(2) GOC and college of optometrists

When was the GOC established

Established in 1958

Who whose benefit is the GOC work undertaken

Public

Optometrists

What are some of the key functions of the GOC

Standards of professionalism

Education

Fitness to practice

Laws

Purpose of the GOC

To promote high standards of conduct and education for the public benefit

Sets rules and minimum standards

Monitors fitness to practice.

GOC health and social regulators

Function is t protect promote and maintain the health and safety of members of public

Protect the public by uphold,ding high standards in the optical professions

what is the GOCs mission

to portect the public by upholding high staandards in the opitcal proffesions

safe and effective eyecare for all 

what are the GOCs values 

act with integrity 

pursue excellence 

respect others and ideas 

show empathy 

behave fairly 

agile and respinsive to change 

what are the 4 core functions of the GOC

1. setting standards for optical education and training, performance and conduct

2. approving qualifications leading to registration

3. maintaining a register of individuals who are qualified and fit to practise, train or carry on business as optometrists and dispensing opticians

4. investigating and acting where registrants fitness to practice, train or carry on business is imapired

registration and training of opticians

GOC keeps a register of opticians

annual fee of £30 for students , £ 415 for optoms ad £405 for DOs

where does the money for registration goes 

expenditure  2023-24: from 23/24 annual report 

shows where all the money goes each year 

most is fitness to practice and education 

GOC register

• optometrists

specialty list

additional supply speciality

independant prescribing speciality

• dispensing opticians

specialty list

dispensing opticians who can fit contact lenes

• student register

optometrists

dispensing optometrists

• bodies corporate

companies

GOC registering requirements

can only register on one list

must be registered otherwise illegal to practise

penalty fee + erasure for failure to renew

must be insured - not for students as being supervised. need insurance if something goes wrong in practice

individual has a duty to update details

care when working for unregistered company

optician has full responsibility for patient care

opticians act 

expains the legal requirements for an optician

when was the opticians act introduced

initially introduced in 1958

consolidated in 1989

amended in 2005

use of titles

• restricted to use if not qualified:

opthalmic optician

optometrist

dispensing optometrist

registered optician

• not restricted

optician

qualified optician

what are the criminal offences establishe by the opticians act 

testing of sight while unregistered 

fitting of contact lenses whilst unregistered 

sales of optical appliances CLs/Specs which dont meet the requirements set out in the opticians act and/or the sale of optical appliances order of council

use of a protected title while unregistered  

opticians act 1989- sight test restricted to:

registered medical practitioners

registered optometrists

medical students under uspervision

student optometrists under supervision

contact lenses- fitting restricted to above groups and suitably qualified dispensing opticians

what is the opticians act definition of sight test

testing sight with the object of determining whether thee is any and, if so, what defect of sight and of correcting, remedying or relieving any such defect of an anatomical or physiological nature by means of an optical appliance prescribed on the basis of determination

sight testing restrictions

duty to perform such examination of the eye for purpose of detecting injury, disease or abnormality 

duty to give a prescription including: statement that all required tests , whethe pr not a referral is reuqired, prescription fo roptical appliance, or statement that none is required 

px must not be required to pay in advance or beobliged to purchase any optical appliance 

sale and supply of optical appliances

• anyone cal sell an opticalappliance to anyone over 16 who is not registered

• all optical appliances must be supplied to a valid prescription of an optometrist

• plano contact lenses now included in restrictions of sale and supply

• anyone can sell ready made readers to over 16s without a prescription

single vision lenses each having the same + spherical power not exceeding 4D for the purpose of correcting presbyopia

CLs rules- fitting

can only fit a pair of cls if they have an up to date eye examination

if out of date ,then cant fit

can only fit on baiss of S/T or E/E which is less than 2 years old

must issue specification once fitting complete ; signed and expiry date

fitter must give instructions on use and care of lenses; even for plano lenses, AOP advises written instructions, and that px signs to indicate a reciept of instructions

CLs rules:supply

criminal offence to supply contactt lenses other than by, or under supervision of or under general direction of regostered practitioner 

supervision- supervisor must be on premsis, aware of procedure and in position to interveme if necessary 

general direction- optician needs to be in management chain, and accountable for what goes on between customer and seller 

