Specialist Grader

Job summary

1 Full time (37.5 hours per week) post to work based in Hull within the Humber Diabetic Eye Screening Programme offices at Hull Royal Infirmary and covering static slit lamp biomicroscopy clinics based in Hull, Scunthorpe and Grimsby.An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, flexible and motivated person to join the Humber Diabetic Eye Screening Programme as a Specialist Grader. To work in unison with the Head of Optometry, Humber DESP Clinical Lead and Programme Manager in order to deliver a slit lamp biomicroscopy screening service for Humber DESP. Responsible for the management of accurate and timely grading of digital retinal images including OCT within the Grading Team. To provide assistance and support to the developing grading staff and the retinal screening team. To contribute to the department's overall goal of providing an efficient screening/photography service for GP based diabetic patients throughout Hull, East Riding, North and North East Lincolnshire. To support the activities of the department to ensure that National Quality Standards are maintained.

Main duties of the job

The grading role will include ongoing Test and Train assessments and keeping up to date with the latest pathway changes and national guidance. Attention to detail is vital and the ability to follow strict information governance procedures.The successful applicant needs be able to confidently and competently work under pressure dealing with a large workload with great accuracy. Excellent teamwork is required within a small grading team and the ability to support and feedback to the individual graders is essential. Contact with patients is required therefore a friendly manner with patients is essential with knowledge of how to care for patients with mobility or health issues.

The post holder would be required to have already achieved a City and Guilds certificate in Retinal Screening for units 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308. The post holder also requires to have a minimum of 3 years grading experience.The Trust is undergoing service transformations and review, therefore there may be a requirement in future for weekend work/or early evening work. Applicants must be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and team working skills, together with an ability to prioritise workload and work flexibly under pressure to achieve deadlines. Experience of the NHS and working within a Retinal Screening Programme and grading digital images is essential.

About us

The Humber Health Partnership is one of the largest acute and community Partnership arrangements in the NHS, seeing well over one million patients every year and managing a budget of over £1.3 billion.

Made up of two Trusts - Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) - our Partnership has significant ambitions and is committed to delivering world-class hospital and community services for the 1.65 million people we serve.

Together we employ nearly 20,000 staff. Our five main hospital sites are Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Goole and District Hospital, for NLAG and Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital for HUTH.

As Teaching Hospitals working with the Hull York Medical School, we both lead and contribute to research in many areas - biomedical research, primary care, palliative medicine, cardiovascular and respiratory medicine, vascular surgery, cancer surgery and oncology.

We believe that by developing a diverse, inclusive, innovative, skilled and caring workforce, we can deliver excellent care to our patients and a great future for our employees, our Partnership and our community.

Job responsibilities

For further details with regard to this vacancy opportunity, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

We reserve the right to close the advert early in the event of high levels of interest. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.

We welcome applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship to work in the UK, and these will be considered alongside all other applications in line with our commitment to equality and inclusion.

Applicants can determine their potential eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship by reviewing the Skilled Worker Visa criteria set out by UKVI on the gov.uk website.

Person specification

Application Completion

Essential

• Application fully completed

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE level grades A-C in Maths and English Language or equivalent.
• City and Guilds in DRS for units 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 or Level 3 NHS Diploma for Health Screener Units 1-7 (core units) plus screening and grading role specific units 15-19
• At least 3 years experience of working within a NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme as a senior grader
• Previous experience of working within a NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme as a retinal screener and grader
• Experience of NHS diabetic eye screening software
• Knowledge of NHS diabetic eye disease screening pathways
• Current valid UK manual driving license

Desirable

• Knowledge of advanced eye conditions
• Knowledge of the HEY Trust Optometry Team
• Level 3 NHS Diploma for Health Screener Unit 20 (OCT grading)
• Experience of Optomize screening software

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

• Photography experience using Fundus camera equipment
• Ability to prioritise workload to tight deadlines without supervision and on own initiative
• Good administrative and organisational Skills including written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work within and understanding of data protection and the need for confidentiality at all times
• Able to work in a busy clinical environment as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Manual dexterity to learn to use a slit lamp biomicroscope and auxillary fundus lens.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Optomize software versions and grading process
• Knowledge of grading procedures
• Experience using a direct ophthalmoscope to assess the retina
• Experience of using a slit lamp biomicroscope to assess the retina

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Essential

• Polite telephone manner and excellent interpersonal skills
• Caring, friendly disposition.
• Ability to communicate with patients and relatives/ carers
• Good team player
• Comfortable taking individual responsibility but aware limits of competence
• Ability to work under pressure
• Self motivated and reliable

Special Attributes and other

Essential

• Requirement regularly to travel between screening sites
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service including shift work
• Flexible approach to hours and conditions
• Committed to further training.
• Ability to change from slit lamp screening to grading to screening as required to cover clinics

Other Requirements

Essential

• Full Manual Driving Licence