Member Handbook by The College of Optometrists

Member handbook

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Supporting you throughout your career… As a College member, you have access to a growing range of exclusive benefits that support you in practice, help you to progress in your career and keep you informed of the latest developments within the College, your profession and the wider public health sector. These include: ⚫⚫ free patient resources such as leaflets on common conditions and tear-off pads on the instillation of eye drops and the Amsler chart ⚫⚫ free regional lectures and peer discussions and significant discounts on our annual conferences, Optometry Tomorrow and Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize, to keep you informed and provide valuable CET points ⚫⚫ a member only Guidance for professional practice app – providing convenient, easy access to the day-to-day support you need in community practice, the hospital clinic or on domiciliary visits ⚫⚫ free clinical advice from our expert advisers ⚫⚫ free thought-provoking ethical scenarios to develop your professional skills and judgement ⚫⚫ research bursaries and awards ⚫⚫ free access to thousands of books and journals ⚫⚫ regular updates, briefings and newsletters.

Last year, we doubled our popular free regional CET events and this year we’ve added breakfast peer discussion sessions and themed events such as higher qualification tasters and hospital-based events for newly qualified optometrists. Insight, our first dedicated event for pre-registration trainees was completely sold out. We now have a second clinical adviser providing timely clinical advice to practitioners. And our range of in practice support continues to grow with new patient leaflets on presbyopia, contact lenses and a handy tear-off Amsler chart. Also, look out for a revamped College website – coming soon!

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But the College is much more than a membership organisation. With the commitment and support of our members and others in the sector, we are working to advance the profession and improve eye healthcare in a number of ways. These include: ⚫⚫ providing a powerful voice in the eye healthcare debate through contributing to initiatives such as the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning and public health strategy ⚫⚫ building an evidence base for good practice ⚫⚫ undertaking, resourcing and supporting research projects that help to further optometric knowledge and shape national strategy and healthcare delivery ⚫⚫ encouraging good eye care and regular eye examinations through promotional programmes and campaigns and our awardwinning website, lookafteryoureyes.org ⚫⚫ providing a suite of higher qualifications to develop and recognise specialist knowledge and skills.

We’re here to raise awareness of your profession and the role of the optometrist in maintaining and improving the eye health of the nation. Recent initiatives include the College-led PrOVIDE (Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Dementia) project, which calls for a dedicated Dementia Eye Care Pathway, and Focus on Falls, which has provided more than 80 falls teams with the Thomas Pocklington Trust’s Eyes Right toolkit. We also support the success of practices by encouraging the public to book regular eye examinations. We hope that you will find this handbook an invaluable tool – providing access to the support and guidance the College delivers to assist you in your day-to-day work and in your career progression.

Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Bernard Donleavy MCOptom “I find that most patients have a vague understanding of their conditions but there are misconceptions. The College’s free patient leaflets have just the right level of information to make them feel confident and knowledgeable. The leaflets look good and are easy to use – especially in the gloom of the exam room. I’ve also got the tear-off slips and children’s stickers. They keep younger patients busy while they are waiting and make good rewards for letting me put eye drops in!” 4

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Enhancing your practice The College is here to support you in practice by providing clinical and professional advice and guidance and a range of practical resources. Here’s how we help make life a little easier: Letters you can be proud of The MCOptom and FCOptom affixes are a sign of your commitment to the highest clinical and ethical standards. We actively encourage people to look for these letters when choosing an optometrist through our campaigns and on lookafteryoureyes.org. You can promote your professionalism by wearing your badge and displaying our member logo in your practice and on your business cards, stationery and promotional materials. The College logo can be downloaded at college-optometrists.org/logo You can update your entry in the members’ directory (used by the public to find their local optometrist) at college-optometrists.org/mymembership, and pick up a badge at any of our national and regional events. College Fellowship is awarded in recognition of achievement or a significant contribution to your profession at a local, national or international level. We encourage and support members from all areas of the profession in aspiring to gain this prestigious award.

