Diabetic Eye Screening Patient Engagement Officer

at  Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

The post holder will provide a full administrative function for the Diabetes Eye Screening Programme to meet the needs of the programme, taking appropriate action and escalating as deemed necessary in line with clinical governance. Responsible to the Failsafe Manager and Accountable to the Programme Manager, the post holder will be required to work closely with GP practices and the clinical professionals working with the service. The post holder will have excellent organisational and communication skills and be able to work in an efficient and effective manner, making decisions under pressure with the minimum supervision.
The national Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is an integral part of patients’ diabetes care and involves a regular (usually annual) eye check using a digital photograph of the retina or slit lamp examination if photography is not possible. The primary objective of the programme is to detect referable (potentially sight-threatening) retinopathy so that it can be treated at a stage where the probability of preservation of vision is high. People with diabetes can develop a condition affecting the eyes called retinopathy, which although initially asymptomatic can lead to partial loss of vision and eventual blindness. Research has shown that early detection of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy through screening, and subsequent treatment of those affected by laser photocoagulation, can substantially reduce the risk of visual loss.
To engage with patients on the telephone who are on the routine digital screening pathway and who have not attended a routine digital screening event in the last 3 years.
To have an understanding of Key Performance Indicators, tracking uptake of appointments, timescale between patients’ screening encounter and the issue of results letter, timescale of referral into acute trusts and the number of patients who have not been screened within the last 3 years. These are monitored through the bespoke Optomise software within the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.
To engage in new and established engagement strategies and projects to ensure service equality in a wide diversity of patient cohorts, especially hard to reach groups
To engage with people with diabetes associated with inequalities and poor uptake in screening, with a view to raising awareness in these groups and promoting uptake in order to reduce sight threatening eye disease.
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Responsible for contacting Did Not Attend (DNA) and Did Not Respond (DNR) patients and ensuring they book an appointment.
To negotiate appointments with patients in accordance with clinic rules
Updating the Did Not Attend spreadsheet and provide monthly report to the Programme Manager.
Responsible for negotiating appointments with patients and printing and sending appointment confirmation letters.
To collaborate and engage with Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust communications team to utilise social media channels for education and involvement with patients.
Support the rest of the team during peak periods, annual leave, training or sickness.
To provide general administration and clerical support to the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme ,
To achieve an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme in order to assist in efficient processing of all patient referrals and appointments.
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the ‘About You’ Section of the document

Please refer the Job description for details