Job Description

Ophthalmic Healthcare Science Advanced Practitioner, Band 7 (15 hours a week)



There will be a need to work autonomously, managing and the specialist aspects of the Test and Training set with specific responsibility for participants on the Test and Training Quality Assurance tool. The post holder will need to be a good team player but able to take initiative. Able to develop intelligent and innovative initiatives to support the progression of the Test and Training system and its participants.

Additional contract details:

The days that the sessions are worked will be negotiated with the applicant

The proposed interview date is:

10th July

The purpose of the role is:

1. To manage the specialist aspects of the Test and Training Set for Quality Assurance of Graders in the English Screening Programme



2. To ensure that there is a high-quality grader experience..



3. To provide specialist support in other areas of Ophthalmic Imaging or grading, including Research, Optical Coherence Tomography and in Slit Lamp bio-microscopy surveillance in the diabetic eye screening programme.



4. To provide specialist support for any new courses being developed by the Gloucestershire Retinal Education Group



5. To provide specialist support for the Health Screeners Diploma if required



6. To provide specialist support for any new courses being developed by the Gloucestershire Retinal Education Group



7. To provide specialist support for the Health Screeners Diploma if required



8. To provide specialist support in other areas of Ophthalmic Imaging or grading, including Research, Optical Coherence Tomography and in Slit Lamp bio-microscopy surveillance in the diabetic eye screening programme.



Gloucestershire Retinal Education Group (GREG) became established in 2006 with the development of the City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening for the new workforce in the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. Since then we have implemented monthly test and training sets (TAT) to improve grading quality, and supported a large number of students through various courses, and were finalists in the Royal College of Physician's international 'Excellence in Patient Care Awards' in 2019.



1. Clinical Responsibilities/Key Responsibilities



The post holder needs to have a high-level understanding of ophthalmic imaging healthcare science activities by having worked as an NHS Ophthalmic Imager for an extensive period of time. They also require management knowledge acquired through training to master's degree or equivalent level of knowledge.



They need to undertake, screen and interpret highly specialist diagnostic tests, including specialist equipment testing, with interpretation of results, providing advice to patients, and clinical and scientific advice to ophthalmologists and other allied health practitioners.



They need to be able to analyse & interpret the results of imaging; making judgements on a range of complex clinical, non-clinical issues relating to the patients; investigating and resolving complex quality issues.



2. Professional Development, Education and Training



To manage the specialist aspects of the academic content and teaching of the Test and Training Set for Quality Assurance of Graders in the English Screening Programme To contribute to the skills assessment process for participants on the Test and Training Quality Assurance Tool and provide feedback to participants relating to any queries that they might have. To ensure that there is a high-quality grader experience and that a culture of continuous improvement is embedded, including management of a small team of staff to support this role. To prepare Test sets for the Test and Training Quality Assurance Tool in liaison with the Grading College and responsibility for oversight of the database aspects of the tool in liaison with the software supplier. To be responsive to participant feedback, and ensure that feedback to students on changes and improvements to the Test and Training and programmes is timely and effective. To provide specialist support for any new courses being developed by the Gloucestershire Retinal Education Group To provide specialist support for the Health Screeners Diploma if required

3. Management and Leadership



There will be a need to work autonomously, managing a small team and the specialist aspects of the Test and Training set with specific responsibility for participants on the Test and Training Quality Assurance tool. The post holder will need to be a good team player but able to take initiative. Able to develop intelligent and innovative initiatives to support the progression of the Test and Training system and its participants. The postholder may hold a delegated budget for this area of work, including authorising invoices for supplies & equipment.



The role also involves providing specialist support for the redevelopment and the retendering for the contract for the monthly Test and Training set used by the English NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme as a quality assurance tool for their graders.



This will also involve clinical/professional supervision of junior staff, training less experienced staff and providing specialist training to other experienced members of the diabetic eye screening, ophthalmic imaging, and research teams.



4. Research and Development



They will be involved in undertaking grading R&D activities for clinical trials.



5. Communications and Working Relationships



The post holder needs to have the abilities to teach the subject of retinal image grading to a highly specialised level provide feedback and support to participants on the Test and Training system.



In any clinical work they need to communicate about the various tests and other technical information to patients who may have sensory, physical or learning disabilities, relatives & carers; They also need to exchange specialist often complex information with colleagues from own and other disciplines.



In their managerial role they will need to communicate with senior members in NHS England, programme managers and graders with respect to the re-procurement of the Test and Training set and the on-going quality assurance of graders in the English NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.



Contact Details



Prof Peter Scanlon (Professor of Ophthalmology)



p.scanlon@nhs.net



0300 422 2851



My PA Liyan on 0300 422 2851 can arrange contact with Prof Scanlon