Job summary **Advert may close early if sufficient number of applications is reached** Diabetic eye screening is one of the 15 essential regular healthcare checks that everyone with diabetes can access to help reduce the risk of serious diabetes complications.
Diabetic eye screening helps to reduce the risk of sight loss.
The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme aims to reduce the risk of sight loss among people with diabetes through the early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Screening using digital photography is currently offered to all eligible people with diabetes from the age of 12 years old who reside in Stockton, Hartlepool and South Durham locality As well as digital photography using a fundus camera, postholder will be required to use Optical Coherence Tomography Eye Scanners (OCT) which is used to identify referable Maculopathy.
Full training will be given Postholder will be the first contact for patients attending the screening service and will be expected to support service users through the screening process and to ensure they are fully informed as to the expectations/limitations of screening.
To ensure that all service objectives and quality standards are upheld and screening is delivered in accordance with national targets.
Working collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective, evidence based and safe.
Main duties of the job Deliver eye screening clinics unsupervised throughout all clinic locations, often working alone away from the base.
Assess and make clinical judgement regarding patient's eye health comparing a range of options.
Perform visual acuity testing, instillation of eye drops according to protocol.
Capture and review retinal images using specialised fundus photography and, if appropriate, alert grading staff for urgent assessment.
Triage images and place in appropriate grading queue using Traffic Light Grading Queue Participate in External Quality Assurance and participate in simple clinical audits To make decisions and judgements based on the information provided by the patient, therefore being able to work autonomously throughout the day.
Provide advice to patients and carers where there may be barriers to screening Regular requirement to deal with sensitive and confidential information demonstrating empathy, tact and diplomacy In addition to digital photography you will be required to take additional eye scan using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) About us At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones.
We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development.
Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.
We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool" Job description Job responsibilities Communicate effectively at all levels including Senior Management, Heads of Service, other departments, service users and external stakeholders.
Liaise internally with colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the Retinal Screening clinic Ensure good relationships are developed and maintained at all screening location with other Trust staff who may be involved in associated patient care.
Provide advice to patients are carers where there may be barriers to screening Maintain good relationships with all service users, internal and external Encourage and re-assure patients the importance of screening Work collaboratively with the wider team, clinical staff and failsafe department to ensure the smooth delivery of the screening programme Regular requirement to deal with sensitive and confidential information demonstrating empathy, tact and diplomacy Requirement to communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Maintain confidentiality at all times of patient information to which the post holder has access, including patient records/database when undertaking screening duties.
Attend departmental meetings and participate in MDT providing feedback to the clinical lead Deliver eye screening clinics unsupervised throughout all clinic locations, often working alone away from the base.
Assess and make clinical judgement regarding patients eye health comparing a range of options.
Perform visual acuity testing, instillation of eye drops according to protocol.
Capture and review retinal images using specialised fundus photography and, if appropriate, alert grading staff for urgent assessment.
Triage images and place in appropriate grading queue using Traffic Light Grading Queue Participate in External Quality Assurance and participate in simple clinical audits To make decisions and judgements based on the information provided by the patient, therefore being able to work autonomously throughout the day.
Person Specification Qualifications & Training Essential meets essential Desirable Meets Desirable Knowledge Essential meets essential Desirable Meets Desirable