We are looking for Ophthalmic Assistants to join our new site in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. This will be 40 hours over 5 days per week including cover on weekends on a rota basis.
Our Ophthalmic Assistants are the face of Newmedica; they're often amongst the first people that our patients interact with on clinic visits, so having a welcoming, friendly, empathetic approach is vital.
Main duties of the job
It's a busy role - you'll be seeing a number of patients each day to take them through a range of diagnostic tests. These will be passed onto a senior clinician to ascertain if surgery or further treatment is required. You'll be using a variety of different equipment and systems, so we're looking for someone who is comfortable using systems and is fairly tech-savvy. You could also be supporting our theatre teams by looking after and assisting patients, escorting them to and from theatre, and fetching and preparing equipment required in the theatre.
The thought of eye surgery can be a daunting prospect for patients to deal with, so our Ophthalmic Assistants need to be able to put patients at ease. They also need strong communication skills to be able to explain the purpose of the different tests to ensure the patient understands their treatment.
This is a great role to progress your clinical skills or to take the first step on a clinical career path. Newmedica is committed to the growth and development of all our colleagues, and the Ophthalmic Assistant is a great platform to potentially explore a career in diagnostic (clinic) or theatre teams.
About us
Newmedica is one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatient appointments, diagnostic testing, and eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.
We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country. We have significant growth plans over the next few years as we look to establish a national footprint and open many new sites across the UK.
We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work. This is a global benchmark that recognises employers who create an outstanding employee experience.
Job responsibilities
Clinic Assistants are the public face of Newmedica and are integral to the successful operation of the clinic. They are responsible for performing clinical tests and supporting the clinical assessment of each patient and for ensuring that all patients understand their treatment. They are also responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient administration of the clinic, including ensuring that appointments are booked and that clinics are full, retrieving patient notes, recording and filing clinical outcomes, and utilising Newmedica's electronic patient records.
Combining a friendly and accessible personal manner with basic clinical testing skills, they pride themselves on delivering great customer service and their ability to work within small teams to maintain and enhance processes to maximise quality and efficiency. No clinical knowledge is assumed (full training will be given), but intellectual curiosity is required. It is expected that the company's growth plans will provide ongoing challenges for the post-holders as well as appropriate career development opportunities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary responsibility for delivering ongoing clinic services including:
* Managing the relationship with the patient and the provision of appropriate information to them, ensuring that exceptional customer service is delivered.
* Management of patient data; ensuring availability, required accuracy and confidentiality. This may involve retrieving patient records from and returning them to the Trust, liaising with Newmedica's central operations team, updating Newmedica's electronic patient records, and producing and providing letters to patients.
* Performing, verifying, and recording results of clinical testing with absolute integrity.
* Working with other clinic staff, including clinicians, to ensure optimal patient flow, including assisting them if required.
* Undertaking other ad hoc and administrative tasks as required to ensure the smooth running of the clinic.
* Appropriate escalation of process, clinical, equipment, quality, or infection risk issues.
* Maintaining a positive relationship with client teams at every interaction.
* Committed to continued professional development and clinical governance, including participating in the appraisal process, completion of mandatory training, and clinical audits and research as required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* A good level of general education or equivalent experience
* GCSE Maths and English
Knowledge & Skills
* Fully computer literate - comfortable with Microsoft Office products and the ability to learn new patient record systems.
* Enjoys working with a range of people and is able to tailor their approach to a diversity of patient needs.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a good telephone manner.
* Excellent organisation skills and the ability to multi-task.
* Committed to delivery of consistently high standards of testing and administration.
* Enjoys the routine and rhythm of a process-driven environment.
* Comfortable making a significant contribution in a small team.
* Able to balance working independently with appropriate escalation.
Experience
* Proven customer service skills with a passion for customer care. Previous experience of working with patients or carers would be desirable although not essential.
* Ability to build a working knowledge of eye physiology and treatment. Previous experience is not expected.
* Experience of working in a healthcare setting
* Ophthalmology experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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