Helpful resources for patients of all ages We’ve developed a range of helpful resources for you to give to patients – all available to order online and completely free of charge to members. These include leaflets covering common conditions such as blepharitis and AMD, tear-off pads on the instillation of eye drops and the Amsler chart, and colourful children’s stickers and activity sheets, which help to make a trip to the optometrist a positive, fun experience. college-optometrists.org/patients Guidance for professional practice (formerly the Code of Ethics and Guidance for Professional Conduct) The revised online version of the College’s Guidance for professional practice, with its advanced search function, is proving to be the ‘go-to’ reference tool for advice on good optometric practice. And now there’s also an exclusive Guidance app, providing instant access to the most current information – whenever you want it and wherever you are. college-optometrists.org/guidance

college-optometrists.org/fellow Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Email and phone access to expert clinical advice Our expert advisers, who are very experienced practitioners, are just a phone call or email away and are here to provide a prompt answer to all your clinical questions.

A database of essential prescribing information – the Optometrists’ Formulary Our members have exclusive access to prescribing information on all drugs currently available to optometrists, helping you to deal efficiently with patients’ eye conditions.

Email adviser@college-optometrists.org anytime or call 020 7766 4372 during office hours.

college-optometrists.org/formulary

Developing professionalism with ethical scenarios Our growing collection of tailor-made ethical scenarios will help you to apply our professional guidance in everyday practice and think about some of the wider issues involved in your profession. Available online, each scenario comes with a set of multiple choice questions to test your expertise. A full explanation of the different answers and a comprehensive commentary written by our clinical advisers is available for members only. college-optometrists.org/ethical-scenarios Easily accessible clinical information Our easy-to-search Clinical Management Guidelines are a reliable source of evidence-based information on the diagnosis and management of more than 50 eye conditions. They are useful for all optometrists, particularly those involved in community schemes and independent prescribing. college-optometrists.org/cmgs

Free access to the British Standards Online (BSOL) database There are more than 6,000 British Standards and adopted EN, ISO and IEC standards available to read, download and print directly from the British Standards Online (BSOL) database. They will enable you to ensure that your sunglasses, contact lenses and other eye wear meet the right standards. college-optometrists.org/BSOL Local and national campaigns to promote our members and your work Our regular media campaigns promote the role of the optometrist and communicate key eye healthcare messages to the UK public. We develop exclusive toolkits and resources for most of these campaigns so that members can also play a part. Why not get involved and spread the word on issues such as ageing vision and falls? As well as raising public awareness, you will also raise your profile, and that of your practice, in your community. We alert our members to campaigns via enews and our quarterly member newsletter, In Focus.

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We also have a growing collection of patient case studies, which we use to highlight the role of the optometrist and encourage members of the public, especially those who are at greater risk of serious conditions, to make an appointment with their local MCOptom or FCOptom. We’ve developed guidance and a template for you to develop your own case studies for use in your PR materials. Our Eyes on Our Future campaign helps parents and carers to recognise the signs of vision problems in children. We’ve produced a colourful poster for members to display in-practice with a downloadable version on the website along with a video, which members can link to or embed on their own sites. The video, with supporting information, is also available on our public site. college-optometrists.org/campaigns lookafteryoureyes.org Supporting your work in the community Our members are often asked to present on eye healthcare and the work of the optometrist to various groups in their communities, so we’ve developed a PowerPoint presentation, with accompanying notes, that can be adapted to suit your needs – saving you time and effort. college-optometrists.org/member-presentation

Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Jenny Wilson MCOptom, Pre-registration supervisor “Being a supervisor is interesting and rewarding, and helps you to better yourself as an optometrist. There’s lots of support available from the College while you are training and then day-to-day, and the team at the College is always available to answer any queries. Being able to access the supervisor’s handbook online at any time makes life easy, and the Clinical Management Guidelines are a really useful reference point. I also find the ethical scenarios on the College website a great way to start a discussion with your pre-reg.” 8

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Enabling your career progression We have the tools and resources you need to maintain and develop your skills and knowledge, fulfil your potential and successfully progress in your career – from your first days at university to the highest levels of professional achievement. Look no further than the College for the opportunity to gain all your essential CET points and much, much more: Invaluable support from your first day at university We have College student reps in all universities that offer optometry courses. They are happy to help with any questions about the College and pass on feedback to us. They are also an excellent source of news and information, which they share via Twitter, Facebook and blogs. We also run student roadshows – the ideal opportunity opportunity to find out more about the College and the profession and socialise and network with fellow future optometrists. Finding the perfect pre-reg placement Students can find pre-reg placement opportunities with independent and multiple practices across the UK on our new online jobs board. It’s also a great way for employers to reach and recruit College members. This service is completely free of charge for all users. college-optometrists.org/prereg-2016 Welcoming you to the profession Newly qualified optometrists are welcomed to the College at our prestigious Diploma Ceremony, which takes place in Central Hall in Westminster, London, in November.

