Job summary
- Main area
- Retinal Screening - 204065
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
- Job ref
- 262-A-25-7438014
- Employer
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Westmorland General Hospital
- Town
- Kendal
- Salary
- £38,682 - £46,580 Per anum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
DESP Slit Lamp Examiner *Internal Applicants*
NHS AfC: Band 6
Job overview
INTERNAL ONLY TO NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (NCIC) EMPLOYEES
The role of the Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy (SLB) Examiner is to provide dedicated SLB clinical sessions for patients referred to the pathway within the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. To apply clinical technique, experience and knowledge to perform clinical examinations and provide diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy outcomes and subsequent treatment plans. The role also involved identifying incidental, non diabetic eye conditions and managing these according to service referral protocols. To contribution to service development and support with training and mentoring screening staff.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations for patients within the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.
Apply knowledge, skills and experience to determine clinical outcomes following a successful eye exam.
Apply clinical knowledge and decision making to decide on referrals required to Ophthalmology or closer monitoring within the service.
Working for our organisation
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ‘safe, high quality care every time':
- Being a clinically led organisation
- Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
- A positive patient experience every time
- A great place to work
- Managing our money well
As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.
· Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
· If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.
Important Information
Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:
- Junk Mail is checked regularly
Disclosure and Barring Service:
On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.
The changes mean that:
- youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
- the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.
If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.
Nacro – Tel: 0300 123 1999, or email: [email protected]
Unlock – Tel: 01634 247350, email [email protected] or complete the online form on the Unlock website
Please note the cost of the DBS check is increasing from 2nd December and the new cost will be
Standard DBS check £21.50, Enhanced DBS check £49.50 + any admin costs.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:
Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.
Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.
As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.
A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.
27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
Flexible working Scheme
Excellent opportunities for development
Competitive NHS Pension scheme
Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies
EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems
These schemes are subject to availability
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Optometrist OR Qualified Diabetic Eye Screener (holding the grading unit of the Diploma in Health Screening or historical C&G equivalent and accreditation of Slit Lamp Examination
- Educated to postgrad level
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable criteria
- A qualified practicing optometrist registered with the General Optical Council (if non NHS Screening Staff)
- Equivalent skills, knowledge and experience.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- NHSE Slit Lamp Accreditation completion, (Level 1 and Level 2)
- Experience of SLB technique and examination, including the correct use of the VOLK lens to examine the retina
- Understanding and capability to apply NDESP Screening and Grading policies.
- Ability to apply clinical knowledge and experience to interpret national and trust level polices to achieve appropriate clinical outcomes
- This role delivers detailed retina examinations for patients with complex history and the responsibilities associated, working independently.
- To report to Clinical Lead Ophthalmologist.
- To be able to demonstrate professional, experience dealing with people of all ages and with a range of vision problems and in particular those with diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy
- To be able to identify incidental pathology and manage appropriately
- Minimum 2 years experience in DESP
- Minimum 1 year experience in DESP secondary, referral outcome, digital surveillance and arbitration grading or working towards this through Clinical Lead approval
- In depth knowledge of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and grading pathways and associated risk factors
- Knowledge of National Standards and KPI’s
- Apply professional knowledge acquired through the Level 3 Diploma, plus completion of SLB accreditation
- One to one OCT interpretation, clinical supervision and training by a Retinal Screening Clinical Lead/Associate Medical Retina Specialist.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the NHS DESP Common Pathways
- Experience of working autonomously in a clinical setting
- Experience of OCT Interpretation
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to perform and apply techniques for Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations using industry standard devices
- Manual dexterity and co-ordination sufficient to operate and manoeuvre the Slit Lamp, Volk Lens and other clinic equipment
- Ability to line manage a team
- Ability to create and maintain effective working relationships
- Apply specialist leadership for colleagues with the ability to resolve conflict and deal with difficult situations remaining calm, assertive, fair and diplomatic
- Ability to communicate findings orally and by letter/reports to a wide range of professionals, patients and carers
- To deliver clinical training, sign off and annual competency sign off for diabetic eye screening and grading staff.
- To be responsible for the clinical governance, training, education and supervision aspects of the Diabetic Eye Screening Slit Lamp pathway
- To provide the equivalent above along side the other Band 6 roles (Grading and Quality Lead, Senior Specialist Grader) as needed
- This role entitles the responsible clinical and developmental responsibilities, which will be reported to Programme Manager and the Clinical Lead.
- Ability to deliver presentations and training sessions on clinical and non clinical required topics
- Ability to manage difficult conversations
- Good organisational ability
- Ability to apply prolonged levels of concentration
- Ability to utilise sophisticated, technical software for the manipulation and analysis of images
- Attention to detail
- Ability to write Protocols and Standard Operating procedures in line with national and local guidelines
- Ability to work in isolation but part of a team
- The ability to travel across the country, this requires the use of a vehicle
- Commitment to the role
Desirable criteria
- Willingness and application to learn Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examinations through structured training, overseen by the DESP Clinical Lead
Personal Circumstances
Essential criteria
- Professional Attitude
- Self-motivator
- Confident
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible to support service need of clinic delivery including covering clinics across the full service region
Desirable criteria
- Full UK Driving License
Other requirements
Essential criteria
- Actively acts as a role model in own behaviour and fosters a nondiscriminatory culture
- Promote equality and value diversity (Level 3)
- Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity (Level 4)
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Stephen Quirk
- Job title
- DESP Programme Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07776162903
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