Orthoptic Assistant

at  Swansea Bay University Health Board

The post holder will support the delivery of clinical health care services to adults and children attending Orthoptic and Paediatric Ophthalmology clinics within SBUHB.
The post holder should have the ability to work closely with members of the multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients, relatives and carers who may be emotionally distressed or have barriers to understanding such as learning difficulties, language, hearing or visual impairment and to children and babies.
The post holder will plan their own work within standard operating procedures and policies, to undertake a range of delegated clinical patient care duties.
The post holder will work within a variety of Orthoptic clinics to meet the needs of the service on days across the whole week.
Following training and achievement of competences, the post holder will contribute to the provision of Ophthalmic services by providing a high-quality service including diagnostic testing and performing a range of basic imaging tests and procedures for children and adult patients across a variety of sub-specialties under the direction of the Head Orthoptist as well as providing reports and baseline evaluations for review by other clinical staff.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
We believe staff are our best asset and we want you to be happy and confident about starting your career here in Swansea Bay University Health Board.
As one of the biggest healthcare groups in the UK we can offer a wealth of professional training and development opportunities in an innovative, forward-thinking organisation.
You might be a nurse or doctor, maybe you specialise in a health science/therapy or can offer skills in one of our support services - we have a job for you.
There are also apprenticeships, work placements and volunteering roles available.
We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everyone whatever their sex; religion or belief; race; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or, whether they are pregnant or have recently been on maternity leave, married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled.
Our values - Caring For Each Other, Working Together and Always Improving, show that our commitment to equality is at the heart of everything we do.
If you want excellent career and training opportunities while living on the doorstep of some of Europe’s most spectacular scenery, with all the benefits of a thriving and cosmopolitan city - look no further.

EDUCATIONAL

• Provide advice and support, and demonstrate their own duties to new or less experienced employees.
• To undertake and complete ophthalmic level 3 Agored training and competencies relevant to role including visual acuity, visual fields and imaging.
  The post holder will participate in departmental audit and quality initiatives pertinent to the role as necessar

• To support a clinical environment that is patient and public focused.
• To participate in the delivery of patient care and undertake clinical duties that are allocated and directly supervised by a registered health professional.
• Administer eye drops required during the clinical assessment, in compliance with protocols; reporting any adverse reactions and take appropriate action.
• Assess visual acuity in patients, using LogMar, Snellen and other relevant tests and record result accurately and clearly in patient’s record.
• Determine the prescription of patients’ glasses using a manual Focimeter and to assess the correct lens to be used for accurate visual field assessment.
• Perform automated visual field assessment for patients using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser.
• Perform Optical Coherence Tomography and Stereo Optic Disc Imaging.
• Monitor and support patients through the diagnostic test procedures providing advice and instruction for patients in order to achieve accurate test results.
• Learn to recognise and rectify artefacts during testing that might represent a barrier to accuracy of results.
• Forward any abnormal results to a senior non-medical practitioner
• Report any changes in a patient’s condition to the clinician in charge and respond to clinical urgencies.
• Manual handling of patients, when necessary, to ensure appropriate positioning of the patient for tests.
• Observe the needs of patients, and if needs are of a clinical nature, inform the clinican in Charge.
• Observe and report base line observations to qualified non-medical practitioner or doctor.
• Ensure that investigation results are made available for appropriate clinical lead.
• Contribute to the promotion of health and prevention of illness, as directed by appropriate clinical lead.
• Plan and manage own templated clinic workload reporting all concerns to appropriate clinical lead.
• Assist in the administration and preparation of clinics including the production and maintenance of medical records in line with SBUHB policies.
• Escort patients as required to other hospital Departments/Wards.
• Act on own initiative when preparing patients for clinical examinations and procedures; offering reassurance and support to the patient, ensuring their privacy and dignity are maintained at all times.
• Clear away after procedures and report any hazards in the environment to manager.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a clean and well-maintained environment.
• Maintain general cleanliness of wheelchairs and trolleys/non-invasive equipment