Orthoptist

**MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**: To be an autonomous practitioner working independently and unsupervised making clinical decisions about care management, onward referral and timely/appropriate discharge within the policies and procedures of the department, the trust and the code of practice and ethical guidelines of the professional body. To assess visual fields when necessary, using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser being able to choose the appropriate test for each individual, interpreting the test results and explaining findings to patients. To assess patients when necessary, using the Zeiss Ciruss 5000 OCT Report to the Orthoptic Team Leader on all matters relating to the Orthoptic and Optometry service. Clinical accountability is to the referring Medical Practitioner, and at visual screening sessions to the Community Consultant Paediatrician.

Responsible for the instillation of eye drops for diagnostic and treatment purposes in accordance with departmental Patient Group Directives. Responsible for ensuring compliance with all Trust and department policies and procedures relating to patient care, quality issues, health and safety issues, confidentiality and administrative duties. Responsible for reading referrals/reports and prioritising appointments in accordance with clinical need, and ensuring an appropriate follow-up schedule is undertaken. To act on behalf of the Orthoptic Team Leader when requested to do so, ensuring that the department is appropriately represented.

To undertake administrative and clerical tasks and be responsive to telephone calls from patients, parents/carers or other professionals regarding patient care in accordance with departmental policy. Attend mandatory training as and when required. Undertake any other duties, appropriate to the grade, as directed by the Orthoptic Team Leader. This job description is issued as a guideline to help you understand the duties you will be initially expected to undertake.

It may change from time to time to meet new working requirements after discussion between you and your line manager. COMMUNICATIONS To communicate effectively with patients, parents and carers to ensure understanding of the diagnosed condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent will be used in a wide variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication may be evident e.g.

loss of hearing, learning difficulties, altered perception, pain and fear etc. Keep legible, accurate and contemporary records while maintaining client confidentiality. Responsible for producing timely and appropriate reports on children to aid educational health care plans. Responsible for communicating, sensitively, using the appropriate style of language to ensure full understanding, with patients of all ages with learning or communication difficulties and/or their carers, as appropriate, information regarding options and expected outcomes of treatment.

Responsible for providing information, as applicable to other health professionals, in an appropriate format, regarding the diagnosis, prognosis and expected outcomes of any treatment required. Responsible for imparting unwelcome news to patients and their relatives in cases of significant amblyopia and ensuring that the need for treatment and the implications, particularly to safety, education and long term career choices are fully understood. To confer and consult with the other members of the multi-disciplinary community eye team with regard to the patients treatment to ensure appropriate clinical care. To work where necessary with interpreters, relatives, and support workers to achieve patient comprehension.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENT CARE Responsible for the accurate assessment of vision, ocular motility and ocular alignment and diagnosis of patients of all ages (infants to elderly) with a wide range of medical conditions (e.g. amblyopia, squint, neurological disease, trauma etc.) referred to the Orthoptic service. Responsible for the instillation of eye drops for diagnostic and treatment purposes in accordance with departmental Patient Group Directives Responsible for formulating individualised care packages, using an up to date knowledge of evidence based practice, promoting them to the patient, motivating them and/or their carers To undertake timely treatment and altering/adapting the care plans to suit the needs of the patient and clinical requirements, to ensure positive treatment outcomes. Take a lead in the decision and timing of corrective squint surgery.

To undertake pre and post-operative measurements of ocular motility defects ensuring use of appropriate level of manual dexterity and speed to ensure accurate results, especially in infants. To identify post-operative risks and discuss this with patients and/or their parent/carer and surgeon. To advise on post-operative squint care with regard to use of antibiotic drops, wear of glasses, swimming and schooling to ensure the best sur