Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the full job description & specification

·         To provide specialist ophthalmology advice.

·         To accept direct emergency referrals throughout the day from other healthcare professionals and medical staff both internal and external to the Trust.

·        Take clinical histories and carry out examinations to make a differential diagnosis during autonomous nurse led clinic sessions.

·         Following training and assessment of competence perform specialist ophthalmology procedures.

·         Responsible for communicating sensitive and confidential information concerning patients/clients requiring empathy, persuasion and reassurance to patient with complex needs and/or challenging behaviour

·         Responsible for supporting colleagues and reception staff in de-escalating hostile situations and verbally abusive patients

·         Provide a problem solving approach to patient care

·         Liaise with colleagues and members of other disciplines to ensure good communication and effective exchange of clinical information both within and outside the department.

·         Ensure effective communication and interpersonal skills with other members of the team. Promote a friendly and welcome atmosphere for both team members and patients. Be courteous, helpful and supportive to patients and staff at all times maintaining the values and behaviours’ ethos within the Trust.

·         Actively participate with the multidisciplinary team in the development of protocol’s and standards to direct patient care.

·         Co-ordinate the management of the clinics on a day-to-day basis, ensuring effective service delivery to quality standards

·         Ensure staff are trained and assessed as competent to use equipment within the eye department.

·         To introduce new ideas and methods of nursing care (research), carry out clinical audit and act on the information obtained.

·         To ensure that the highest possible quality of service is delivered within the eye clinic maintaining a high standard of nursing care in accordance with current policies and procedures to facilitate an effective process for the patients’.

·         To ensure that all necessary material resources are available for the day to day running of the clinic and allocate as appropriate.

·         To be patients advocate and provide support for patients medical, social and psychological needs whilst attending the eye clinic.

·         To maintain good nursing practice whilst responding to the changing needs and circumstances within the service. Encourage and develop new evidence based approaches to practice and act as a change agent.

·         Actively promote health education by displaying and updating literature and information relevant to patient’s specific problems for patients and relatives.

·         Manage and develop a service which supports all clinical staff and consultant teams. Collate all the necessary data, record management plans and communicate plans effectively with all clinical and administration staff.

3.2      Managerial

·         To take management responsibility of ‘Daily Clinic Allocation and Planning’, ensuring clinics are staffed with the appropriately trained staff

·         Assessing staff performance against agreed performance standards/objectives and/or competencies at least annually and develop meaningful and achievable personal development plans and objectives

·         To be responsible for the self- development of skills and competencies through participation in learning and development activities, and to maintain up to date technical and professional knowledge relevant to the post

·         Manage the department in the absence of the Department Manager.

·         To actively lead, drive and engage staff to drive change and improvement across outpatients as part of Achieving Excellence and transformation programmes (GIRFT)

·         Assist in ensuring that appropriate performance, management and staff development is on-going. Ensure accurate staff records are kept securely, maintaining confidentiality at all times. To also assist in the management of personal issues as appropriate.

·         To be aware of the Outpatient nursing budget in order to achieve a safe and cost effective service within the constraints of the agreed budget, highlighting any areas of potential cost improvement schemes to the lead nurse

·         To assist in the formulation of policies and protocols and to set standards of performance for patient care in outpatients.

·         Introduce staff to the department and ensure they are familiar with Trust policies and procedures, which must be accessible to all staff including junior doctors and locum staff regarding policies and protocols to ensure efficient clinic procedure.

·         Attendance of management meetings to ensure a quality service is maintained and future developments implemented.

·         Exercise leadership by example and always act in a professional manner to both patients and relatives.