Orthoptist

at  Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

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

Please refer the Job description for details