Job Description

Are you an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated Orthoptist who already has a keen interest in Neuro-Orthoptics, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab and i s loo king for a new challenge ?



W ould you like to play a key part in the organising and running of our Neuro-Orthoptic, Stroke and In-patient servi ces?



If you've answered yes to the above then we have the perfect job for you!



Our Team of 21 Orthoptists provide core orthoptic and various sub-specialities at Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley Hospital plus several community clinics; in November 2021 our purpose built eye unit opened at Chorley Hospital and offers modern timely care to a large number of patients across Lancashire and South Cumbria.



This post offers the opportunity to participate in sub-speciality adult and paediatric orthoptic clinics, joint consultant clinics, in-patient assessments and MDT working.



Follow us and our fabulous eye team on Twitter @ LTHorthoptics and @ EyeLthtr to see what you could be a part of.



You will lead in the organising and running of the advanced specialist Neuro-Orthoptic, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab plus In-patient Orthoptic Services as an autonomous practitioner within our hospital and community outreach clinics, accepting direct referrals of patients of all ages who have a wide spectrum of ocular motility disorders and visual problems, work closely with the Trust's stroke, neuro-rehab and neurology teams within the hospital setting in order to deliver a high quality and complex Orthoptic service within these areas as well as directly within Orthoptics and Ophthalmology.



You will u ndertake development of staff within the Orthoptic team, along with the undertaking of the annual appraisal (PDPR) and objective setting of their direct reports.



You will e nsure the provision of high quality, evidence based Orthoptic Services along with continuous improvement and development in line with b e s t p r actice s t a n d a r ds in collaboration with the Head Orthoptist.



You will p articipate in providing Orthoptic clinical teaching and training for other healthcare professionals including under-graduate Orthoptic students, pre-registration Optometrists, Nurses, Ophthalmic Technicians, HCA's, Health Visitors, School Nurses, Health Scientists, General Practitioners (GP's), junior doctors and medical students and other health care professionals as required.



We are a large enthusiastic team of Orthoptists who work closely with our eye colleagues striving to provide excellent care with compassion; if you manage your time well, work well within a team and have leadership skills then this is the place for you.



We are always looking for ways to further develop ourselves and the team plus looking to see what we could do differently and in fact better. This is why we actively encourage and support CPD, audit and research and have mentorship in place for this role.



Actively involved in the review and updating of existing service guidelines, policies, procedures and care pathways related to the Neuro-Orthoptic, Orthoptic Stroke and Rehab services and Orthoptic In-Patient services in addition to developing new guidelines, policies, procedures and care pathways reacting to national and local directives .



Actively involved in the continual development of the services by means of audit and service user involvement, produce audit reports as required, regularly liaising with the Head Orthoptist regarding the provision of these services.



Participates in research and development and encourages and supports direct reports to also be involved.



Develops and updates appropriate patient/service user information the services.



Is an integrated member of the MDT within Orthoptics, Ophthalmology and wider across the Trust, to contribute to and chair when required departmental meetings and deliver presentations as required.



Ensures all HR policies are adhered to across t he s ervices including the scheme of delegation.



Ensures all staff involved in these services are given the opportunity to develop their potential through the appropriate implementation of training and staff development policies.



Supports the whole orthoptic team in developing their skills assessing a variety of in-patients both on the ward and when attending clinic.



Ensures that direct reports action changes highlighted to them.



Ens u r es t h a t a l l s t a f f c o m p l y w i t h T r u s t p o li c i es as relevant to their role and that st a f f r ec ei v e t he tr a i n i ng r e q u i r ed t o m a i nta i n c o m p e t e n ce t o e x ec u t e t heir role.



Attends and contributes to monthly Datix, risk and governance meetings.



Triages orthoptic referrals received to most appropriate specialist area in a timely manner.



Undertakes a detailed medical and ophthalmic case history of patients of varying ages and diagnoses.



Independently assesses, plans, implements and reviews individual Orthoptic treatment plans/care pathways for each patient using clinical experience, knowledge and evidence-based practice, selects appropriate assessment techniques relevant to each individual patient based on clinical experience and by using clinical reasoning, relevant policies, procedures and NICE Guidelines to optimally manage the conditions.



Uses highly developed manual dexterity and hand/eye coordination to perform detailed observations using a variety of orthoptic and ophthalmic techniques, demonstrating the correct selection and use of a range of orthoptic/ophthalmic appliances; updating own competency as the need arises.