The event also recognises those who have made significant contributions to the profession locally, nationally or internationally through the awarding of Fellowships and Research Excellence Awards, as well as those who have successfully completed a higher qualification. Diplomates can bring two guests, and afternoon tea and gowns are included – all free of charge. college-optometrists.org/diploma A packed calendar of free CET events Our free regional events are one of our most popular benefits. They are held all over the UK and typically comprise engaging topical presentations, thoughtprovoking peer discussions and opportunities to network with industry experts, colleagues and College representatives. Most events provide a minimum of three interactive CET points. We have also introduced events that target the specific interests of our different groups of members. These include higher qualification taster events, Insight, an event for pre-registration trainees, and hospital-based events for newly qualified optometrists. college-optometrists.org/regionalevents

Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Developing your skills and knowledge with peer review and discussion Most of our regional CET events include a peer discussion session. These are a really useful and enjoyable way of keeping your knowledge up-to-date and learning how to deal with particular cases. Many of our events will feature filmed ethical scenarios highlighting topical issues for you to discuss. There are also opportunities to become a College peer discussion facilitator with our free, CET-accredited training. It’s a great way to develop new skills and is an excellent addition to your CV. We provide the tools and resources you need to make the most of peer discussion, including a growing list of case studies. These are ideal for both community and hospital practitioners and cover subjects including early dementia, sight test frequencies and record keeping. college-optometrists.org/peer-discussion Supporting the delivery of high quality pre-registration supervision Supervisors ensure that pre-registration trainees gain the required professional experience and maintain public safety. We ensure that our supervisors are fully supported by providing a range of tools and resources, including a dedicated handbook, online training and face-to-face supervisor training across the UK. We also recruit and train examiners and assessors for the Scheme for Registration. college-optometrists.org/supervisors

Qualifications for those wishing to offer specialist enhanced services Our growing range of higher qualifications is ideal for those looking to progress in their career or offer specialist, enhanced services. Developed by the College, these flexible, modular qualifications are available via distance learning through accredited institutions across the UK. There are three levels of qualification and they are currently available in low vision, glaucoma, medical retina and contact lens practice. The College has now introduced affixes for those gaining these awards – a visible demonstration that you have additional training and expertise in your chosen area. Take a look at our online guide to HQs to find out more. college-optometrists.org/hq college-optometrists.org/hqguide Exclusive support for the Therapeutics Common Final Assessment (TCFA) Qualifying in therapeutics will enable you to provide key enhanced services, which is good for your career, for your practice and for your patients. As the GOC’s designated examining body, we administer the TCFA for two specialist qualifications: ⚫⚫ Additional supply – enabling you to manage a range of non-life-threatening eye conditions such as conjunctivitis ⚫⚫ Independent prescribing – enabling you to diagnose and manage (including prescribing where necessary) a patient’s condition.

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We have developed exclusive resources and support for members undertaking these assessments, including a guide for those members thinking of taking on additional responsibility, an online forum and the Independent Prescriber’s (IP) logbook – a fast, secure and convenient way to manage your placement records and assessment online. You can also use the site to register and pay for your final assessment. The Prescribing Network is a dedicated online area for members who are qualified to provide prescriptions and those who are interested in taking on that role. It’s a great place to take part in discussions, pose questions and find help and support. There is also a stream of CET sessions for independent prescribers covering a range of therapeutic competencies at our annual conference, Optometry Tomorrow.

Practical and financial support for members undertaking research The College is committed to supporting work that is helping to build an evidence base for the profession and to developing the optometric researchers of the future. Each year, we provide around £300,000 in funding to support community, university and hospital-based researchers at all levels, from undergraduates to established researchers. This includes a small grants scheme for in-practice research projects, undergraduate research scholarships, research fellowships and travel bursaries. Members can also access advice and support on developing practice-based research from the College’s research team, which includes a practicebased research adviser and a statistician. college-optometrists.org/research

Assessing and supporting your learning needs Our learning needs assessment tool will help you decide which CPD will enhance your practice and boost your career. It is just part of our range of online CPD resources.

