Job Overview

There is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative orthoptist to join the ophthalmology department at Jersey General Hospital. The successful candidate will have a proven ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams, be hard working, flexible and motivated. The candidate will also have experience of extended roles within their scope of practice to support the ophthalmology department. The candidate must be able to work as part of a dynamic team in our busy department and community to ensure up to date clinical practice within the care delivery for the people of Jersey. We welcome applicants from Orthoptists looking to extend their role and clinical experience, the caseload is extremely varied and will include core Orthoptic clinics with a mixture of paediatric and adult patients as well as an inpatient stroke service. The successful candidate with also be the lead for our visual screening service which covers approximately 1000 children in over 30 schools and deputise for the Head orthoptist in their absence.

Please contact Sue Neasham (Head Orthoptist) for further information and discussion of this role on 01534 442559 or email s.neasham@health.gov.je As an inclusive employer we will create opportunities for flexible working to attract and retain talent which reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications for working flexible hours, part-time working and job sharing.

Job Purpose

• To manage the visual screening service for Jersey.
• To deputise for the Head orthoptist in their absence
• To undertake and manage an orthoptic caseload.
• To provide teaching for other health professionals who are involved in, or have an interest in the orthoptic service.

Statutory Responsibilities

Active engagement, participation and compliance with any other statutory responsibilities applicable to the role, as amended from time to time.

Job Specific Outcomes

• Lead and develop the orthoptic visual screening service which involves liaising with the education services and other members of the ophthalmology team. Ensuring that the service is audited regularly and complies with clinical governance and national guidelines.
• To deputise for the Head orthoptist in their absence ensuring that the orthoptic and optometry services continue to provide care for patients within the departments and hospitals policies and procedures.
• Manage an orthoptic caseload, providing assessment, diagnosis and treatments to patients of all age groups, with a wide range of medical and neurological conditions, ensuring each client receives the treatment and support they need in a timely manner. This includes working with vulnerable adults and children and involves developing individual care plans to meet their needs.
• To be part of the expert Orthoptic Service, which requires knowledge and interpretation of professional guidelines. This involves the assessment and diagnosis, treatment, planning and revaluation of patients attending as both in-patients and outpatients at local hospitals and external units where the service is provided e.g. Stroke patients on the rehabilitation ward at Overdale, visual screening in schools, ward rounds at the general hospital.
• Develop specialised individual orthoptic treatment care programmes and aid junior staff in developing care packages and onward referrals as appropriate so that patients receive tailored packages comprising multi-disciplinary treatment if necessary and specialist advice to support their recovery.
• Assess squint patients pre-operatively and post-operatively, discussing timing and surgery options with ophthalmic surgeons, to ensure the patients receive the most effective surgical option and care package and, if required, the surgeon is supported as required post-operatively in adjustable suture techniques. Discuss squint surgery options with the patient/carer and possible post-operative outcomes and complications, to ensure that the implications for surgery are well understood by them and that they receive the necessary pre and post- operative support. To ensure patients/carers understand the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment needs. This may involve vulnerable patients who have had a stroke, patients with severe learning difficulties or patients with visual or physical disabilities. There may be significant barriers to understanding especially where the diagnosis was previously unknown and the prognosis may not always be good.
• To ensure patients/parents understand the diagnosis and prognosis and treatment needs. This may involve patients who have had a stroke, patients with severe learning difficulties, parents/patients with visually disabled children, parents where English is not a first language. There may be significant barriers to understanding especially where the diagnosis was previously unknown.
• Adapt to unpredictable work patterns, with constant interruptions and demands to normal clinical session to deal with extra or urgent patients. Working in a variety of work setting including eye clinic, ward rounds, Overdale hospital and schools.
• Liaise with the visual impairment service and peripatetic teachers for the visually impaired in the education department. Regularly relays information to consultants and nurses and other medical professionals.
• Undertake continued academic, professional and clinical development (CPD) as well as regular local audits (research and development) and surveys to ensure evidence based practice. To take part in national audits and research projects.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

- Degree or equivalent in Orthoptics

- Minimum of 2 years clinical experience

- Registration with the Health & Care Professional Council and Jersey Healthcare registration

DESIRABLE:

- Supervising or teaching qualification
- Driving licence

Knowledge

• Demonstrates advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of orthoptics to deliver a high-quality practice and management of the service.
• Excellent understanding of the medical conditions that may require treatment from the service and how clients may present to the service.
• Good understanding of the relevant Health and Safety requirements and laws.
• Good understanding of the Financial directions and relevant Codes of Practice.
• Good understanding of the Data Protection Laws

Technical Work Based Skills

• To be able to operate the full range of orthoptic equipment within the service.
• To be able to train others on how to use the full range of orthoptic equipment.

General skills / attributes

• To be able to maintain accurate and clear patient records and maintain strict patient confidentiality.
• Strong relationship building with both internal and external stakeholders up to and including at a senior and especially with service users.
• Ability to understand and manage a range of highly complex facts or situations requiring analysis.
• Strong problem solving acumen.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, which may not always be delivering good news, and communicates effectively across all levels and media.

Experience

• 2 years post-graduate, clinical experience in orthoptics.
• Experience working in visual screening

Core Accountabilities, Attributes and Behaviour Indicators

Appointees to this role will be required to adhere to and perform their duties in line with the standards identified in the States of Jersey tier 4 core accountabilities attributes and behaviour indicators.