Clinical and Professional:To take responsibility for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Orthoptic patients referred to th.....
Clinical and Professional:To take responsibility for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Orthoptic patients referred to the Eye Clinic as a member of the Orthoptic team, using current evidence based practice. This requires knowledge and interpretation of professional guidelines andincludes inpatients and outpatients attending the Orthoptic clinic and: Patients with cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, benign intracranialhypertension, autism, learning difficulties, speech and language disorders,neurofibromatosis and referrals from the Special Care Baby Unit Orthoptics of neurology, stroke and endocrine disorders, including Myasthenia Gravis,Thyroid Dysfunction, Diabetes, head injuries and maxillo-facial injuries Pre- & Post-operative clinics 1. To ensure that each patient is seen professionally, efficiently and effectively2. To ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care, takinginto account the interpretation of a broad range of specialised clinicaloptions, working as an autonomous practitioner3. To provide a specialist service that enables each patient to obtain the best visual function including: visual acuity, binocular vision, ocular movements and ocular cosmetic appearance as appropriate.4. To determine the diagnosis, prognosis and management of Orthoptic cases where clinical signs and symptoms are highly complex, may be sensitive and emotive, and do not always fall into particular categories and/or where information is limited or unavailable and there may be significant barriers to acceptance and understanding5. To undertake pre- and post-operative measurements of motility defects.Significant hand-eye co-ordination, manual dexterity and speed will berequired, especially in infants, to ensure accurate results of eye surgery.Surgery is based on the Orthoptic measurements6. To identify risks from surgery, and to advise the patient (parents/carers)and surgeon of these risks providing patients with information to allow them to give informed consent7. To advise the Consultant Ophthalmologist in the decision and timing ofsurgery. This requires an up to date knowledge of evidence based practice.8. To assess patients post-operative outcome and modify / implementtreatment accordingly.9. To assist the surgeon with adjustable suture strabismus surgery. Thisrequires taking accurate measurements to assist the surgeon with ocularalignment while the patient is under local anaesthesia.10.To assess pre-verbal and/or mentally and physically disabled patients,some of whom will present with very challenging behaviour e.g.physically/verbally abusive. 11.To contribute to the multidisciplinary Stroke Team, advising the patient and stroke team of visual findings, implementing treatment plans, and advising of how this will affect the patients overall rehabilitation. These patients frequently have highly complex ocular motility disorders, are frail and have communication difficulties. Their accurate diagnosis and treatment require highly developed skills.12.To participate in the provision of an effective Orthoptic-Led VisionScreening Programme through providing training and observation sessionsfor school screening personnel when required13.To participate in the delivery of Pre-School Orthoptic Secondary Screening in community clinics across the county14.To undertake assessment of visual fields using the Goldmann field analyser15.To liaise with the Head Orthoptist regarding any problems arising fromOrthoptic treatment16.To work flexibly and provide internal and cross-site cover for colleagueswhen required during periods of annual leave, sickness, vacancies etc.17.To attend appropriate training events, courses and lectures therebyextending and maintaining up to date knowledge and clinical skills18.To maintain documentary evidence of Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment, attend and contribute to the departmental meetings19.To participate in research projects which the department may be involved with, recruiting and assessing patients in line with a research protocol and recording results20.To observe and maintain professional standards at all times usingadvanced theoretical and practical specialist knowledge, accumulated overa significant period21.To keep and maintain appropriate records at all times, ensuring that allpaperwork is filed promptly into in to case-notes in line with CNSTstandards, and to create and make use of databases where appropriate22.To observe safe working practices and equipment procedures, andcomplying with legislative requirements under H&S regulations. Monitorstocks of consumables23.Respect patient and staff confidentiality at all times24.Liaise with other departments within the hospital (for example the wards, other specialities, waiting list office, medical records, child healthdepartment and ophthalmic secretaries) to contribute to the efficient coordination of Orthoptic services with other disciplines. 25.To undertake departmental clinical audit in line with service needs andstandards. To give presentations on the outcomes of these audits to asmall professional audience.26.To be aware of child protection issues and the procedure for reportingconcerns regarding a child and to follow this when indicated.Teaching and Development:1. To assist in the teaching of Orthoptics to members of other professions, for example medical students and student nurses2. To provide support and advice to school and nursery nurses on mattersrelating to vision screening.3. To participate in regional study days for Orthoptists when required.Communication:1. To have excellent and highly developed communication skills with all staff, patients, and parents/ carers of patients.2. To utilise a range of verbal and non-verbal mechanisms in the assessmentand communication of treatment plans to patients and parents / carers, inorder to progress visual improvement. This will include patients who mayhave difficulty in understanding, e.g. pre-verbal children, stroke victims,hearing impaired patients, and those with special needs / learning disability.3. To be aware of barriers to communication and be able to overcome themeffectively. For example with the partially sighted, non-verbal infants,learning disabled patients, those with expressive language disorders(stroke patients), hearing impairments, or whose first language is notEnglish.4. To explain the details of (confidential) medical conditions which may behighly complex and sensitive, to gain acceptance for treatment, andmotivate or persuade patients/ parents to comply with treatmentprogrammes. This requires a holistic and tactful approach where patientsor parents have no knowledge of the ocular defects associated with aparticular medical condition, and / or have difficulty accepting the diagnosis.5. To communicate the initial actual or potential diagnosis which may be of adistressing nature requiring sensitive, careful explanation of highlycomplex information , either to the parent or carer of a child, or to an adultpatient