Providing assistance in troubled times The Benevolent Fund, set up in partnership with the Association of Optometrists, provides short or long term financial support for any member, past or present, of the optical profession in the UK and their dependents. The Benevolent Fund team can also put you in touch with agencies that will provide completely confidential support and advice on issues such as disability, addiction and debt.

college-optometrists.org/learning-needs

opticalbenfund.com

college-optometrists.org/therapeutics

Developing your clinical knowledge We have developed a set of targeted development plans to help you to grow your expertise in a wide range of subjects, from AMD and diabetic retinopathy to red eye and dementia. There is also a reading list to support each plan. college-optometrists.org/cpd-materials Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Aseel Karam MCOptom “I first came across Optometry in Practice (OiP) as a pre-reg and am now a regular reader. It covers a variety of topics from practical help on day-to-day matters to interesting developments and new research in optometry. There’s an online version available on the College website, but I prefer a published copy as you can flick back and forth, highlight areas and gain CET points by completing the online questions – all at the same time!” 12

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Keeping you informed We ensure that our members are kept up to date with all the latest news, research, topical information and opinion from the world of optometry. Our briefings are tailored to meet the needs of the busy practitioner – taking you to the heart of the matter and advising on key points. The latest news – straight to your inbox Sign up to our member email alerts and you’ll be the first to find out about anything that affects you and your work, from breaking news and new research findings to the latest media debate. enews will keep you informed and up-to-date on all the news and views from the College and wider profession. college-optometrists.org/email-signup Discounted entrance to the UK’s leading clinical conference Renowned for its high quality content, Optometry Tomorrow, our annual two-day national clinical conference, has a packed programme of lectures, presentations, workshops, peer discussions and a stream of sessions for independent prescribers – all designed to improve your professional knowledge and expertise. There is an exhibition of the latest optometric innovations, products and services and poster presentations of new research. You can also enjoy the legendary gala dinner – an ideal opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues.

Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize If you can’t make it to Optometry Tomorrow, make sure you don’t miss Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize. This one-day event includes lectures, workshops and peer discussion sessions, which could gain you up to nine interactive CET points. And, in response to member feedback, the event also includes a peer discussion for independent prescribers. College members enjoy significantly discounted rates. college-optometrists.org/bitesize A dedicated information service with thousands of books and journals Our members have free access to a library of more than 6,500 optical books, journals and audiovisual titles – both online and in print. Book loans can be delivered to your practice or home, and journal articles emailed to you completely free of charge. You can use the library to access the resources featured in our CPD activity plans. college-optometrists.org/library

Tickets go on sale in August, with significant discounts for College members. optometrytomorrow.org Member handbook © College of Optometrists 2015

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Our expert library team is on hand to help you track down the right information or carry out a literature search on a particular subject or area of interest. Quick questions can usually be answered within the hour, and literature searches can be completed in about a week. We also train students on how to perform their own literature searches – especially useful for essays and dissertations. Visit college-optometrists.org/library, email library@college-optometrists.org or call 020 7766 4352 during office hours. A password to significant savings on journal subscriptions Your Athens password gives you free online access to around 30 of the leading international eye care journals, whenever and wherever you need them – saving you over £5,000 in subscription fees. college-optometrists.org/athens Evidence for clinical practice Our handy Topic Updates are published every two months and provide you with the latest research news on four key subjects: binocular vision, low vision, eye diseases and primary care optometry. You can sign up for any or all of the updates. college-optometrists.org/topic-updates Topical resource lists You can link directly to a wealth of useful websites, articles and online videos via the member area of the website.

Exclusive briefings Our member briefings are user-friendly documents designed to take you straight to the heart of the matter – whether it’s an update on vision checking within UK falls teams or the results of our survey into prescribing contact lenses to children and young people. They summarise key points and advise on next steps and how you can get involved. college-optometrists.org/member-briefings Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics – a world-renowned optometry and vision science journal Published six times a year, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO) is the top optometry journal in the world, with an impact factor of 2.66. It provides important evidence-based information about the assessment and management of patients and is especially relevant to hospital optometrists. Members can access OPO for free online or via the OPO app, which is available in the iTunes store, or request a free printed copy. college-optometrists.org/opocoptom.uk/OPO-app Optometry in Practice (OiP) – essential reading with interactive CET points Our quarterly peer reviewed, practice-based journal, Optometry in Practice (OiP), brings you research, analysis and opinion. Each online edition of OiP comes with multiple choice questions on chosen articles that can gain you up to four CET points. college-optometrists.org/oip

