The General Optical Council (GOC) has announced that it is recruiting four new members to its Council – two registrants and two lay members.
The successful appointees are expected to take up their posts on 1 April 2017.
The GOC’s Council is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction and holding its executive to account. It comprises six registrant members and six lay members. The Chair is always a lay member.
GOC Chair Gareth Hadley said: “There are plenty of exciting and interesting issues on the horizon that Council members will have the opportunity to be fully involved with. For example, we will soon be launching a strategic review of the education that registrants receive. This is particularly important as enhanced services become more prevalent, with the growing influence of technology and an ageing population requiring optical professionals to take a bigger role in primary care. This is an opportunity to influence the optical professions in the interests of the public and I hope we receive many applications from people who wish to shape the future of the optical sector.”
The two registrant members will be GOC-registered as optometrists or dispensing opticians. The two lay members may have relevant experience for the role from their work, education, voluntary activities, general interests, or from using optical services.
The successful candidates will replace Paul Carroll, Liam Kite, Fiona Peel and Peter Douglas, whose terms finish on 31 March 2017.
The closing date for applications is 28 November 2016.
A full information pack, details of how to apply and the job advert can be found on the GOC website.