Come and start your career in a supportive learning environment with a friendly team based on the south coast of England with ease of access to London, the south and Europe via Southampton airport and ferries from Portsmouth. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Orthoptist to join the department based at Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth. You will join a department of 5.8 WTE Orthoptists and 3 Optometrists. The Ophthalmology department has 15 Ophthalmologists, four of which specialise in paediatric ophthalmology and ocular motility.

The successful candidate will be keen to develop their knowledge and skills, mentorship and preceptorship programmes for newly qualified Orthoptists will be provided.

Candidates must have a degree/diploma in Orthoptics and current registration with HCPC is essential.

Main duties of the job

• To diagnose and treat ocular motility and vision function and binocular vision problems in adults and children as an autonomous practitioner. To liaise with Head Orthoptists regarding problems during treatment.
• To be responsible for planning and implementing orthoptic treatment plans/care pathways for patients of all ages.
• To refer complex opthalmic problems to an Ophthalmologist as necessary.
• Screening at satellite clinics.
• To work as part of a flexible team.

About us

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To take clinical responsibility for specialised visual and ocular motility assessment on patients within your own caseload. This group comprises babies, children and adults of all ages referred from a wide range of specialities including referrals from GPs, HVs, paediatrics, neurology, stroke and the emergency eye service.
• Act as an autonomous practitioner adhering to departmental guidelines and policies where appropriate.
• Instruct patients/carers on treatment plans, this can include unwelcome outcomes of poor sight and requires empathy and reassurance. This also includes discussion of all treatment options available and when using medicine exemptions, to ensure that all potential drug side effects and adverse reactions are discussed alongside potential benefits to treatment. There may also be language barriers or additional needs to overcome which will need specialised verbal and non-verbal communication skills eg Makaton, sign language.
• The post holder will be expected to communicate effectively and sympathetically with patients of all ages and abilities and their parents/carers. This can involve impairing sensitive and complex information about their eye condition and requires specialist skills where there are barriers to understanding such as deafness, learning difficulties, language or cultural differences.
• The patient group frequently requires significant manual dexterity and speed to ensure accurate results and measurements.
• To guide and discuss timing of surgery and undertake accurate pre and post operative measurements, discussing options with surgeon. If necessary assisting surgeon with post operative adjustments.
• To be responsible for own patients lists - organising own workload and completing reports and letters as required.
• Liaise and communicate effectively with other professionals as necessary including GPs, doctors in other specialities, Health visitors, school nurses and childrens services.
• To undertake vision screening which involves single handed working in the community.
• To issue, supply and instil drops according to relevant PGD or medicine exemption as appropriate and be aware of contradictions of use and what to do in case of adverse events following drop use.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and ensure accurate and complete record keeping of own patient caseload.
• Other duties as required by the Head Orthoptist to ensure the day to day smooth running of the department, highlighting any problems with service delivery to the Head Orthoptist.
• The postholder will practice according to BIOS competency standards and professional practice guidelines, the HCPC code of ethics and Trust and departmental policy and protocols.
• The post holder will contribute to departmental meetings and aid in the formulation of departmental treatment plans and guidelines and take an active role in departmental audit.
• The postholder will assist with teaching of Orthoptics to other health professionals including doctors, medical students, optometrists, nurses and health visitords.
• The post holder will maintain personal CPD in line with HCPC and Trust requirements.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrates sound clinical knowledge in full range of orthoptic clinical practice

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Effective communication skills written and verbal
• Autonomy of decision making whilst performing patient assessments
• Good organisational skills
• Good time management
• Ability to work with extreme precision and accuracy
• Willingness to be flexible and be part of a team
• Ability to recognise own limitations and seek appropriate advice
• Good IT skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Orthoptics
• Registration with HCPC

Employer details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY

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