Under the new ETR arrangements, it is possible for you to start supervising as soon as you become a full GOC registrant, working with a more experienced supervisor or as part of a wider supervisory team. It is expected that you will complete training prior to supervising and will have support to do so from both your employer, and the organisation overseeing the placement experience. For further details please see the SPOKE Supervision Guidance.
For CLiP new registrants can become qualified to supervise a student as a College Task Supervisor after completing some CPD training to ensure that you understand the role. Registrants from other ophthalmic professions can also be recognised as task supervisors, within their scope of practice. After you have gained more experience of supervising students to the point of registration, or with the support of a mentor, optometrist registrants are able to lead the team and have overall responsibility for the student or students as a College Practice Lead
Under Optometry Manchester, there are a variety of ways in which you can get involved with teaching and training as a new registrant
Under NES’ FTY, you can join the supervisory team after completing NES-facilitated supervisor training. As a newly qualified practitioner, you will work with the Clinical Supervisor to support students during their placements. With experience, support, and mentorship from experienced supervisors, and by demonstrating involvement in various aspects of the FTY, you can ultimately advance to the role of Clinical Supervisor if you wish.
Under ABDO, a GOC registered Practice Education Lead (PEL) holds overall responsibility for a trainee, overseeing progress and ensuring correct levels of supervision are applied as the trainee develops in capability and competency. On completion of the ABDO (or College of Optometrists) CPD training, new registrants can oversee tasks as a Practice Task Supervisor (PTS) gaining invaluable experience with the opportunity to progress to PEL supervisor in the future. ABDO also recognises PTS supervision from registered healthcare professions if the supervised tasks being undertaken remain within their scope of practice.
For the ABDO contact lens programme, the same supervision rules apply as those in place for dispensing opticians. However, as noted in the GOC Requirements for Approved Qualifications forContact Lens Opticians Standard 4.9, a contact lens trainee may be supervised by no more than two supervisors at any time, one of whom must assume primary responsibility for the trainee’s supervision.
Many of the principles of the SPOKE supervision guidance for other registerable qualifications apply to prescribing qualifications. In addition, supervision arrangements should reflect the trainee’s intended prescribing scope of practice, and this may require input from multiple specialist supervisors to cover different prescribing domains
Outcome 4.13 places the responsibility on the trainee for agreeing what level of in person supervision is required, in addition to the DPP. The Requirements also recognise that more than one person may be involved in the supervision of prescribing trainees but stipulates that only one can be identified as the DPP, and they must be responsible for the trainee's overall educational experience.