Ophthalmic Assistant

The post holder will support the delivery of clinical health care services to adults and children attending Ophthalmic clinics and theatres within ABUHB.

Following training and achievement of competences, the post holder will contribute to the provision of Ophthalmic services by providing a high quality service including diagnostic testing and performing a range of basic imaging tests and procedures for children and adult patients across a variety of sub-specialties under the direction of the Clinical Leads as well as providing reports and baseline evaluations for review by other clinical staff.

The post holder should have the ability to work closely with members of the multi-disciplinary teams and demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients, relatives and carers who may be emotionally distressed or have barriers to understanding such as learning difficulties, language, hearing or visual impairment and to children and babies.

The post holder will plan their own work within standard operating procedures and policies, to undertake a range of delegated clinical patient care duties.

The post holder will provide efficient and reliable stock management through Omnicell system and will maintain close links with procurements, supplier and stores.

The post holder will work within a variety of ophthalmology clinics to meet the needs of the service on days across the whole week including weekends when required.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.

Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

To support a clinical environment that is patient and public focused.

To participate in the delivery of patient care and undertake clinical duties that are allocated and directly supervised by a registered health professional.

Administer eye drops required during the clinical assessment, in compliance with protocols; reporting any adverse reactions and take appropriate action.

Assess visual acuity in patients, using LogMar, Snellen and other relevant tests and record result accurately and clearly in patient’s record.

Determine the prescription of patients’ glasses using a manual Focimeter and to assess the correct lens to be used for accurate visual field assessment.

Perform automated visual field assessment for patients using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser.

Perform Optical Coherence Tomography and Stereo Optic Disc Imaging.

Monitor and support patients through the diagnostic test procedures providing advice and instruction for patients in order to achieve accurate test results.

Learn to recognise and rectify artefacts during testing that might represent a barrier to accuracy of results.

Undertake a range of basic screening observations e.g. Pulse, Blood Pressure, Pulse Oximetry, Temperature, Blood glucose testing and Urinalysis ensuring that the outcome is accurately recorded in the patient records.

Forward abnormal urine samples to a registered nurse.

Report any changes in a patient’s condition to the nurse in charge and respond to clinical urgencies.

Manual handling of patients, when necessary, to ensure appropriate positioning of the patient for tests.

Observe the needs of patients, and if needs are of a clinical nature, inform the Nurse in Charge.

Observe and report base line observations to qualified nurse or doctor.

Ensure that investigation results are made available for appropriate clinical lead.

Contribute to the promotion of health and prevention of illness, as directed by appropriate clinical lead.

Plan and manage own clinic workload reporting all concerns to appropriate clinical lead.

Assist in the administration and preparation of clinics including the production and maintenance of medical records in line with ABUHB policies.

At the request of nursing/medical staff undertake