An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated orthoptist with excellent communication and organisational skills and with an ability to work alone as well as part of a team to join the ophthalmology service at BHR University NHS Trust, substantive. The ophthalmology team includes 10 ophthalmologists, 5 orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmic technicians, and nursing colleagues. Orthoptic support is provided at Queen's hospital, Romford, Essex, which has convenient public transport routes to central London. The Trust is a major neurosciences centre for northeast London and Essex and the post includes a varied case load supporting mainly paediatric & neuro-ophthalmology sub-specialty services (including Botulinum toxin clinics and adjustable suture surgery patients) and oculo-plastics. Orthoptists also manage their own service as well as orthoptic-optometry joint clinics. Perimetry and tomography are provided as required as part of the multidisciplinary team to other sub-speciality services including the in-house ophthalmology accident and emergency service, glaucoma, anterior segment, adnexal, and medical retinal.

The department is a validated teaching centre for orthoptic undergraduates, as well as providing clinical teaching to other health care professionals. Proactive continuing professional development is expected and enhanced by an ophthalmology teaching programme.

Main duties of the job

As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will provide advanced specialist orthoptic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment as part of a busy multidisciplinary ophthalmology team.

They will be able to work both as a single-handed practitioner as well as part of the ophthalmology team including orthoptists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians, and nurses, providing orthoptic practice to both paediatric and adult patients, including those with complex conditions.

The post holder will also be the lead orthoptist for the orthoptic management of patients referred to the paediatric ophthalmology subspecialty, liaising with the paediatric ophthalmologists, e.g., with triage of referrals (from eye casualty, other specialties, and Trust patient referral pathways) and ensuring best practice paediatric-orthoptics is always provided to meet ophthalmology patients' needs.

In addition to orthoptics and depending on experience, the post holder will provide a shared care extended role in support of the paediatric ophthalmology subspecialty primarily and other subspecialties, e.g., neuro-ophthalmology medical retina, and eye casualty, as required.

The post holder will also participate in undergraduate/postgraduate teaching provided by the ophthalmology service.

About us

Under the leadership of our Chair Jacqui Smith and Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, we provide care for the residents of three of the most diverse London boroughs. More than half of our 7,500 strong workforce are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and most live in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. We also provide healthcare services to people in south west Essex, and specialist neurosciences services to the whole of the county.

Our services include all the major specialties of large acute hospitals, operating from two main sites - King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford. We also provide outpatient services at Brentwood Community Hospital, Barking Hospital, Loxford Polyclinic, and Harold Wood Polyclinic. We have two of the busiest emergency departments in London.

As we recover from Covid-19, we're proud to be leading the way nationally in reducing the time our patients wait to get the treatment they need. The pandemic provided the drive forour teams to innovate and change.

We know we have more work to do to improve waiting times for urgent and emergency care, and our performance against the four-hour emergency access standard remains challenged, in comparison to many other London trusts.

We are particularly proud of our regional Neurosciences Centre Radiotherapy Centre Hyper Acute Stroke Unit and dedicated breast care service at King George Hospital. We're also pleased to be part of the NEL Cancer Alliance.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.

The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.

Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.

All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.

Applications should be made online, however, queries regarding the application process, assistance with completion of the application form or if you require any adjustments (for applicants with a disability) please contact Miss Mothiga Chandrakumar, Recruitment Advisor, on 01708 435000 ext. 5934. Further details regarding the post may be obtained by contacting the manager as per the contact details above.

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

• Batchelor of science in Orthoptics (BSc (orth.) or BMedSci (Orthoptics) or Diploma in the British Orthoptic Council
• Health Care Professions Council registration
• British and Irish Orthoptic Society membership

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification in other areas of ophthalmology including knowledge of neurological disorders

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• The ability to work calmly under pressure in a busy clinic whilst always maintaining high quality orthoptic practice.

Desirable

• Clinical experience in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) interpretation and use, slit lamp examination, Volk lens examination and Goldmann applanation tonometry.
• Clinical experience of shared care extended roles. e.g., paediatric-ophthalmology and other subspecialties

Employer details

Employer name

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Queen's Hospital

Romford

RM7 0AG

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

162-5520-MC