Fitness to Practise Policy for supervisors, assessors and examiners

This Fitness to practice policy outlines what is required from supervisors, assessors and examiners on the Scheme for Registration.

  1. In order to be a pre-registration supervisor, assessor or examiner on the Scheme for Registration, the College requires that an individual:
    • be currently on the General Optical Council (GOC) Register for the length of time required for their role
    • be a member of the College of Optometrists and be bound by the College of Optometrists’ Code of Conduct
    • have completed the College of Optometrists’ supervision, assessor or examiner  training
    • adhere to the GOC’s Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians.
    • have agreed to and signed the College’s Supervisor, Terms and Conditions or an Assessor or Examiner agreement.
       
  2. This policy document exists to outline the College’s response to a supervisor, assessor or examiner who is made is subject to a GOC sanction subsequent to the conditions in 1. above being met and starting their role.
     
  3. a) Investigation
    During the period in which a supervisor, examiner or assessor is being investigated, they may continue to act as a supervisor, assessor or examiner. 

    b) Interim order
    In the case of the GOC imposing an interim order upon a supervisor, assessor or examiner, that individual will be prevented from acting as a supervisor, assessor or examiner for the duration of that interim order.

    A Supervisor, assessor or examiner who has had an interim order applied to their registration may appeal their suspension as a supervisor, assessor or examiner on grounds that the order imposed in no way affects the registrant’s ability to carry out their role, in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this document. Appeals must be made in writing to the Director of Education and will be heard by The College’s Professional Conduct Committee. The Committee’s decision is final.
     
  4. Erasure or suspension from the GOC register
    In the case of a supervisor, assessor or examiner being erased or suspended from the GOC register, the supervisor, assessor or examiner would cease to be a College member in line with the Paragraph 52 of the Code for conduct and so must immediately cease to continue as a supervisor, assessor or examiner.
     
  5. Conditional registration
    In the case of the GOC imposing conditional registration upon a supervisor, assessor or examiner, that individual will be prevented from acting as a supervisor, assessor or examiner for the duration of their conditional registration period. 

    A supervisor, assessor or examiner who has had conditions applied to their registration may appeal their suspension as a supervisor, assessor or examiner on grounds that the conditions imposed in no way affect the registrant’s ability to act as a pre-registration supervisor, assessor or examiner, in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this document. Appeals must be made in writing to the Director of Education and will be heard by The College’s Professional Conduct Committee. The Committee’s decision is final.

    If, following successful completion of their conditional registration period and a review hearing by the GOC, the registrant has their conditions lifted, they may resume their role as supervisor, assessor or examiner, given that all the conditions in paragraph 1 above have been met.
     
  6. Financial penalty
    In the case of the GOC imposing a financial penalty upon a supervisor, assessor or examiner, that supervisor, assessor or examiner will be prevented from acting as a supervisor, assessor or examiner until the financial penalty has been paid.

    A supervisor, assessor or examiner who has had conditions applied to their registration may appeal their suspension as a supervisor, assessor or examiner on grounds that the conditions imposed in no way affect the registrant’s ability to act as a pre-registration supervisor, assessor or examiner, in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this document.  Appeals must be made in writing to the Director of Education and will be heard by The College’s Professional Conduct Committee. The Committee’s decision is final.

    Once the financial penalty has been settled to the GOC’s satisfaction, the supervisor, assessor or examiner can resume their role as a supervisor, assessor or examiner role, given that the conditions in 1 above have been met.
     
  7. Warning (public)
    In the case of the GOC issuing a public warning about a supervisor, assessor or examiner’s futureconduct, the College, in accordance with the GOC, will not consider the supervisor, assessor or examiner’s practice impaired. The College may write to the supervisor, assessor or examiner to acknowledge the warning but it will not prevent the supervisor, assessor or examiner from continuing to supervise, and will seek to support the supervisor, assessor or examiner with remedial action as necessary in order that their future conduct and performance remains in line with the GOC’s and College’s standards.
     
  8. Warning (private)
    In the case of the GOC issuing a private warning to a supervisor, assessor or examiner about their conduct, the College, in accordance with the GOC, will not consider the supervisor, assessor or examiner’s practice impaired. Whilst The College cannot insist that the supervisor, assessor or examiner discloses this warning, The College would encourage them to do so. The College will not prevent the supervisor, assessor or examiner from continuing to supervise, assess or examine. If the supervisor, assessor or examiner chooses to share the private warning with the College, the College will seek to support them with remedial action as necessary in order that their future conduct and performance remains in line with the GOC’s and College’s standards.