Senior Orthoptist

Senior Orthoptist - HSE Longford

The Orthoptist, Senior grade required by Cpl Healthcare, in partnership with the HSE, for new opportunities in Longford Services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

The Orthoptist, Senior will:

Clinical / Professional

• Operate within the Scope of Practice of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS) and Irish Association of Orthoptist’s (IAO) and register with CORU when applicable.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to confidentiality, ethics and legislation.
• Perform all clinical duties in accordance with directives issued.
• Carry a caseload and be responsible for the organization of their own workload in line with agreed priorities, policies and procedures.
• Accept Orthoptic referrals as per local HSE policy for the Community Ophthalmic Service.
• Conduct Orthoptic assessments and treatments for children and / or adult / patients.
• Aid in the assessment of inpatients who are referred to the Ophthalmic Service.
• Assess patients with Diplopia particularly from the stroke unit.
• Carry out supervision and direction of Amblyopia therapy with various methods of occlusion and instruct patients / parents / guardians on a continuous course of home treatment in relation to Strabismus and Amblyopia.
• Carry out visual field examinations when requested (Humphrey Field Analyser) and participate in digital imaging / clinical photography and other automated ophthalmic investigations when required.
• Provide any additional ophthalmic investigations including, Visual Field Testing, Ophthalmic Imaging including fundus photography, optical coherent tomography.
• Interpret the results of Orthoptic assessments and provide recommendations and reports to other health and educational professionals as necessary.
• Determine the reasons for erroneous clinical test results and work to minimize occurrence of these.
• Diagnose and formulate a programme of treatment for Orthoptic patients.
• Organize onward referral if necessary to other professionals and voluntary services, and communicate with them on an ongoing basis as necessary.
• Liaise with Ophthalmic medical staff in matters arising during patients continued care.
• Provide counselling to patients, relatives and careers on Orthoptic conditions.
• Review patient’s progress regularly, record and maintain a record of information accurately and legibly.
• Monitor orthoptic problems on an ongoing basis informing the client and / or family and the professionals involved, on any changes.
• Conduct under the supervision of the Community Ophthalmologist or Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Orthoptic Clinics when required.
• Perform clinical audit studies as required.
• Provide reports as required e.g. monthly activity report.
• Maintain a record of work activity.

Education and Training

·       Participate in mandatory training programmes.

·       Participate in continuing professional development (CPD) including in-service training, attending and presenting at conferences / courses relevant to practice, promoting and contributing to research etc.

• Engage in support / supervision and participate in performance review.
• Participate in the Clinical tuition of Optometry, Orthoptic, medical and nursing students.
• Manage, participate and play a role in the practice education of student Orthoptists.
• Provide Orthoptic education to undergraduate Orthoptic students as required.

·       Develop protocols, patient care plans, goal setting and outcome measures

·       Participate in research and developments in Orthoptics.

Health & Safety

• Contribute to the development of, and implement, agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice. Adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action.
• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s).
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Administrative

• Contribute to the planning and development of the Orthoptic Service and participate in service improvements.
• Plan and manage resources efficiently in assigned areas of responsibility.
• Undertake any reasonable professional and administrative duties as agreed.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines and professions.
• As an employee, maintain the confidentiality of information regarding patients, employees or any business relating to the HSE.
• Maintain appropriate service user records, databases and statistics in accordance with HSE requirements and local guidelines, Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation.
• Engage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration.
• Keep up to date with developments within the organisation and the Irish Health Service.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition possess:

(i) B.Sc (Hons) Orthoptics from Glasgow Caledonian University.

                                                   or

(ii) B.Sc (Hons) Orthoptics from the University of Liverpool.

                                                   or

(iii) BMed Sci (Hons) Orthoptics from the University of Sheffield.

                                                   or

(iv) A validated qualification equivalent to (i) or (ii) or (iii) above.

                                                   or

(v) Be registered as an Orthoptist with the Health & Care Professionals Council UK (HCPC).

                                                  and

(b) Candidates must have 3 years full-time post qualification clinical experience.

                                                  and

(c) Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

For an immediate interview please forward your CV to [email protected] FAO Alisa

For more Healthcare roles please visit www.CPL.com/jobs