Orthoptist

at  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Band 6 Orthoptist
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated Band 6 Orthoptist to join our friendly team of 4 Orthoptists, 10 Ophthalmologists and 4 Ophthalmic technicians. This is a permanent full time post. The department is based at Northampton General Hospital, but we do run some single handed clinics at Danetre Hospital.
The successful applicant must have experience of working in Orthoptics and be able to work well in a high pressure environment delivering all aspects of orthoptic care.
The department regularly participates in the training of various health professionals to include: undergraduate orthoptists, pre-reg Optometrists, junior doctors and nurses so an interest in, or experience of, work as a clinical trainer would be an advantage.
The successful applicant must hold a degree or diploma in Orthoptics and be registered with HCPC.
To assess, diagnose and manage all patients referred to the Orthoptic department as an autonomous practitioner
To contribute to a comprehensive quality Orthoptic service for all patients referred to the Orthoptic department
To work as an active member of the eye care and multi-disciplinary team
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
To assess diagnose and manage all patients referred to the orthoptic department to include the following specialist groups: Children and adults with learning disabilities, Children and adults with physical disabilities, Children and adults with neurological, maxilla-facial and endocrine problems, Stroke patients, Glaucoma patients, Downs’ syndrome patients, Children from the child development centre.
To be responsible for patients undergoing orthoptic treatment as inpatients or outpatients.
To liaise with the Head Orthoptist regarding problems arising.
To assess and diagnose new patients and develop and manage a specialised treatment package appropriate to the needs of the individual patient adhering to national and local guidelines.
Assess patients with TB, HIV and AIDS referred for visual field testing.
To instruct and negotiate the implementation of the care package with individual patients and their carers to ensure compliance, in such as to overcome ant barriers to understanding.
Provide motivational support for patients and parents undergoing prolonged and difficult treatments.
To carry out appropriate visual field testing on patients referred by the Ophthalmologists, Neurologists and other medical practitioners within the hospital and to provide feedback and where required a summary of the results obtained.
To carry out HRT II (Heidelberg Retinal Topography) visual field testing, OCTs and measure IOPs as part of the glaucoma monitoring service.
To take part in clinical audit.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of techniques and technology and to attend appropriate training as part of our CPD (continuing professional development) and to be responsible for maintaining your own CPD folder.
To be responsible for managing and incorporating any unplanned workload in such a way as to minimise inconvenience to patients and maximise the smooth running of the Orthoptic and eye clinics.
As an autonomous practitioner, the post-holder will be responsible for the decision to instil drops for diagnostic and refraction purposes, the appropriate strength required and to advise patients of the side effects.
To undertake pre- and post-operative measurements of motility defects. Significant manual dexterity and speed will be required to ensure accurate results especially in infants having eye surgery. Surgery will be based on the Orthoptic measurements.
To discuss surgical options with the surgeon.
To assist surgeon in post-operative adjustable suture techniques. This requires accurate measurement to assist the surgeon with ocular alignment whilst the patient is under local anaesthesia.
To identify surgical risks (pre, and post surgery) and to discuss these with the patients (parents / carers) and surgeon.
To assess patients’ post-operative outcome and modify treatment accordingly.
To work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Ophthalmic technicians Nurses, and Clerks etc.
To assist and provide internal cover for colleagues during periods of annual leave, sickness and vacancies.
To utilise a range of verbal and non-verbal (e.g. Makaton sign language) mechanisms in the assessment and communication of treatment plans to patients and parents to progress visual improvement. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding e.g. stroke victims, patients with a learning disability.
To be aware of barriers to communication and be able to overcome them effectively with for example: learning disabled parents; where English is not the first language; with patients with expressive language difficulties (stroke victims).
To tactfully explain the details of the medical condition which may be highly complex. This requires an holistic and tactful approach where patients or parents have no knowledge of the ocular defects associated with particular medical conditions and / or who have difficulty accepting the diagnosis.
To communicate initial potential diagnosis which may be of a distressing nature.
To participate in clinical teaching to a wide range of professionals

Please refer the Job description for details