be aware of factors which may
indicate suspected cases of child abuse and the appropriate actions to be taken
Visual Field Analysis
To carry out Visual Field Analysis
using any/all of the following- Goldmann perimeter, Humphrey field analyser,
Confrontation. Use of focimeter.
To choose appropriate instrument and
programme to obtain optimum results according to patients age and ability.
These patients range from children to the elderly and infirm patients,
who can pose significant barriers to understanding.
To manoeuvre patients into optimum
position at machines
To analyse interpret and report
to medical staff on significant changes
to results including those which may influence patients ability to
drive or who need changes in medication.
Biometry
To undertake biometry and
keratometry for pre-operative cataract patients and lead the orthoptists
offering this service (often elderly and infirm patients with reduced
mobility). Both the Keratometry and A-scan measurements require high levels of
hand/eye co-ordination and precision measurements are required for a successful
surgical outcome, there is very little/no margin for error.
A working knowledge of the different
types of equipment available is necessary so that the most appropriate can be
used on the individual patient to obtain the most accurate results.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Orthoptic Assessment of all types of Squint and Ocular
Motility defects
including History Taking, Specialised Vision Assessment, Assessment of
Eye Movements Systems, Investigation of Binocular Vision, Specialised
Measurements and Diagnosis in all age groups from very young babies (including
premature babies or those with congenital or developmental abnormalities) to
the elderly and infirm.
To diagnose any squint or any defect
of Ocular Motility, including complex clinical cases such as those with
Neurological conditions, paralytic
squints, head and facial injuries,
endocrine and other medical
disorders. In adults the diagnosis of
acute onset ocular motility defects requires a significantly high level of
anatomical and neurological knowledge.
To assess and diagnose any defect of
Vision as part of Paediatric assessment including Multi-handicapped
children/adults, illiterate/Non-English speaking children/adults, and
Deaf/blind/partially sighted children /adults
To be aware of factors which may
indicate suspected cases of child abuse and the appropriate actions to be taken
Visual Field Analysis
To carry out Visual Field Analysis
using any/all of the following- Goldmann perimeter, Humphrey field analyser,
Confrontation. Use of focimeter.
To choose appropriate instrument and
programme to obtain optimum results according to patients age and ability.
These patients range from children to the elderly and infirm patients,
who can pose significant barriers to understanding.
To manoeuvre patients into optimum
position at machines
To analyse interpret and report
to medical staff on significant changes
to results including those which may influence patients ability to
drive or who need changes in medication.
Biometry
To undertake biometry and
keratometry for pre-operative cataract patients and lead the orthoptists
offering this service (often elderly and infirm patients with reduced
mobility). Both the Keratometry and A-scan measurements require high levels of
hand/eye co-ordination and precision measurements are required for a successful
surgical outcome, there is very little/no margin for error.
A working knowledge of the different
types of equipment available is necessary so that the most appropriate can be
used on the individual patient to obtain the most accurate results.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Orthoptics (BSC Hons/Med Sci) or equivalent
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Computer skills
- Teaching Qualification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients including those with learning/communication difficulties, as well as medical professionals
- Advanced counselling skills to deal with sensitive, unpleasant or distressing issues
- Ability to gain co-operation in a wide range of age groups, ability and comprehension and with an ability to empathise and encourage in a long-term relationship with patient
- Evidence of the understanding and ability to maintain patient confidentiality
- Ability to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
Desirable
- Assertive
- Presentation skills
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working as an orthoptist
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- Experience of performing Goldmann visual fields
- Experience in Low Vision Clinics
- Experience assessing Stroke patients
- Experience Vision Screening
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Committed to delivering high quality service and developing clinical practice based on evidence based practice
- Autonomous practitioner, making own clinical decisions, diagnostic and therapeutic
- Self-directing
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Flexible
Desirable
- Knowledge of a patient booking service
- IT skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Orthoptics (BSC Hons/Med Sci) or equivalent
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Computer skills
- Teaching Qualification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of patients including those with learning/communication difficulties, as well as medical professionals
- Advanced counselling skills to deal with sensitive, unpleasant or distressing issues
- Ability to gain co-operation in a wide range of age groups, ability and comprehension and with an ability to empathise and encourage in a long-term relationship with patient
- Evidence of the understanding and ability to maintain patient confidentiality
- Ability to develop good working relationships with hospital staff at all levels
Desirable
- Assertive
- Presentation skills
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working as an orthoptist
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- Experience of performing Goldmann visual fields
- Experience in Low Vision Clinics
- Experience assessing Stroke patients
- Experience Vision Screening
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Committed to delivering high quality service and developing clinical practice based on evidence based practice
- Autonomous practitioner, making own clinical decisions, diagnostic and therapeutic
- Self-directing
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
- Flexible
Desirable
- Knowledge of a patient booking service
- IT 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.
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).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
