This information is intended to support course teams and approval panels by providing references to resources and examples of good practice for each of the revised GOC learning outcomes.
Patient well-being/care is an optical professional’s primary concern and must be at the heart of all decisions made about patient care (Standard 1). Optical professionals must be able to employ an adaptive and personalised approach to patient care, considering the patient’s social, clinical, personal, and cultural needs whilst challenging their own conscious and unconscious bias (Standards 4 and 13). Where care requires the involvement of other professionals, they must be able to collaborate effectively (Standards 3, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 14).
Communication is key to effective patient and public interactions (Standard 2). Optical professionals must be able to communicate effectively with patients and other professionals. Optical professionals must be able to adapt their approach and style according to specific individual needs and in a manner that is supportive of achieving desired outcomes (Standards 1, 10 and 13). This includes written and verbal communication, as well as recognising non-verbal cues (Standards 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13).
Rakhee Shah, Irene Ctori, David F Edgar & Pam Parker (2021), Use of standardised patients in optometry training, Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 104:8, 848-853, DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.1896332
WAGNER, PEGGY J. PHD; LENTZ, LINDA MD; HESLOP, SANDRA D. M. MA Teaching Communication Skills, Academic Medicine: November 2002 - Volume 77 - Issue 11 - p 1164
Optical professionals are professionally accountable and personally responsible for achieving desired patient outcomes according to their individual scope of practice. Working within their limits of competence (Standard 6), and exercising professional judgement, they must engage in evidence-informed clinical decision-making for all patients (Standards 5, 7 and 8).
Optical professionals must uphold high professional standards and ethics through honesty, integrity and lifelong development. They are responsible for ensuring the care and safety of patients and the public. Optical professionals must work within their scope of practice and current legislation (Opticians Act 1989 (‘the Act’), GOC Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) to ensure their own practice (including supervised and delegated activities) meets all legal and professional requirements and is equitable for all.
Optical professionals have a responsibility to protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm (Standard 11). Optical professionals must understand and work within the limits of their competence recognising the evolving nature of personal practice (Standard 6). They should be able to identify when people might be at risk and be candid when things have gone wrong to ensure a safe environment for patients and the public (Standards 12, 16 and 19).
Optical professionals must understand the importance of clinical leadership, as determined by their scope of practice, and be able to work within their area of expertise and competence to achieve desired patient outcomes (Standards 1, 6, 11 and 12). Working collaboratively within healthcare teams and with other professionals, optical professionals should promote and engage with clinical governance requirements, service improvements and local and national public health initiatives (Standard 10).
Continuing professional development and keeping knowledge and skills up to date is the personal responsibility of all optical professionals working within their scope of practice (Standard 5). Their own performance and that of others must be evaluated by an ongoing process of reflection to inform own learning and development needs, meet service delivery requirements and improve the quality of care for patients (Standard 10). Sources of information could include clinical audit, patient feedback and peer review (Standard 6).