Specialist Retina Practitioner (XR06) in Leeds

The post is an integral part of the Ophthalmology MDT, responsible for specialised clinical skills and leadership competencies, promoting the effective and economical use of resources and contributing to budgetary balance. The post holder is responsible for his/her own actions without direct supervision and accountable for the actions of junior members of staff. The post holder will have responsibility for the delivery of elements of the medical retina service, from initial assessment and investigation to treatment with intra-vitreal injection. As a specialised practitioner, the post holder will work with the team to deliver care, plan future service demand planning and will collaborate with patients, carers and colleagues. This post will involve an independent caseload.

The post holder will also work within the Macular Treatment Suite, with an independent case load. This role will involve either the clinical assessment of patients having intra-vitreal therapies or the provision of a range of intra-vitreal injections or both.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will be practising as a retina specialist practitioner within Ophthalmology, providing patient-centred and evidence-based clinical care, within an agreed scope of competence and practice.
• The role will encompass the skills of history taking, slit lamp examination, image acquisition and/or interpretation, diagnosis and treatment of intra-vitreal injections.
• The post holder will work in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to implement and improve the patient pathway and will be expected to acquire new skills to further enhance the quality of the service delivered.
• Additional roles will include the day to day liaison with other retina specialist practitioners and to help lead the rest of the team within the Macular Treatment Suite.
• The successful candidate will work within the medical retinal service and support, co-ordinate and implement effective medical retina assessments and interventions.
• The role will encompass the skills of history taking, measurement of LogMAR visual acuity, slit lamp examination, ocular coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and interpretation, canulation for fluorescein angiography, and treatment with both intra-vitreal injection and photodynamic therapy.
• The successful candidate will work alongside the medical retina consultants and other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

About us:

The Ophthalmology Department lies within the Head and Neck Clinical Service Unit at Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust. It is the largest provider of specialist Ophthalmology services in the Yorkshire region and provides a specialist ophthalmology service for patients in Leeds, Yorkshire and from across the north of England. We strive to work as a team and be the centre of excellence, putting our patients at the centre to deliver patient focused care. We encourage staff to voice concerns in an open and honest way and are open to ideas to improve patient experience and change practice to improve efficiency so that we deliver what we promise. We have ongoing improving patient experience projects and each team member is actively encouraged to lead and be involved in all projects, irrespective of their banding.

The Ophthalmology Outpatient Department operates across two sites: St James's Hospital and Seacroft Hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Job responsibilities:

• Actively contribute to the provision of education and skills development of nurses, optometrists, and non-medical allied professionals.
• Support medical staff in the delivery of the intra-vitreal injection service through assessment and treatment of the patient.
• Increase capacity for fluorescein angiography and fast-track assessment of referrals from primary care.
• Increase treatment capacity by providing intra-vitreal injections.
• Utilise appropriate clinical skills when assessing patients after injection and being aware of the indications for paracentesis.
• Establish a 2 stop assessment service for AMD patients with stable disease and monitor the success of the service.
• Maintain a high standard of patient care in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies.
• Act as a role model for the development of clinical skills and knowledge within the ophthalmic team.
• Work in partnership with Medical team, Matron, Sisters, Charge Nurses in the development of department/ward practice, reflecting LTHT strategic and workforce delivery plans.
• Set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including those standards defined in the National Benchmarks for Essential Care.
• Analyse and synthesise information from a variety of sources and make recommendations for the clinical area.
• Develop effective networks for sharing information expertise, and good practice, both within and outside the Trust.
• Promote evidence based practice, wherever possible.
• Assist in the implementation of Trust wide nursing and midwifery policy and practice guidelines.
• Support the development and assist in the review of guidelines, write clinical competencies and work based learning packages for use in clinical areas.
• Provide high quality care as an expert practitioner and act as a role model and resource for advice, support and guidance.
• Act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery/ Health Professions Council code of conduct.
• Ensure and promote the maintenance of a safe, clean and secure working environment.
• Support the Clinical Governance processes within ophthalmology. Supports service measures to ensure quality and standards of the fundamental aspects of care delivered and outcomes achieved.
• Work within The Royal College of Ophthalmologists guidelines for HCPs giving intra-vitreal injections.
• Participate in clinical/peer supervision and monitor personal outcomes of patient interventions.
• Participate in two stop assessment service for stable patients inclusive of investigation required to include extensive slit lamp skills and intra ocular measurement.
• Work in partnership with Medical team in the Fast track assessment service, supporting with Fundus fluorescein angiography and or Indocyanine green.
• Obtaining informed consent from patients prior to investigations/treatment.
• Interface with Low vision aid service and Eye clinic liaison officer.
• Identification of and interpretation of Optical coherence tomographs.
• Regularly undertake clinical audit and participate in patient experience/feedback.

The successful candidate will be expected to support the entire patient pathway from initial assessment and investigation, to treatment with further assessment as required. It is therefore envisaged that the successful candidate will become involved in fast-track assessment of patients referred from the community, fluorescein angiography, intra-vitreal injections and assessment and the provision of two-stop assessment only clinics for patients with stable retinal disease. A full programme to develop the skills required for intra-vitreal injection will be provided.

Person Specification:

Skills & behaviours:

• Well-developed clinical practice skills
• Capable of lateral thinking
• Evidence of prior independent working and leadership

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse OR Registered ODP OR Registered Optometrist
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Willing to undergo training as necessary
• Recognised teaching/assessing qualification

Experience:

• Substantial experience as a staff nurse or other Allied professional
• Experience in clinical speciality including ophthalmic theatres and/or intra-vitreal injections
• Current issues in healthcare
• Understanding of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists guidelines around the use of HCPs in the delivery of intra-vitreal injections
• Understanding of the rationale, benefits and side-effects of intra-vitreal injections
• Local anaesthesia for the eye
• Relevant anatomy of the eye
• Knowledge of ophthalmology, especially common medical retina conditions and the rationale for intra-vitreal injection
• Interpretation of retinal imaging
• Benefits and possible complications of intra-vitreal injection

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.