Lead Orthoptist for Wet Amd

The Orthoptic Department is based at Torbay District General Hospital and also holds clinics in community settings. We currently have 9 Orthoptists and 13 Consultant Ophthalmologists.

The Orthoptic role encompasses working in a busy District General Hospital and community settings across the Trust area. The macular service is based in Torbay general hospital. The Orthoptic role will involve seeing a variety of cases both booked and emergencies. Wet AMD and other retinal conditions are seen both face to face and Virtual, these clinics run alongside an Ophthalmologist.

This position is ideal for an Orthoptist who already has extended role skills in the area of Wet AMD and is looking for career progression to expand their knowledge and leadership skills..

Additionally, the department has a dedicated stroke service and has a specialised service for the assessment of adults and children with Special Educational Needs, we hold joint clinics with the Ophthalmologists specialising in ocular motility problems, paediatric Ophthalmology and endocrinologist for those patients with Thyroid eye disease.

The Orthoptic Department is very forward thinking with extended roles into clinical decision making in patients with Wet Macular degeneration and, retinal disease, Glaucoma, Corneal Disease and Paediatric Ophthalmology.
- Advanced level of knowledge with experience as an Orthoptist, working as an autonomous practitioner.
- To be the Lead Orthoptist specialising and leading in an Extended Scope Role in the WAMD Service, to have experience of clinical assessment with patients with Macula and Retinal disease.
- To work in Face to face and Virtual clinics within Extended Role.
- This is a Multidisciplinary team
- To undertake single handed clinics at peripheral clinics as required across the trust

To provide advanced Orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner, for patients referred to the Orthoptic department including a specialist clinical workload eg Visual Stress patients.

Lead Orthoptist for the Extended scope, role of orthoptists and optometry staffing to the Wet Age -related Macula Disease (WAMD) service, as such the post-holder will work within a multi-disciplinary team to lead, provide and develope the wet AMD service for an extended scope practitioner for the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT) using evidence-based practice.

The post holder will be managed by the Head Orthoptist. Orthoptic Clinical supervision will be provided by the Head Orthoptist and for Extended role supervision by the relevant Consultant Ophthalmologist.

The post holder will be expected to supervise other members of staff and students as allocated.
- To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team demonstrating effective communication, and working collaboratively receiving and giving sensitive information to colleagues inside and out of the department, including e.g. GP'S and Paediatricians, plus non-medical staff such as ROVICS.(Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired Children ) Managing a caseload of patients ,at times taking on the role of care co-ordinator e.g. referring to other professionals such as teachers for the visually impaired.
- To communicate effectively with patients and or parents to assess capacity and gain informed consent for those assessments and Individualised treatment plans
- To communicate the initial diagnosis which may be of a distressing feature, tactfully explaining the details of the medical condition which may be highly complex. This requires aholistic and sensitiveapproach where patients have no knowledge of the ocular defects associated with particular medical conditions and /or who may have difficulties accepting the diagnosis.
- Accurately communicate condition related information to senior clinicians who may not personally see the patient but be required to make a management decision based on relayed information.
- The Lead Orthoptist for Retinal Disease will be expected to demonstrate knowledge, skills, training, competence and clinical experience above degree level, providing efficient clinical patient care at Master’s Degree level or equivalent. The individual will possess relevant post-graduate professional qualifications eg Certificate in Medical Retina, and be able to demonstrate accreditation from in-house training in WAMD.
- Evidence of extended and substantial self-study equating to a master’s level. To attend advanced training and specialist courses, eg on Nystagmus, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio
- To liaise with relevant manager for profession regarding any problems arising from core or extended role
- To exercise judgment in the case of adverse events and implications of treatment/ non-treatment to ensure best patient management on an individual basis
- To be an autonomous practitioner in own profession of Orthoptics, assess and diagnose complex Orthoptic patients with conditions, such as Myasthenia Gravis, and Thyroid eye disease, making autonomous