Optometrist Band 6
The Ophthalmology department provides a range of services (and extended roles) for patients of North Cumbria.
We are looking for an Optometrist to join the team, working alongside fellow Orthoptists, Optometrists, Ophthalmic Consultants and Ophthalmology nursing teams.
The post is based at Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle or West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven although travel to other Ophthalmology departments within the service is required.
Voted one of the best places to live in the UK, North Cumbria houses the Lake District, one of the country's most outstanding places of natural beauty and the region is an attractive, largely rural area with access to good road, rail and air communications. Housing is relatively inexpensive and there are excellent state and private education establishments.
All staff are expected to work to the Trust Values:
* Kindness - Kindness and compassion cost nothing, yet accomplish a great deal.
* Respect - We are respective to everyone and are open, honest and fair- respect behaviours.
* Ambition - We set goals to achieve the best for our patients, teams, organisations and our partners.
* Collaboration - We are stronger and better working together with and for our patients.
Main duties of the job
* Provide services as an autonomous practitioner. To assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the orthoptic department.
* Determine the clinical diagnosis and develop treatment plans, discharge plans and make appropriate onward referrals to Ophthalmology or other health professionals.
* This post will also involve Low Vision clinical work. Training will be provided.
* The post covers Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, Workington Community Hospital and peripheral clinics.
* Liaise with other professionals and colleagues as appropriate.
About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':
* Being a clinically led organisation.
* Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust.
* A positive patient experience every time.
* A great place to work.
* Managing our money well.
As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
Important Information
Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:
* Junk Mail is checked regularly.
Disclosure and Barring Service:
The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction.
Person Specification
Registration
Essential
* GOC registration as a qualified Optometrist.
Qualifications
Essential
* BSc (Hons) Optometry or equivalent.
Desirable
* 2:1 degree or better.
* Member of the College of Optometrists.
Experience
Essential
* Experience of working with visually impaired patients and those with learning disabilities.
* Experience in working with young children.
Desirable
* Previous clinical experience in a hospital or other specialist setting.
* Experience working with children and adults with complex requirements.
* Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.
Knowledge
Essential
* Theoretical knowledge in a range of clinical areas including specialist contact lenses and complex refraction management.
* Knowledge and experience of clinical matters beyond direct clinical role (e.g. surgical techniques and management).
* Broad understanding of the optometry profession including primary / secondary care interface and NHS service provision.
* Knowledge of governance issues, in particular clinical audit.
Skills and Aptitudes
Essential
* Experience in contact lens fitting.
* Ability to undertake contact tonometry, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy.
* Ability to effectively communicate complex information in a range of situations e.g. clinical information to patients.
* Ability to effectively communicate where there are barriers to understanding e.g. young children, patients with learning disabilities and other sensory impairments.
* Ability to operate a range of complex ophthalmic instruments.
* Fine motor skills e.g. inserting contact lenses, performing contact examination techniques.
* Ability to independently assess and make clinical decisions.
* Advanced written communication skills.
* IT skills - use of Word, Excel. Databases.
* Good verbal communication skills.
Desirable
* Experience in specialist contact lens fitting.
* Ability to convey unwelcome / bad news in a sensitive manner.
Other requirements
Essential
* Effective organisation and time management skills.
* Flexible approach to working patterns.
* Ability to travel independently across sites.
* Highly motivated and enthusiastic.
Desirable
* Full driving licence with access to a car.
Employer details
Employer name
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Cumberland Infirmary/West Cumberland Hospital
Carlisle/Whitehaven
CA2 7LL
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