Community Healthcare West, Galway, Mayo & Roscommon HSE West and North West delivers primary & community care, mental health, older persons, disability and health & wellbeing services across Galway City & County, Mayo & Roscommon.
What are the Services? HSE West and North West Services focus on keeping you well so that you can continue to live at home or close to home through our health promotion, disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation programs.
Description
Orthoptist, Senior
Job Specification & Terms and Conditions
Job Title and Grade: Orthoptist, Senior
Remuneration: The salary scale for the post is 01/10/2024:
Campaign Reference: CHW082-OSCHW-2024
Closing Date: Monday 02nd December 2024 at 12 noon.
Proposed Interview Date(s): As soon as possible after closing date. Candidates will normally be given two weeks notice.
Taking up Appointment: A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post: There is currently 1 temporary whole-time vacancy available in Shantalla, Galway with outreach clinic in Tuam Co Galway.
A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Community Ophthalmology, Primary Care, (Galway) within Community Healthcare West from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.
The Senior Orthoptist will work as part of the newly established multidisciplinary Primary Care Eye Team (PCET) which currently includes one Consultant Ophthalmologist, one Ophthalmic Physician, two Clinical optometrists, one Senior Orthoptist, one Ophthalmic Nurse and two Ophthalmic Technicians.
Reporting Relationship:
The post holder will report Operationally to Ita Kelly, Business Manager and Clinically to Dr Geraldine Comer.
Key Working Relationships: The Orthoptist will be an integral member of the Ophthalmic team which also comprises of a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Community Ophthalmic Physician, Clinical Optometrists, Orthoptist, Tertiary referral unit staff.
Purpose of the Post: The Orthoptist, Staff Grade, will be working to provide an Orthoptic service and care for service users/patients.
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 Orthoptists (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 organisation 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 adults from the Early Intervention Team and advise on their continued care.
* Assess patients post-stroke, can be referred from any source.
* 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 minimise occurrence of these.
* Diagnose and formulate a programme of treatment for Orthoptic patients/service users.
* Organise 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/service users continued care.
* Provide counselling to patients, relatives and carers on Orthoptic conditions.
* Review patient’s/service user’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 paediatric and adult Orthoptic clinics, with clinical guidance provided by the Consultant Ophthalmologist.
* 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.
* 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.
* Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.
Health and 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. Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.
* 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.
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.
* 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.
* 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/or experience:
* 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 for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
2. Health:
Candidates must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
3. Character:
Candidates must be of good character.
Post specific Requirements:
Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience in Ophthalmology as relevant to the role.
Other requirements specific to the post:
Have access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge:
Clinical and Professional Knowledge:
* Demonstrates an understanding of the organisation of Orthoptic services, including an understanding of Orthoptic procedures, the underpinning theory and its application to the role.
* Demonstrates a high level of clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
* Demonstrates evidence-based clinical and technical knowledge in making decisions regarding patient assessment and care.
* Demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development.
* Demonstrates a willingness to engage and develop IT skills relevant to the role.
Planning and Managing Resources:
* Demonstrates evidence of effective planning and organising skills.
* Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
* Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in response to workforce demands.
Managing and Developing (Self and Others):
* Demonstrates ability to lead by example and adapts leadership style to suit the demands of the situation.
* Demonstrates the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
Commitment to providing a Quality Service:
* Demonstrates a commitment to and the ability to lead on the delivery of a high-quality, person-centred service.
* Is open to change and supports the implementation of change.
Campaign Specific Selection Process:
A ranking and/or shortlisting exercise may be carried out based on the information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and/or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:
The HSE is an equal opportunities employer. The HSE aims to achieve a positive working environment whereby all employees are respected, valued and can reach their full potential.
Health & Safety:
It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility.
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