Advanced Orthoptist Paediatric Lead

To provide comprehensive, high quality Orthoptic services as an advanced autonomous practitioner and to work as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary teams. To provide an extended specialist role as lead Orthoptist for paediatrics to include Paediatric ophthalmology shared care, paediatric ophthalmology, school screening, autism and special educational needs. They will require specialist knowledge within this discipline. To develop staff working in this domain. To use advanced clinical reasoning to assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the Orthoptic Department including in-patients and out-patients. This includes new and follow-up patients as well as onward referral and safe discharge. Patients may have visual impairment, ocular motility disorders and or amblyopia. This needs specialist skills based on clinical and analytic reasoning and using evidence-based practice. To be responsible for writing and reviewing policies within this service domain. To undertake audit and research activities. To oversee/lead the school vision screening in Stoke-on-Trent and any future vision screening in Staffordshire, liaising with the local councils, ICBs, finance and contract team and commissioners to ensure the service is ran efficiently for patient care and ensuring regular audits are compliant with KPI data. To oversee/lead the Paediatric Ophthalmology Shared Care Service liaising weekly with accredited optometrists regarding patients, practice. Ensuring guidelines are regularly updated in line with national guidance and liaising with the local optical committee, primary eyecare services, ICBs and NHS England to ensure effective running of the service. To oversee/lead the Orthoptic special school service, liaising with schools, ensuring competencies are following and being a support for junior members of staff. To actively teach Orthoptics to medical and non-medical personnel and participate in the clinical supervision of Orthoptic undergraduate students, contributing towards their assessments. Job description Job responsibilities To provide comprehensive, high quality Orthoptic services as an advanced autonomous practitioner and to work as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary teams. To provide an extended specialist role as lead Orthoptist for paediatrics to include Paediatric ophthalmology shared care, paediatric ophthalmology, school screening, autism and special educational needs. They will require specialist knowledge within this discipline. To develop staff working in this domain. To use advanced clinical reasoning to assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the Orthoptic Department including in-patients and out-patients. This includes new and follow-up patients as well as onward referral and safe discharge. Patients may have visual impairment, ocular motility disorders and or amblyopia. This needs specialist skills based on clinical and analytic reasoning and using evidence-based practice. To be responsible for writing and reviewing policies within this service domain. To undertake audit and research activities. To oversee/lead the school vision screening in Stoke-on-Trent and any future vision screening in Staffordshire, liaising with the local councils, ICBs, finance and contract team and commissioners to ensure the service is ran efficiently for patient care and ensuring regular audits are compliant with KPI data. To oversee/lead the Paediatric Ophthalmology Shared Care Service liaising weekly with accredited optometrists regarding patients, practice. Ensuring guidelines are regularly updated in line with national guidance and liaising with the local optical committee, primary eyecare services, ICBs and NHS England to ensure effective running of the service. To oversee/lead the Orthoptic special school service, liaising with schools, ensuring competencies are following and being a support for junior members of staff. To actively teach Orthoptics to medical and non-medical personnel and participate in the clinical supervision of Orthoptic undergraduate students, contributing towards their assessments.