Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Senior Screener Grader

The closing date is 20 June 2025

Job summary

Applications are invited for the post of Senior Screener Grader in The Hertfordshire & West Essex Diabetic Eye Screening Service.

This senior post is required to as provide a high quality and comprehensive screening and grading service including: retinal imaging, OCT imaging, clinical investigation, higher level retinal grading, interpretation of OCT images and slit lamp biomicroscopy when suitably trained.

The postholder will also undertake line management of Band 3 and 4 staff working as Screeners and Screener-Graders and will be responsible for undertaking analysis to support the quality assurance and audit within the programme.

Main duties of the job

Accurate and rapid grading of images at primary, secondary, arbitration levels,

Referral Outcome Grading (ROG) feedback to the team at the regular MDT meetings.

To undertake the monthly EQA grading test (TaT) and participate in the ongoing internal quality assurance of grading standards.

To train and mentor new screening recruits in all aspects of screening/grading, providing regular 1:1 feedback.

To be involved in the ongoing audit activities of the screening team.

To monitor the grading queues to ensure grading is completed and results are notified according to programme standards.

To undertake RDS and DS screening as required and SLB imaging (once appropriately trained).

To be trained on the acquisition and interpretation of OCT

To provide assistance with the installation, calibration and moving of the imaging equipment when required.

To assist the Team leader with appraisals of the screening team

To answer basic patient questions about screening and diabetic retinopathy, and to direct the patient to appropriate sources of further information.

To work autonomously with minimal direction from the clinical management.

To ensure drops and consumables are managed and maintained ensuring adherence to programme budgets.

About us

You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-workYou need to apply before the interview takes place.

Details

Date posted

10 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year +5% HCA - pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

812-25-SO-SSG-4

Job locations

Herts & West Essex DESP

Sandridge Gate, Ronsons Way

St Albans

AL4 9XR


Job description

Job responsibilities

Accurate and rapid grading of images at primary, secondary, arbitration levels, according to the programme requirements, sending results to patients and GPs as directed by the clinical lead.

To undertake Referral Outcome Grading (ROG) when required and to feedback to the team at the regular MDT meetings.

To undertake the monthly EQA grading test (TaT) and participate in the ongoing internal quality assurance of grading standards.

To train and mentor new screening recruits in all aspects of screening/grading, providing regular 1:1 feedback.

To be involved in the ongoing audit activities of the screening team.

To monitor the grading queues to ensure grading is completed and results are notified according to programme standards.

To undertake RDS, DS and SLB imaging (once appropriately trained).

As a development, to be trained on the acquisition and interpretation of OCT

To liaise with the Gloucester Diploma team to ensure screeners undertaking their diploma course are meeting the requirements both in time and quality of submissions.

To provide assistance with the installation, calibration and moving of the imaging equipment when required.

To assist the Team leader with appraisals of the screening team on a six-monthly interview.

To answer basic patient questions about screening and diabetic retinopathy, and to direct the patient to appropriate sources of further information.

To work autonomously with minimal direction from the clinical management.

To ensure drops and consumables are managed and maintained ensuring adherence to programme budgets.

Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to sustain high levels of concentration.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Accurate and rapid grading of images at primary, secondary, arbitration levels, according to the programme requirements, sending results to patients and GPs as directed by the clinical lead.

To undertake Referral Outcome Grading (ROG) when required and to feedback to the team at the regular MDT meetings.

To undertake the monthly EQA grading test (TaT) and participate in the ongoing internal quality assurance of grading standards.

To train and mentor new screening recruits in all aspects of screening/grading, providing regular 1:1 feedback.

To be involved in the ongoing audit activities of the screening team.

To monitor the grading queues to ensure grading is completed and results are notified according to programme standards.

To undertake RDS, DS and SLB imaging (once appropriately trained).

As a development, to be trained on the acquisition and interpretation of OCT

To liaise with the Gloucester Diploma team to ensure screeners undertaking their diploma course are meeting the requirements both in time and quality of submissions.

To provide assistance with the installation, calibration and moving of the imaging equipment when required.

To assist the Team leader with appraisals of the screening team on a six-monthly interview.

To answer basic patient questions about screening and diabetic retinopathy, and to direct the patient to appropriate sources of further information.

To work autonomously with minimal direction from the clinical management.

To ensure drops and consumables are managed and maintained ensuring adherence to programme budgets.

Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to sustain high levels of concentration.

Person Specification

Application & Interview

Essential

  • Relevant Qualification in Diabetic Eye Screening (C&G or HSD)
  • Extensive grading experience at Primary, Secondary, arbitration and Referral outcome grading.
  • Car driver with access to a car
  • Ability to recognise common non-DR related eye conditions and refer appropriately
  • Ability in taking responsibility for diagnosis from examining images and communication to patients and medical personal in a sensitive but straightforward manner
  • Experienced Diabetic Eye Screener

Desirable

  • Experience in the acquisition and interpretation of OCT Images
  • Management, appraisal and 1:1's of junior staff
  • Experienced grader of retinal images at ROG/DS level
  • Understanding of NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Service Objectives
Person Specification

Application & Interview

Essential

  • Relevant Qualification in Diabetic Eye Screening (C&G or HSD)
  • Extensive grading experience at Primary, Secondary, arbitration and Referral outcome grading.
  • Car driver with access to a car
  • Ability to recognise common non-DR related eye conditions and refer appropriately
  • Ability in taking responsibility for diagnosis from examining images and communication to patients and medical personal in a sensitive but straightforward manner
  • Experienced Diabetic Eye Screener

Desirable

  • Experience in the acquisition and interpretation of OCT Images
  • Management, appraisal and 1:1's of junior staff
  • Experienced grader of retinal images at ROG/DS level
  • Understanding of NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Service Objectives

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).

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.

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

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address

Herts & West Essex DESP

Sandridge Gate, Ronsons Way

St Albans

AL4 9XR


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address

Herts & West Essex DESP

Sandridge Gate, Ronsons Way

St Albans

AL4 9XR


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Programme Manager

Sue Oliver

su.oliver@nhs.net

07587912544

Details

Date posted

10 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year +5% HCA - pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

812-25-SO-SSG-4

Job locations

Herts & West Essex DESP

Sandridge Gate, Ronsons Way

St Albans

AL4 9XR


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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