Supervisors

As a supervision for the 2023 syllabus you may be a practice education lead (PEL) or a practice task supervisor (PTS).

Identified as the lead supervisor within the main registered practice, overseeing progress and holding overall responsibility for ensuring the correct levels of supervision are applied as the trainee develops in capability and competency in all tasks undertaken.

The PEL should:

• Have a minimum of two years full registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) with equivalent or greater scope of practice than the trainee, and maintain GOC registration for the full training period
• Have previous experience in supervision and/or have evidence of undertaking supervisor training, such as ABDO CPD accredited course or equivalent (eg College of Optometrists)
• Have sufficient time allocated to review and approve the work and progress of the trainee, signing staged declarations and case records
• Have full oversight of the progress of the trainee, ensuring appropriate facilities and levels of supervision are provided to maintain progress and patient safety
• Provide a list of registered professionals that may assist in supervision duties at every practice in which a trainee may work during their practice placement

With a variety of registered professionals and associated skills now working in modern practice, it is recognised that trainee dispensing opticians may have access to multiple task supervisors. A PTS can have a variety of experience (including newly qualified) and be from a different profession, on condition that the supervision undertaken is for tasks within their own scope of practice.

The PTS should:

• Be on the list of registered professionals provided to ABDO by the registered PEL prior to undertaking any supervision (extra names can be supplied at short notice if needed)
• Maintain registration with the relevant governing body for the duration of the training overseen
• Have evidence of, undertaking supervisor training, such as ABDO CPD accredited course or equivalent (eg College of Optometrists)
• Sign the appropriate logged hours and case records • liaise with the PEL to provide feedback on the progress of the trainee

You can read the full guidance below.

The PEL supervisor should email a completed initial declaration form and signed declaration as soon as possible to the examinations department. The PEL supervisor can also email any PTS registration form(s) at the same time.

PELs and PTSs will receive an email regarding supervisor training. It is a GOC requirement that all supervisors should have undertaken some form of supervisor training.

If you have already undergone supervision training, you have the option to upload proof of this to us. We can then remove them from the supervisor course

Following successful verification checks and registration, supervisors will automatically be booked on to the supervisors’ course and will receive an email on how to access the training modules.

The course is comprised of five short, CPD-accredited modules and three reflective exercises, which should all be completed within a 3-month period. All supervisors of trainee dispensing opticians or trainee contact lens opticians who are undertaking the ABDO syllabus, are expected to complete this course regardless of their previous supervisory experience.

Course modules:

• Legislation, registration and guidance
• Documentation – dispensing optician
• Documentation – contact lens optician
• Professional responsibilities
• Coaching and mentoring

GOC learning outcomes 

The GOC have introduced new learning outcomes in their document ‘Requirements for Approved Qualifications in Optometry or Dispensing Optics’ which are viewable on the student information hub on their website.

As a supervisor, you must have been fully registered with the GOC for a period of two consecutive years prior to accepting the responsibility. You must maintain this registration for the full training period. Any lapse in this registration will void some of your student’s hard work and examinations.

You may only be responsible for a maximum of two GOC registered trainees at any one time. GOC definition of supervision: ‘the supervisor must be physically present on the premises, contactable and able to intervene and exercise their clinical judgement if required’.

You can read the full guidance below.

Once your student has registered, the supervisor should email a completed initial declaration form and signed declaration as soon as possible to the examinations department.

The Association requires that the supervisor must be able to provide close personal supervision – that means they are on the premises during the practical experience sessions, aware that lenses are being fitted and so placed that they are able to intervene in the procedure, as applicable.

As soon as the trainee has commenced a recognised contact lens course  and so long as they are a qualified registered dispensing optician, they may complete an application form to register the primary supervisor and practice with the Association – and then begin fitting and aftercare of contact lenses under supervision.

An important part of your role is the guidance you will give on contact lens practice and the assistance you will give with the trainee’s patient base – to develop their personal clinical experience and to provide case records for the practical
examination.

The Association requires a contact lens trainee to gain practical experience under the supervisor and at a practice approved by and registered with the Association – for the equivalent of a minimum of 1 day per week from when they commence contact lens practice experience, once their PEL is registered with the Association, until they are accepted onto the GOC Contact Lens Specialty Register.

The TCLO must have completed 225 hours of personal clinical experience before they may attempt the practical examinations.

All PEL/PTS MUST be on the current appropriate GOC register throughout the process.

A PEL may be a dispensing optician with an approved CL qualification or GOC certification, or an optometrist – with a
minimum of two years’ experience. It is also possible for
an ophthalmologist with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in contact lens practice, to supervise a student (please be aware that a PTS does not require the minimum of two years’ experience).

(It should be noted that lapse of GOC registration of supervisor or trainee would mean that contact lens practical experience would cease until appropriate supervision could be arranged – and case records for the examination could not be developed during that
period.)

To commence the registration process, the supervisor
must complete the appropriate application for
registration form.

Identified as the lead supervisor within the main registered practice, overseeing progress and holding overall responsibility for ensuring the correct levels of supervision are applied as the trainee develops in capability and competency in all tasks undertaken.

The PEL should:

• Have a minimum of two years full registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) with equivalent or greater scope of practice than the trainee, and maintain GOC registration for the full training period
• Have previous experience in supervision and/or have evidence of undertaking supervisor training, such as ABDO CPD accredited course or equivalent (eg College of Optometrists)
• Have sufficient time allocated to review and approve the work and progress of the trainee, signing staged declarations and case records
• Have full oversight of the progress of the trainee, ensuring appropriate facilities and levels of supervision are provided to maintain progress and patient safety
• Provide a list of registered professionals that may assist in supervision duties at every practice in which a trainee may work during their practice placement

With a variety of registered professionals and associated skills now working in modern practice, it is recognised that trainee dispensing opticians may have access to multiple task supervisors. A PTS can have a variety of experience (including newly qualified) and be from a different profession, on condition that the supervision undertaken is for tasks within their own scope of practice.

The PTS should:

• Be on the list of registered professionals provided to ABDO by the registered PEL prior to undertaking any supervision (extra names can be supplied at short notice if needed)
• Maintain registration with the relevant governing body for the duration of the training overseen
• Have evidence of, undertaking supervisor training, such as ABDO CPD accredited course or equivalent (eg College of Optometrists)
• Sign the appropriate logged hours and case records • liaise with the PEL to provide feedback on the progress of the trainee

You can read the full guidance below.

The PEL supervisor should email a completed initial declaration form and signed declaration as soon as possible to the examinations department. The PEL supervisor can also email any PTS registration form(s) at the same time.

PELs and PTSs will receive an email regarding supervisor training. It is a GOC requirement that all supervisors should have undertaken some form of supervisor training.

If you have already undergone supervision training, you have the option to upload proof of this to us. We can then remove them from the supervisor course

Following successful verification checks and registration, supervisors will automatically be booked on to the supervisors’ course and will receive an email on how to access the training modules.

The course is comprised of five short, CPD-accredited modules and three reflective exercises, which should all be completed within a 3-month period. All supervisors of trainee dispensing opticians or trainee contact lens opticians who are undertaking the ABDO syllabus, are expected to complete this course regardless of their previous supervisory experience.

Course modules:

• Legislation, registration and guidance
• Documentation – dispensing optician
• Documentation – contact lens optician
• Professional responsibilities
• Coaching and mentoring

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The PEL supervisor should email a completed initial declaration form and signed declaration as soon as possible to the examinations department. The PEL supervisor can also email any PTS registration form(s) at the same time.

PELs and PTSs will receive an email regarding supervisor training.