CLs supply ages

CL cant be supplied to a patient who is under 16 unless the lenses are supplied by or under the supervision of a registered optom/do/omp 

CL rules: supply requirements

must:

have original, valid specification

verify specifications if copy

make arrangements for aftercare

consider A/C, emergency provision, signs, synptoms to look out for

standards of practice for who?

standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians

standards for optical students

standards for optical businesses

purpose of the standards of practice

include standards relating to behaviour and performance

designed to make clear what is expected of registrants, while allowing room for them to use their proffesional judgement in deciding how to meet the standards in any situation

making the care of your patients you r first and overriding concern

list of standards of practice

1. listen to patients and ensure that they are at the heart if the decisoins made about their care

2. communicate effectively with patients

3. obtain valid consent- patient is aware of what you’re doing

4. show care and compassion fo ryour patients

5. recognise and work within your limits of competence

6. conduct appropriate assessments

7. Maintain adequate patient records

8. Protect and safeguard patients colleagues

9. Ensure safe environments

Using the standards of practice

Shouldn’t go back and write down more information

If do, need to write a date and time next to the information to show that it was added after the appointment

Supervisor should’ve made sure all the info was written down.

• maintain clear legible patient records Protect

• Retain clinical responsibility

Using standards of practice

Cannot book the appointment as it breaches patient confidentiality

Don’t know if he wants her to know about his eye care

• keep info confidential

Using standards of practice

Shouldn’t tell the patient the practitioners ability

Should’ve said colleague has been held up

If student thinks the partner is not competent they should tell someone

• refrain from making necessary comments about peers

• Raise concerns about ox peers etc if needed

Using standards of practice

shouldn’t be taking anything for fitting contact lenses

• ensure that incentives, targets and similar factors do not affect your professional judgement. Do not allow personal or commercial, interests and gains to compromise patient care

Using standards of practice

Should not have them left on their own to finish the test

Need the supervisor

• promptly raise concerns about your patients, peers and colleagues

GOC- health and social care regulator

• statutory function : to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of members of the public

• Interpreted in mission as : to protect the public by upholding high standards in the optical professions.

GOC mission vision and values

• mission

To protect the public by upholding high standards in the optical professions

• vision

Safe and effective eye are for all

• values

Values underpinning the way GOC work with each other and with the public, registrants and partner organisations:

1. Act with integrity

2. Pursue excellence

3. Respect other people

4. Show empathy

5. Behave fair

6. Agile and responsive to change

Eligibility for registration.

• Requirement for continuing education and training

• Continuing professional developing CPD

3 year cycle

Recommended minimum for each year

Even spread across all areas

Current cycle due to finish 31st December 2027

Background to CPD

• voluntary scheme for many years

Directorate of optometric continuing education and training DOCET

Became compulsory in 2005

3 year cycle Recommended minimum

36 points needed

Eligibility for registration

Requirement for continuing education and training

The council may by rules make scheme providing for the continuing education and training of -

Registered optometrists and registered dispensing opticians

Eligibility for registration - enhanced CET post -2012

Originates with idea of revalidation m aim for revalidation is to reassure public

Foster and Donaldson reports 2006:

shipman and inquiry 2005

CMO report and F&D emphasised on cards for some time

Revalidation

The government requires that all healthcare professionals should undergo regular revalidation

Assuring the public and patients that healthcare practitioners training is up to date

Revalidation- January 2009

Doctors skills should be checked as often as airline to ensure they can give a performance as good

Revalidation for doctors

• Licence to practise

  introduced in 2009, if treating patients

• Revalidation

Commenced 3rd December 2012

5 year cycle

Enhanced CET- post 2012 for optometrists

• GOC commissioned research into risk

Generally low risk

Some risk identified :

1. Isolated practitioners

2. CET has been undertaken in preferred interest / modality

General principles which applied to ALL registrants

3 year cycles

1 jan 2012- 31 December 2015

1 jan 2016 - 31 dec 2016

1 jan 2019- 31 December 2019

2. 36 points requirements per cycle for all dispensing opticians and optometrists

3. Expectations that registrants spread their CET activity throughout the three year cycle obtaining a minimum of 6 points per year

4. The number of points awarded for a CET activity reflected the level of engament with peers or experts required and the extent to which the activity supports reflection by the participant.

