Ophthalmic Technician

Job summary

The Ophthalmology Department are recruiting a Band 3 Ophthalmic Technician here at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

You will be working together as part of a multidisciplinary, professional team to assist the registered nurses and senior clinical staff in the planning, delivery and evaluation of care; by assisting the nursing staff to improve and maintain high standards of care, health and well-being of patients through assessment, treatment and rehabilitation, within the unit under indirect supervision.

Our staff are committed to providing high standards of individualized care for the people who use our services, whilst maintaining their privacy and dignity at all times. The post holder will provide an efficient specialised support service to patients allocated for diagnostic testing and assessment.

Main duties of the job

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual eye, its surrounding structures and the visual system can be affected by a number of clinical conditions. Eye health services are becoming more and more important as the UK population ages.

An ageing population means there are more and more incidences of age-related diseases of the eye, such asage-related macular degeneration. These eye diseases can be successfully treated if caught early, and can be managed effectively with existing treatments and medicines.

As a Ophthalmic Technician, you will need to have worked in the ophthalmic unit for a period of twelve months and achieved the competencies expected. You will need to have a NVQ3 for this post. As the Ophthalmic Technician, you will undertake ophthalmic assessment including OCT, Ophthalmic Photography, record Ocular pressure, Schirmer's Test, (when competency pack completed) as required.

You will work alongside qualified professionals and participate in the delivery of planned care. Much of this role requires use of VDU equipment, Ophthalmic diagnostics, with frequent long periods of sitting or standing. Frequent use of a range of web-based systems such as Medisight and other IT software.

About us

Having a career that is personally rewarding is great. Joining Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust can provide you with a job that provides personal fulfilment, job security and flexibility. The successful candidate will be joining a dynamic, multidiscipline team working together to achieve the best outcome for our patients. This role presents the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by providing care in their time of need.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As an ophthalmic technician you will exercise an agreed degree of professional autonomy to make judgements and decisions in order to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role. You will need to have an understanding and knowledge of the the anatomy and physiology of the eye to perform ophthalmic diagnostic tests tests on patients presenting with a variety of ophthalmic conditions.

You will prioritise own tasks under the direction of appropriate professional. Having an awareness of Ophthalmology care recognising and reporting all adverse findings to the appropriate professional.

As a ophthalmic technician you will be supporting the urgent referral service as well as being expected to work in peripheral clinics independently with clinicians.

Further vacancy details can be found on the Job Description.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Expereince

Essential

Recent experience gained within the last 3 years in the care sector NVQ 3 (or equivalent) in Healthcare Must have recent ophthalmic experience and completed ophthalmic competencies for the Band 2 Healthcare Assistants To be able to demonstrate a level of literacy and numeracy skills Basic IT skills

Desirable

Hospital Experience Knowledge of the anatomy of the eye Understanding of imaging techniques Understanding of ophthalmic conditions. Previous knowledge of hospital computer systems

---