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Job summary

Main area
Head & Neck, Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Services L3
Grade
Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
328-HNO-6314842
Employer
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The James Cook University Hospital
Town
Middlesbrough
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Orthoptic assistant / Clinical support worker

Band 3

Job overview

We are expanding and now is the time to come and join our team. Are you motivated & driven to deliver excellence in clinical care? Then we want to hear from you.

We are looking to appoint 2 full-time band 3 Orthoptic assistants / clinical support workers to come and join the Orthoptic Department at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

The post holder will work between hospital sites at The James Cook University Hospital and our satellite clinic at Low Grange Health Village, Middlesbrough, with other team members.

This vacancy will close once sufficient applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an active member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), supporting the qualified Orthoptists to provide an efficient and effective service within the framework of clinical governance. The post holder will participate in the delivery of care to patients in the Orthoptic Department as directed by the qualified Orthoptists and contribute to the smooth running of clinics and co-ordination of patients as directed by the qualified orthoptic staff.

 

The post holder will also carry out delegated clinical care duties and activities including department based clinical procedures and clinical observations (as competent) and directed by registered professionals and within clearly defined parameters, to provide healthcare and support that is individualised to the patient needs.

Activities include but are not limited to; obtaining a patient history for new referrals, obtaining and interpreting clinical observations, undertaking visual acuity, undertaking colour vision assessment, focimetry, OCT scans and other clinical tests for patients of all ages and abilities, interpreting test results and presenting / escalating to the qualified Orthoptist where required.

 

Working for our organisation

Recently rated as one of the best in the country for patient safety and one of the top 40 hospitals by CHKS for the tenth year running, the Trust is one of the largest Foundation Trusts in England.  Working in the Northeast offers an excellent quality of life.  This area boasts great transport links with easy access to a beautiful coastline/countryside and a great range of local amenities.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff to the Trust; this training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills.  You will be expected to attend the leadership development programme, and the Quality Improvement Programme that the Trust delivers. This programme aims to:

  • Explore leadership within the NHS
  • Promote Trust Values and Behaviours
  • Develop your Leadership effectiveness and skills
  • Practitioner level in quality improvement, equipping you with the skills to champion, lead and complete quality improvement within your role

After you complete this four and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities, we offer further in-house courses dependent upon your role and bitesize programmes and leadership apprenticeships at level 3,5 and 7.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Numeracy and Literacy Level 2
  • Care certificate
  • Level 3 vocational qualification Or Short courses and completion of competency workbook equivalent to Level 3 in a range of patient and clinical care duties and/or Equivalent knowledge and experience in a range of clinical care duties equivalent to Level 3; - Theoretical knowledge - Experience of a range of care and related procedures - clinical observations - knowledge of relevant legislation
Desirable criteria
  • Attendance at foundation improvement training and the new and aspiring leaders’ program (within first year of role).
  • Equipment training

Knowledge and skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills.
  • Basic IT skills to use electronic patient records and other Trust systems.
  • Analytical and judgement skills to make decisions based on patient / service user interactions and observations and metrics
  • Time-keeping, organisational planning and prioritisation skills
  • Insight into behaviours and skills of a carer and the need for effective team work.
  • Knowledge of Safeguarding
  • Commitment to continued professional development.
  • Ability to adopt appropriate styles and methods of communication.
Desirable criteria
  • Working knowledge of and/or experience of working in Orthoptics or Ophthalmology, including knowledge of orthoptic clinical testing procedures
  • Familiarity with current NHS and social care policies.
  • Experience of working with children and young people and ability to gain understanding and co-operation of children.
  • Working knowledge of STHFT policies and procedures.
  • Understanding of issues relating to assessing sight impaired or cognitive impaired patients.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a health or social care role
  • Experience of undertaking and recording clinical observations and escalation of changes or findings
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in an Ophthalmology clinical setting.
  • Experience of working in and NHS care role.

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • Ability to deal with a wide range of people at all levels, including clients, carers, family, health and social care colleagues and other professionals.
  • Caring and empathetic.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic with a pro-active approach.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Committed to providing high quality patient care.
  • Willingness to undertake job related training and multi- disciplinary competencies for more effective patient care.
  • Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
  • To be approachable and maintain a good rapport with colleagues.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to travel between the sites from which the Trust undertakes it’s business or attend meetings or training off-site.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgeStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantBetter Health at Work Gold Award

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Esther Copping
Job title
Deputy Head Orthoptist & Lead clinical tutor
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01642 850850
Additional information

Esther Copping extension  34810

Alternative contact:

Jerry Tatton

Head of Orthoptic services

(01642) 835679

JCUH Extension 55679

LGHV Extension 34282

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
The Recruitment Team
The Murray Building
The James Cook University Hospital
TS4 3BW
Telephone
01642 850850, ext. 57396
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