Job Description

An exciting role has arisen within Moorfields at Brent Cross. The Diagnostic Hub has recently moved to a permanent site within Brent Cross Shopping center.



The Associate Vision Science Practitioner will be given the opportunity to be involved in making decisions and creating our new site.



The post holder will be responsible for a large team of technicians and that will include their development and ensuring they perform and maintain professional standards in line with our trust.



They will need to be an independent thinker who aims to make positive and innovative change. They will prioritize patient safety and experience. They will also ensure our commitment to seeing patients in a timely and efficient manner is upheld.



We are looking for a proactive thinker , someone who is good at problem solving and who has experience working in a high volume ophthalmology based diagnostic center.



You will be an integral member of the clinical team, working closely with senior technicians and admin team. You will also work alongside Optometrists and Consultants.



Provide Diagnostic Imaging Services at Brent Cross Diagnostic Hub



Provide training and supervision for ophthalmic technicians, ophthalmic nurses.

To deliver in this role the post holder will need to:

Ensure good communication with patients regarding their Imaging



Have a sound understanding of a range of Ophthalmic imaging procedures requiring theoretical knowledge of OCT and Wide Field Imaging.



Be able to make judgements involving a range of facts which require analysis and comparison to optimise images obtained during Retinal Photography, OCT and Wide Field Imaging (e.g.strategies to overcome small pupils, eye movement, cataract, blinking or a combination of these during Imaging)



Be responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex imaging



Follow established departmental operational policies and will be guided by standard operatingprocedures and good practice when performing Non Invasive Imaging



Participate in departmental teaching and mandatory training



Identify the knowledge, skills and experience needed for successful professional and personal development.



Support the smooth running of clinics and pathways at Brent Cross Diagnostic Hub.



Help and support senior staff with any team issues that arise and support the day to day running of services.



The role also involves working alongside nursing staff in pre-assessment clinics and undertaking Biometry.



At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:



Salary including High-Cost Area Supplement



Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme



Free 24/7 independent counselling service



Learning and development opportunities



Easy and quick transport links



A range of attractive benefits and discounts



Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes



Free Pilates classes



Full support and training to develop your skills



Flexible working friendly organisation



And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.



Ophthalmic Vision Science (OVS) Associates are an integral part of the patient pathway at Moorfields and pivotal to our clinical services.



The OVS Associate is part of a multi-professional team. The role involves using a range of highly specialised technology and imaging equipment to take various images of the eyes and collect data such as eye pressures and visual field data. OVS Associates also support the patients with their needs, either directly or by escalating appropriately. This enables clinicians to make important decisions in the care and treatment of our patients.



As an OVS Associate you may be the first person will see and therefore it is important to instill the Trust Values within your everyday working practices.



Our OVS Associates are individuals with a real passion for providing high quality healthcare to our patients. The role is the perfect position for those who want to make a real difference to people's lives.



As an OVS Associate and developing your initial imaging experience, OVS Associates will be expected to have learnt and confidently perform all retinal fundus imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), OCT wide-field/anterior segment imaging, OCT-Angiography, visual fields testing static/kinetic and external studio photography.



MAIN RESPONSIBILTITES



Clinical Practice



Provide Diagnostic Imaging Services across Moorfields' including the Trust's Outreach Clinics, Private Outpatients and Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre with support.

To deliver this diagnostic service you will:

Ensure good communication (verbal and non-verbal) with patients regarding their Imaging investigations.



To be competent in undertaking a routine and non-routine ophthalmic imaging procedure on medical devise, the provision of clinical work and any related tasks following formal training under Moorfields Ophthalmic Vision Science practitioners technical competency framework and where needed provide appropriate support for newly appointed staff.



Have a sound understanding and the theoretical knowledge of a range of routine and non-routine Ophthalmic imaging procedures.



Be able to make judgements involving a range of facts which require analysis and comparison to optimise images obtained during Retinal Photography, OCT, OCT Angiography and Autofluorescence (e.g. strategies to overcome small pupils, eye movement, cataract, blinking or a combination of these during Imaging).



Following the completion of training and confirmation of competency in practice, administer prescribed eye drops to patients in accordance with trust policy, being aware of contra-indications and side effects.



Be responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex imaging equipment



Respond appropriately to emergency situations.



Give clear and concise explanation and test instructions to ensure maximum patient understanding and co-operation, considering patients who have visual impairment, hearing loss, physical or mental disabilities, learning difficulties, different age groups, cultural differences and non-English speaking patients.



Observe and report to senior staff any change in a patients physical and psychological condition, ensuring any safeguarding concerns are raised with supervisor. Support families and carers when bad news has been shared.



Be an active participant in providing education and health promotion advice to patients and their carer.



Professionalism



Maintain and update relevant knowledge and skills with the awareness of training and developments needs and undertake the completion of further training and academic qualifications as relevant to the role and service requirements.



Recognise signs of stress and the emotional impact of care on self and others and take appropriate action, escalating to line manager as required.



Adhere to all trust policies, guidelines and standards ensuring a high standard of personal and professional behaviour and dress is always maintained whilst acting as an ambassador for the trust and a role model to others.



Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks.



The post holder may be deployed/expected to work in any part of the organisation should the need arise to ensure patient safety is maintained.



Communication



Communicate clearly and appropriately with patients, their relatives/friends, colleagues, and all other members of the multidisciplinary team, including responding to queries, answering the phone, taking messages, and passing on written and verbal information.



To comply with the trust information governance policy and patient's confidentiality in accordance with Trust Policy.



Provide patients with information and advice ensuring that the information provided is in a format which meets their needs e.g. large, Braille or other languages, complying with AIS standards.



Build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication taking account of differences such as capability and needs of individuals.



Participate in discussions about patients care and ward/clinic/departmental issues at safety huddle /handover meetings.



Safety and Quality



Contributes towards the completion of clinical audits and research, and work in partnership with senior colleagues to continually improve on the quality and safety of care provided.



Ensure that prior to using any medical device, you have been trained and your competency assessed and recorded. Report immediately to a supervisor or registered nurse any fault with a medical device and ensure it is removed safely from use.



In line with the trust's Incident Reporting system, report any accidents, incidents, near misses and defects to your supervisor. Remove any hazards which could potentially cause injury to staff, patients or visitors.



Encourage service users to provide feedback through Friends and Family Test and work collaboratively with senior colleagues to develop robust action plans to continually improve on our patient's experience.



Contribute to maintaining a safety culture within your department.



Education / Development



Take personal and collective responsibility to continually develop computer literacy skills/digital in order to use electronic systems to deliver safe and effective care in line with your agreed individual personal development objectives and trust wide goals.



Maintain your compliance with mandatory and statutory training and annual appraisals. Take responsibility for maintaining a record of your own personal development and inform your manager if there is any deviance from training compliance.



Undertake any appropriate training as deemed necessary by your line manager to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care.



Support and participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff and students.