Specialist Optometrist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

•        To be involved in the following highly specialist clinics:

•           Contact lens

•           Cornea.

•           Paediatric.

•           Medical retina.

•           Research.

•           Low visual aids.

•        To co-ordinate clinics ensure patients are given appropriate checks:

•        Adult refraction, paediatric objective refraction.

•        Visual function (visual acuity, colour vision, contrast sensitivity, binocular function).

•        Assessment of eye movements, lid and pupils.

•        Tonometry (Goldmann, ICare, Reichart) and pacymetry.

•        Advanced imaging (e.g. swollen discs, pupilometry).

•        Work as an autonomous practitioner in a single-handed capacity without supervision.

•        To undertake highly skilled, specialist and extended roles.

•        To take sole responsibility for the assessment of your workload which will cover a wide, varied and complex patient group.

•        To be responsible for the prioritising appropriate onward referral of patients.

•        To conclude a diagnosis, supported by sound investigative techniques using problem solving and advanced analytical skills

•        To develop treatment plans for individual patients (orthoptic, ophthalmic, optical and surgical).

•        To provide advice and support to patients and relatives regarding visual problems.

•        To assess patients pre-operatively and discuss with the ophthalmologist the need for surgical intervention, the timing of surgery, risks and benefits, the type of surgery and alternative treatments.

•        To assess patients post-operatively and carry out the appropriate treatment.

•        To discharge patients or organise appropriate onward referral for their on-going care.

•        At all times to observe safe working practices and equipment procedures that comply with legislative requirements and health and safety regulations.

•        Dispenses medication using patient specific directions.

•        To deal with accidents untoward occurrences and complaints according to accepted procedure.

•        To ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff and report all outpatient hazards.

•        To respect patient’s privacy, dignity, gender, sexuality and have due regard to patients cultural and religious beliefs.

 

Administrative Responsibilities

•        To take responsibility for all administrative paperwork ensuring it is kept in order and up to date. Follow-up appointments should be made and sent as appropriate.

•        Undertake general clerical duties and clinical queries (appointments, filing etc).

•        To deal with telephone queries and make appropriate decisions on limited information.

•        To maintain the integrity of computerised patient appointment systems, inputting data accurately and ensuring proper storage, back up and retrieval of information.

•        Ensure all patient episodes, including coding appropriate activity is recorded.

 

Communication and Representation

•           To write appropriate patient records and hospital case notes.

•           To liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team. Ensure information regarding treatment, outcomes, diagnosis and discharge summaries are appropriately communicated.

•           Liaise with the referrer, the on-call ophthalmologist or early referral service regarding onward care of the patient.

•           Liaise with other departments (including admissions, medical records and wards) ensuring effective and efficient communication and work practices.

•           To work with the community visual impairment team to ensure all patients access the appropriate services.

•           Deal with patients in a sensitive manner and act with empathy, tact and understanding with their needs especially those with highly complex medical and ophthalmological conditions.

•           To be sensitive to patients cultural identity and overcome language and other barriers to understanding (e.g. hearing or visual impairment, learning difficulties).

•           To actively participate and positively contribute to departmental meetings, discussing the operational aspects of the department and set agreed standards for care.

 

Education and Training

•           Mentor junior members of the team and new starters, leading by example supporting others within the wider ophthalmic team

•           To support competency based learning objectives for ophthalmic technicians (including perimetry, imaging and tonometry).

•           To give clear, informative and well presented practical demonstrations and theoretical talks to colleagues, undergraduate orthoptists, ophthalmologists, medical students, optometrists and primary care practitioners.

 

Research and Service Development

•        To collaborate with research leads over recruitment to studies.

•        To assess research participants according to protocol and good clinical practice guidelines.

•        To support the delivery of the service facilitating the use of clinical governance and development of competencies.

•        Forecast clinical demand, triage clinics to manage demand and capacity.

•        Management of the patients journey through the clinic.

•        To maintain and develop guidelines on the extended care.

•        To effectively manage your annual leave.

•        To actively participate and positively contribute to the senior leadership team regarding the operational aspects of Optical Services.