Identify any patients requiring urgent referral at the time of their screening appointment. Where the referral is very urgent invoke the same day referral process and telephone failsafe to request that the patient is tracked to their hospital appointment.

ROLE SUMMARY:                           

The post-holder will deliver a consistently high-quality diabetic eye screening service for patients with diabetes in specified area(s). The role has a requirement to work unsupervised within a community-based environment, with travel to a number of fixed and mobile screening venues; with the potential for some early morning, early evening and weekend work.  In addition to the delivery of patient screening services the post-holder will also be involved in the grading of image sets (first full disease and second full disease grading, subject to accreditation). Senior Retinal Screeners will help and work with Team Leaders to support and monitor the Retinal Screeners.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES:

1. Undertake all relevant units of the level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners; carry out the on-line EQA grading tests each month; attend and fully participate in the MDT meetings and adopt a commitment to personal continuous learning and development.
2. Arrive on time to screening venue(s) and undertake the Screening Checklist to ensure the screening environment is safe (for yourself and your patients) and ready for the provision of the screening service. Ensure the synchronisation of the screening clinic list to ensure all patients attending can be screened or where the screening venue has internet access, undertake an opportunistic screening appointment.
3. As part of the Screening Checklist, test the camera for artefacts and clean the camera in the event that there are artefacts on the external lens; in the event that you are not signed-off to clean the camera’s external lens or if the artefact is on an internal lens, raise a request to the DES Programme Lead for the camera to be cleaned.
4. Take responsibility for the safe use and security of the screening equipment, specifically the fundus camera and laptop.
5. Maintaining sufficient stocks of consumables and of the prescribed medication (Tropicamide) to ensure screening appointments are not adversely affected.
6. Welcome patients to their screening appointment; liaise with reception staff to ensure patients are kept informed; authenticate the patient and explain the screening procedure; obtain consent and record an accurate visual acuity for each eye (where the eye is present, otherwise record as Eye Missing); safely administer the mydriasis agent; ask the patient to return to the waiting room and upon their return re-confirm their identity and undertake photographs ensuring correct field of view.
7. Read, understand and follow all of the Retinal Screening Protocols concerned with the screening of patients. Ensuring at least a quarterly review to ensure continued awareness and compliance.  Participate positively in reviews to check compliance of screening venues, equipment and the adoption of policies and procedures.  Work with management to resolve any areas requiring improvement.
8. The stand-alone nature of the clinics necessitates a degree of autonomous decision making, both clinical and technical and you should always work in the best interests of the patient. Where issues are encountered, seek assistance and keep  he patient(s) informed.
9. Accurately record all patient data against the correct patient record, adding comments and image annotation to assist other graders and if the patient is to be referred the receiving Ophthalmologist.
10. Identify any patients requiring urgent referral at the time of their screening appointment. Where the referral is very urgent invoke the same day referral process and telephone failsafe to request that the patient is tracked to their hospital appointment.
11. Adopt a ‘problem solving approach’ and use your best judgement and analysis in order to identify solutions to challenges in day to day operations. Seek assistance from the Programme Lead or other colleagues/help desk as required.
12. Maintain the highest standards of patient care and service delivery. Where there are any deficiencies in the screening venue, camera infrastructure or IT infrastructure/equipment raise these with the Programme Lead and/or Help Desk.
13. Complete the Information Governance Training and Compliance Test as required by management and ensure that patient data is kept confidential and secure at all times.
14. Undertake the regular synchronisation of the screening and grading data; re-attempt synchronisation where there are any errors reported; if problems persist immediately contact the Help Desk.
15. Participate in Proficiency Assessments, for example, of grading competency; participate in feedback meetings to identify areas for improvement and work to make improvements in performance as required.
16. Support effective communication with other members of the team through regular access to your e-mail system and pick up phone messages throughout the day.