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Job summary

Main area
Clinical
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
249-6089667-3
Employer
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Great Western Hospital
Town
Swindon
Salary
£28,407 - £34,581 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Orthoptist

NHS AfC: Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital. 

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

An opportunity has opened up to join a small team of orthoptists in Great Western Hospital. 

This is an ideal first post for a newly qualified orthoptist.

We can provide you with a thorough grounding in all aspects of clinical work. We are a friendly and supportive team that will provide experience of paediatric patients, adult patients from newly acquired palsies, TED, accident and trauma cases.

Main duties of the job

To be an autonomous practitioner to provide orthoptic services. This includes assessment of new patients and management of infants, children, adults and the elderly. To maintain accurate patient records; paper based and digital.

The role will be mainly Paediatric Orthoptic Clinics and Ocular motility Clinics.

Continuing professional development and clinical audit are encouraged in the department.

 

Working for our organisation

Our STAR values are at the heart of everything we do. You can expect to see them in the way we act and the way we treat each other. Our values make us who we are.

  • Service We will put our patients first
  • Teamwork We will work together
  • Ambition We will aspire to provide the best service
  • Respect We will act with integrity

Our establishment currently has three orthoptists, a mix of band 6 and 7.  We look forward to welcoming a suitable band 5 into the department. We also have 3 optometrists and one contact lens optician.

We are a large trust that works in partnership across the region with other trusts. It is a forward looking trust with exciting expansion plans. A new expanded Accident and Emergency department is currently under construction. 

Situated on the M4 we have good transport links to places such as Bath, Bristol and London. There is also easy access to such tourist areas as the Cotswold's and the South West

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • To directly provide Orthoptic services as agreed with the Clinical Lead Orthoptist. This includes the 
    assessment of new patients and the management of infants, children, adults, and the elderly.
  • To contribute to the general running and functions of the Orthoptic service to include administration, 
    planning, and development.
  • To keep and maintain accurate patient records; paper based and digital using the Trust information 
    systems.
  • To take an active part in local and national research and audit, undertaking data collection as 
    required.
  • Maintain up to date knowledge of techniques and technology and to maintain required levels 
    professional clinical practice, competencies, and skills. To maintain own standards of professional 
    conduct and performance in line with HCPC and BIOS.
  • To be aware of and implement Trust and departmental policies and procedures, and participate in 
    the development of departmental policies.
  • To understand and maintain quality assurance standards, clinical governance, and clinical risk for 
    the Orthoptic service and Trust

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree BSc (or Diploma) in Orthoptics
  • Current Professional registration with HCPC
  • Membership of BIOS

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Clinical experience in paediatric Orthoptics
  • Knowledge of formulating treatment plans using problem solving and involving complex factors
  • Evidence of ability to work on own and prioritise own workload
Desirable criteria
  • Awareness of the significance to own practice of legislation including ; Confidentiality and Data Protection, Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding issues, Clinical governance
  • Undergraduate experience of neuroophthalmology / other specialist areas

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Highly developed ability to communicate with all ages, ethnicity and abilities in explaining diagnosis and treatment to gain optimum cooperation and results
  • To be able to communicate sensitive and complex information , sometimes in distressing /emotional circumstances
  • Proven knowledge of the investigation, diagnosis and management of a broad range of specialist and complex Orthoptic patients
Desirable criteria
  • Good presentation skills for formal and informal teaching
  • IT skills with knowledge and experience of office and excel
  • Demonstrate the ability to handle difficult situations calmly and effectively and to deal with patients tactfully, efficiently and with empathy
  • Driver with clean licence

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: Goldhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Hannah Shore
Job title
Deputy Clinical Lead Orthoptist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01793 604702
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