Trainee Orbital Prosthetist

 

Description:

An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to undertake the training to become an Orbital Prosthetist with the NHS National Artificial Eye Service (NAES). This highly skilled role involves the specification, assessment, fitting, and aftercare of artificial eyes for NHS patients throughout England. This post will be shared between your main base location in Stapleford, Nottingham, designated outreach clinics in the surrounding area and any location throughout England dependent on current service delivery needs. The successful candidate will be employed by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and managed centrally by the Clinical Services Manager of the National Artificial Eye Service who are based at NAES Headquarters in Blackpool. The successful candidate will be joining a vastly experienced and highly skilled team who cover the whole of England through over 70 different clinic locations. The team pride themselves on the relationships they have established with the patients and their families, and the wide range of relevant health professionals that they encounter when carrying out this role. You will be supported and encouraged to use all your newly acquired skills to allow yourself, the team, and your patients to flourish. The team is a very proactive team with a great 'can do' attitude and there will be plenty of opportunities to help develop the service with innovative ideas.

 

Responsibilities

You will be providing specialist treatment to artificial eye patients in clinics located in Hospitals, GP surgeries, Primary Care settings or occasionally in their own homes covering the whole of England. The main duties of the role will be to accurately specify, order, assess, fit, and adjust artificial eye prostheses, and provide aftercare, to patients referred to our service by Consultant Ophthalmologists and other NHS colleagues.

The post holder will be employed at NHS Band 5 salary from their first day with the organisation and all out of pocket expenses during and after training are reimbursed.

Full comprehensive ‘in-house’ training will be provided to the post holder and therefore previous experience in this specific field is not essential.

The post holder will need to have excellent communication skills both written and verbal and be able to work independently in a remote clinical environment.

This post would involve frequent travel and overnight stays, therefore a high level of flexibility and willingness to adapt is required.

Commitment to undertake ongoing in-service training and development is essential. You should be motivated, keen to learn and ready to embrace change.

If you are motivated to deliver high standards of care and have the personal qualities and characteristics that we desire, then this could be the post for you.

 

Requirements

Minimum 5 GCSE’s including English, Mathematics, and Science at Grade C / 7 or above.

Evidence of further education towards ‘A Level’ standard.

Employment in a patient / customer / people facing role.

Evidence of transferrable skills from previous occupations.

Excellent manual dexterity.

High level of attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy.

Evidence of accurate documentation / recording of information.

Evidence of adherence to policies, procedures & protocols.

Undertaking of research-based studies.

Knowledge of / involvement in ‘change’ projects.

Superior colour vision assessed via Farnsworth Munsell and Ishihara colour vision testing.

Excellent general vision unaided or corrected with spectacles or contact lenses.

High level of working knowledge in the use of basic IT systems (Microsoft Office, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Excellent organisational, planning, and administration skills with an ability to manage own workload.

Strong verbal, written and technology assisted communicator on all levels.

Excellent time-management, punctuality, and attendance records.

Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a remote team.

Professional manner and attitude.

Drive, desire, and motivation to undertake and complete the comprehensive training package.

Ability and confidence to work remotely with minimal supervision.

Full UK driving licence and full access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Able to drive on a regular basis for work purposes.

Able to drive long and varied distances for work purposes.

Able to undertake frequent overnight stays for work purposes.

Adequate level of physical fitness for transportation / moving of equipment.

High levels of concentration for periods of time varying in length.

Extremely adaptable and flexible approach to employment.