Diabetic Eye Screener Grader

Job overview

The Greater Nottingham Diabetic Eye Screening Programme are looking for candidates with a passion to deliver a high quality screening service with patient care at the centre of the screening experience.

Candidates can either be already qualified having previously passed the City & Guilds or Health Screening Diploma in Diabetic Eye Screening.  Alternatively, if applicants do not possess the required screening qualification we will fund enrolment on the Health Screening Diploma and support unqualified Screeners to become qualified. The training involves completion of a two-year diploma including on the job support and training.

You will be working from Ropewalk House and will travel to and from healthcare settings within Nottinghamshire undertaking screening clinics. You will also assess the images captured as part of the screening process to generate an outcome from individual screens.

Please read the job description and person specification. The recruitment criteria is set out on the person specification and how it will be assessed i.e. application, interview or test. For applicants who are unqualified we will not make an assessment on elements of the job role that are just for qualified applicants to ensure that that we have a transparent recruitment process for all applicants.

Main duties of the job

You will be required to work independently as a screener and grader; you will also work as part of a team in developing and delivering the programme. The role requires you to present excellent communication skills within the multidisciplinary team. You will be accountable in carrying out clinical duties as a lone worker associated with the role and you will be expected to work in line with National Quality Assurance Standards.

Applicants must demonstrate excellent planning and organisational skills along with confident decision making and effective problem solving. Effective teamwork is an important element of the role and we encourage you to speak up regarding new ideas and support development. A variety of essential tasks alongside screening and grading will be required including data collection and analysis, liaising with a number of internal and external contacts and involvement in service improvement projects, therefore your enthusiasm for a career in Diabetic Eye Screening must be evident

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a Diabetic Eye Screener, observe and care for patients attending screening appointments, liaising with administrative staff, porters, nurses and medical staff as appropriate in the best interest of the patient and any escorts.

As a Diabetic Eye Screener, carry out other duties in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and the National Screening Committee guidelines including obtaining informed consent, putting patients at ease, explaining the reasons for their appointment and answering any queries.

As a Diabetic Eye Screener you will be required to manage clinics independently, this includes making decisions independently while in clinic, seeking support and advice where appropriate.

Extract and accurately record health information from patients.

Administration of dilation drops in patient eyes

To photograph diabetic patients in the community, hospital and Prison setting using a non-mydriatic camera and to triage based on clinical findings.

Supervise trainee staff in a clinic setting and assess trainee against standard operating procedures.

Carry out Diabetic Eye Screening appointments with taking images of the retina using a retinal imaging camera in accordance with the current guidelines for diabetic Eye Screener and the programme protocol.

Ensure images are of adequate quality and that they save before finishing a screening encounter, explain to patients the next steps and when they will receive their result letters. This may involve tact and diplomacy when dealing with a range of patients with different needs.

Ensure the safe use of expensive retinal imaging cameras including transporting portable equipment to various screening locations.

Monitor equipment used in the course of the role, ensure it is kept clean and record / report any faults.

Demonstrate duties and techniques to less experienced and new staff. May provide some basic clinical supervision.

As a screener, record accurate visual acuity clinical measurements and other information as required.

Grade images according to the national grading standards; all images need to be assessed to ensure the quality and other factors meet with agreed protocols.

To review and grade the images produced in accordance with defined National protocols and to act upon the grading result appropriately, including diagnosis of lesions which require urgent or routine referrals.

Grading will be done across Primary Grading and Secondary Grading pathways.

Complete mandatory Test and Training image sets according to national standards

Carry out patient safety incident reports and add them to DATIX

Maintain continuing professional development (CPD)