Wellbeing for trainees

We understand that the pre-registration period is a busy time, and a number of trainees find themselves reaching out for wellbeing advice or support during various life events. If you work for one of the main optical employers in the UK, they have the following support and resources available:

Boots

Boots colleagues have access to regional/ local mental health first aiders arranged through their line manager. They also use a private external provider, Telus Health, which can be accessed online or over the phone, with all discussions being confidential. There is also access to a benevolent fund should colleagues be eligible.

Specsavers

Specsavers have a Wellbeing Hub on SharePoint with several helpful links, articles, and topics. From the Wellbeing Hub, everyone can access WeCare and get a free subscription to Headspace.

WeCare offers a number of great benefits, including:

  • virtual GP
  • mental health support (for over 18s only)
  • burnout prevention (for over 18s only)
  • life events counselling (for over 18s only)
  • second medical opinion
  • smoking cessation
  • nutrition consultations
  • get fit programme
  • legal helpline
  • financial helpline

Headspace is a meditation/mindfulness app where members can get:

  • guided meditations for stress, focus, productivity, and more
  • sleepcasts and bedtime audio for restful nights
  • the wake up: bite-sized videos for daily inspiration
  • focus: music and meditations designed to get you in the zone
  • move mode: quick workouts and guided cardio for body and mind

Vision Express

All Vision Express colleagues have access to an employee assist programme. This can be accessed via the AllEyes page and clicking the People Pod. 

Once on the landing page, an employee just needs to click on Wellbeing at Vision Express, and this will take them to a dedicated page with a phone number, website and App.

Podcasts

Coping with anxiety: Supervisors and trainees

Podcast: Ruth Bennett, Deputy Lead Assessor on the Scheme for Registration, Dave Burke, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and Neil Constantine-Smith, an optometrist with over 30 years experience, answer questions from supervisors and trainees on the Scheme for Registration.

Coping with anxiety

Podcast: Ruth Bennett, Deputy Lead Assessor on the Scheme for Registration, talks to Dave Burke, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and optometrist Neil Constantine-Smith, about the rising number of young people suffering from anxiety.

More on wellbeing

We highlight some key resources you can use to help manage and prioritise your mental health needs.
Find out more

Scheme for Registration contacts