Requirements for optometrists: the 36 general points which must include:

1. at least one point otaine for participation in a peer review or discussion group

2. all optometry competency units, specifically:

communication

ocular examinations

optical appliances

contact lenses

ocular disease

assessment of visual function

assessment and management of binocular vision

What is CPD

the mandatory training and education hours optometrists must complete every year

change to CPD: 1st jan 2022- onwards

recognised the optical ectory was changing and diversifying scopes of practice undertaken by optometrists and dispensing opticians

no room for development/ to expand scope of practice

competencies seen as overprescriptive

concern of tick ox exercise

more changes to CPD: 1st jan 2022 onwards

1. you must obtain a minimum of 36 CPD points from omains 1-4 during a cycle.

2. you must achieve a minimum of 18 poiints through interactive CPD

3. expect you to obtain at least 6 points per year but would encourage more in order to spread learning evenly across the 3 year cycle

4. must cover each of the 4 core domains by obtaining a minimum of one point in each

more changes to the CPD; 1st jan 2022 onwards

5. must participate in at least one peer review event. can either be a peer review delivered by GOC CPD or registrant led peer review as part of a registrants self directed CPD

6. you must participate in self directed CPD providdded that you obtain at leat 18 points from GOC CPD providers

7. you must plan you rpersonal development at the start of a cycle by creating a personal development plan in your MyCPD account

8. you must complete a reflective exercise with a peer based on you r personal development plan by the end of a CPD cycle

4 domains of the CPD

1. professionalism

2. communication

3. clinical practice

4. leadership and accontability

• SoP mapped to these domains

• speciality domain: speciality CPD = contact lensn optician. speciality CPD= AS/SP/IP optometrist

how SoP map to domains (s = standard)

1. professionalism

• show care and compassion for your patients

• work collaboratively with colleages in interest of patients

• protect and safegaurd patients, colleagues and others from harm

• show respect and fairnesss to others and do not discriminate

• maintain confidentiality and respect your patients privacy

• maintain appropriate boundaies with others

• be honest and trustworthy

• do not damage the reputation of your proffesion through your conduct

• be candid when things have gone wrong

how SoP map to domains

2. communication

• listen to patients and ensure they are at the heart of decisions made about their care

• communicate effectively with patients

• obtain valid consent

• respond to complaints effectively

how SoP map to domains

3. clinical practice

• keep your knowledge and skills up to date

• recognise and work within your limits of competence

• conduct appropriate assessments exams tratments and referrals

how SoP map to domains

4. leadership and accountability

• maintain adequate atient records

• ensure that supervision is undertaken appropriately and complies with the law

• ensure a safe environment for your patients

taking part in peer review/discussion

some apprehension

need to ensure confidentiality and all in group take part

college of optometrists: members code of conduct

• excersise your professional judgement and use your skills to the best of your ability

• discharge your professional responsibilities with integrity, considering and acting in the public interest when appropriate

• be an eg of good practice to your colleagues

• do all in your power to ensure that your professional activities dont put others at risk

• never engage in any corrupt or unethical practice

• never engage in any activity that will impair the dignity and reputation of the college

• observe the colleges valyes when dealing with college employees, fellow members and your colleagues and patients

when was college of optometrists founded

founded in 1980 from:

the british optical association (1895)

the scottish association of opticians 1921

the worship company of spectacle makers 1629

college of optometrists

• the british college of opthalmic opticians - 1980

• the british college of opthalmic opticians (optometrists)

• the british college of optometrists ( opthalmic opticians)

• the british college of optometrists

• the college of optometrists: royal charter granted in 1995

objectives of the college defined in royal charter

improvement and conservation of human vision

advancement for the public benefit of the study of and research into optometry

promotion and improvement for the public benefit of science and practice of optometry

maintenance for the public benefit of the highest possible standards of professional competence

examinations

scheme for registeration of UK trained optometrists

higher qualifications- professional certificatem prof higher certificate, prof diploma

fellowship by portfolio

common final assessment