Band 8a Service Clinical Manager - Paediatric Eye Service

An exciting opportunity has become available for a highly motivated, innovative and experienced Orthoptist to join the team of clinical and operational leads within the Inclusion Services Group. This opportunity to share the role of Service Clinical Manager (SCM) has come about because of the planned partial retirement of the current post-holder.
We are looking for an individual who wants to be part of a group management team focussed on delivering safe, high-quality care in the community to children, young people, and families. The role sits within the Inclusion Services Group, which includes Paediatric Eye Service, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services, including traded teams, Community Paediatrics, Neurodevelopmental Pathway (NDP) and Child Developmental Centres. Collaborative working across the services in the interest of children and young people is actively encouraged, to share best practice and make efficient use of resources.
The Community-based Eye Department comprises of a small team of 4 Orthoptists, 1 team administrator and 1 Optometrist, who work together to deliver care to the children across the south Birmingham area. This includes provision of the National Vision Screening programme, assessment and treatment of children within 4 health centres and 6 special schools and a Multi-disciplinary Down's Syndrome clinic. Joint optometry and orthoptic clinics are based across the South of the City., We provide a comprehensive Eye Service for the children in South Birmingham.
Our team consists of orthoptists and optometrists who are extremely experienced in testing children of all ages and abilities. We specialise in assessing and treating vision and eye co-ordination problems. We are closely linked to Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital Eye Department.
We have run the National Vision Screening Service in South Birmingham since 1985, offering an eye test to every Reception age child in both mainstream (including local authority, academies, religious and private schools) and special schools. Home schooled children are offered appointments at our local clinics.
We provide follow up clinics, locally, where children can be monitored and treated until they are stable enough to be discharged. This is usually around the age of 7.
Children with special needs may be seen until they are of secondary school age if necessary, and this will generally take place within the school setting., + Provide clinical operational leadership and responsibility for the Service(s) listed in Appendix 1, this will include clinical advise and expertise where required.
+ To maintain Complex Clinical Caseload in respective clinical field where necessary, this will require the post holder to maintain own professional knowledge and personal development.
+ Provide Clinical leadership in the development of clinical/standard operational processes, ensuring clinical policies and practices are in place and adhered to for all services.
+ To maintain visibility within clinical areas and support staff regarding clinical matters/patient care, to ensure patients receive best possible outcomes and experience.
+ Where required, to provide Service clinical operational leadership/support for all student and educational placements in the group of services.
+ The post holder will support the Divisional on call rota where requested.
+ To provide support in the overall management of budget(s) for the Service(s) listed in Appendix 1.
+ In partnership with Divisional colleagues, to constantly review and improve the service(s), taking into account local and national guidelines and in collaboration with Professional Leads.
+ Support the facilitation of robust CIP identification, reporting and monitoring approach for Services listed in Appendix 1, providing clinical expertise to ensure that clinical outcomes continue to be delivered.
+ Work with the Group Clinical Manager, Group Manager and Divisional AHP Professional Lead to develop the strategic overview for continuing quality improvement within service(s), providing leadership and clinical support to clinical staff to enable change. This includes setting the direction, facilitating strategic discussion, establishing the agendas for action, motivating people and anticipating issues.
+ Work with the Divisional management team to develop as required new clinical initiatives and service developments to improve service outcomes for patients whilst ensuring that plans are in place to monitor on Quality impact assessments .
+ In collaboration with the other Service Clinical Managers and Professional Leads, promote development of audit activity to enable benchmarking of services and clinical governance processes
+ Ensure robust communication systems exist for the dissemination of information to Teams.
+ To work in conjunction with patient experience to, where able, resolve concerns and complaints both locally & formally. This may require support from wider MDT.
+ To maintain and improve clinical performance standards, in conjunction with wider clinical team by monitoring compliance through relevant clinical audits such as monthly Essential Care Indicator and Safety Thermomter audit etc.
+ In conjunction with the other Service Clinical Managers and Professional Leads, to ensure that clinical audits are undertaken as per divisional clinical audit plan and to support services in overseeing improvements required where identified
+ Work with the Group Clinical Manager and Divisional AHP Professional Lead in developing a clinical Strategy for the service(s) listed in Appendix 1.
+ To ensure service users are involved in the evaluation and development of service(s) listed in Appendix 1.
+ Ensure in partnership with the Group Clinical Manager, Group Manager and Divisional AHP Professional Lead that adequate practice support is available for all relevant start groups
+ To support Service Manager in the delivery of activity and performance of services, this will include clinical oversight of demand & capacity planning.
To lead on the recruitment and retention of staff within service(s) listed in Appendix 1.
+ To proactively identify and manage risks within the service portfolio
+ Ensure integration of governance and quality improvement processes at service level ensuring service is properly represented at Divisional Governance Committees and agreed actions are implemented.
+ To lead on the training and development of identified staff, whilst overseeing training programme for the service portfolio.
+ Responsible for clinical delivery and performance within the service(s)

The successful applicant will have experience of line management of staff, coordination of service delivery and leading change relevant to this area of work as well as a strong working knowledge of a varied paediatric caseload.
A degree/diploma or relevant experience in Orthoptics and registration with the HCPC is essential. A Medicine Exemption qualification is desirable. A Clinical Tutor qualification would be advantageous, as we are involved in training Orthoptic undergraduates.
This post will provide clinical operational management for the Paediatric Eye Service, alongside a second SCM. The post being advertised is part-time, working 22.5 hours across 3 days, to include Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, although flexible working could be considered. Hybrid working is supported by the Trust.

Birmingham is a fantastic place to live and we serve a wide range of people and communities. BCHC are an advocate of diversity and strive to mirror the community we serve as much possible.

We are committed to and actively promote equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals from all areas of the community who meet the specific criteria are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage/civil partnerships.
Promoting Workforce Equality
In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under-represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.
The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.
Flexible Working
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (given our range of services and community settings) dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.
In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a 'Great Place to Work'. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!
Benefits of working for us:
+ Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
+ Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
+ Discounts for local and national retailers
+ Dedicated well-being services for all employees
+ Flexible working where possible