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Discounted reference books We’ve negotiated an exclusive 25% member discount on Elsevier optometry books – ideal for studying or as handy references. college-optometrists.org/book-discount

An opportunity to join the conversation Follow us on Twitter to join the conversation and make sure you are among the first with the latest news and views for your profession. twitter.com/CollegeOptomUK

Thought-provoking opinions We regularly publish interesting, informative and very readable blogs penned by our President, Clinical Advisers and Museum Curator. college-optometrists.org/blogs A voice for members Our reference groups were set up to provide a means for optometrists to engage directly with the College and also to provide us with valuable feedback on ideas, proposals and documents. There are currently five reference groups: ⚫⚫ ⚫⚫ ⚫⚫ ⚫⚫ ⚫⚫

Independent prescribing optometrists Hospital optometrists Newly qualified optometrists Pre-registration trainee optometrists Students

We regularly look for new members for these groups, so please let us know if you are interested. college-optometrists.org/referencegroups

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David Parkins MSc FCOptom FEAOO, President of the College of Optometrists “The College is a powerful voice within the eye health sector. We are taking the lead on a number of significant initiatives such as NHS England’s Consultation, Improving eye health and reducing sight loss – a call to action and the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, that are raising the profile of our profession and our role in improving eye healthcare services across the UK, especially for hard-to-reach groups. We are also undertaking and supporting research that is developing the evidence base for good practice and helping to ensure the efficient and effective allocation of resources through our work with initiatives such as the Sight Loss and Vision Priority Setting Partnership.” 16

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Advancing the profession We take a leading role in ensuring the public understands the importance of looking after their eyes and the role that optometrists play in maintaining their vision. We utilise the experience and expertise of the College and our members to influence the agenda of policy makers to ensure that optometristsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; skills are used appropriately in designing eye care services. Shaping national strategy We take the lead on informing policy pieces that affect optometric practice, for example on the importance of data collection, integrating professionalism into all stages of training and the role of vision in falls. We are also investigating inequalities in accessing optometrists in order to shape future strategy on ensuring good eye healthcare for all. We develop and issue responses to relevant consultations or requests for evidence from the Department of Health and other bodies within the optical sector in the four nations. Through consultation with our patient reference group, we make sure that we include the views of patients in all that we do.

One notable ongoing project is our Enhanced Scheme Evaluation project, which evaluates different communitybased eye care service models and will produce findings throughout the year. Our NIHR-funded PrOVIDe project, which is looking at the prevalence of visual impairment in people with dementia, has also been reporting emerging findings ahead of the confirmation of its final report. We have now completed our workforce survey, which looks at key trends and demographic changes, along with pay, training and job satisfaction, and will be sharing the results with members and other relevant organisations. college-optometrists.org/research

college-optometrists.org/eyehealth-strategy Providing the evidence base that informs policy We regularly run, or financially support, a number of research projects that help to build a scientific evidence base that informs and influences College and national policies. These have included research on UK contact lens practice for children and young people and an evaluation of ready-made reading spectacles.

Member handbook ÂŠ College of Optometrists 2015

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Developing clinical commissioning guidance Led by the College and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning brings together leading eye health organisations to offer united, evidence-based clinical advice and guidance to those commissioning and delivering eye health services in England. We also work closely with Optometry Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Guidance is currently available for low vision, urgent eye care, AMD and glaucoma. college-optometrists.org/commissioning Guardians of the Scheme for Registration The College runs the Scheme for Registration (or Pre-Registration Scheme) on behalf of the regulator for the profession, the General Optical Council. We deliver pre-registration training and assessment for those on the scheme and manage the final examination, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). We provide a range of resources and support, including the supervisor and trainee handbooks, a roadshow for final year students and Insight - our new annual conference for pre-registration trainees, and are happy to help with any queries or problems. college-optometrists.org/sfr

Promoting good eye healthcare for all We run high profile campaigns to inform the public of the role of the optometrist and the importance of regular eye examinations, to raise awareness of common eye conditions and promote good eye healthcare. We have also developed Look after your eyes, an award-winning website for your patients. lookafteryoureyes.org Recognising and celebrating excellence Our Research Excellence Awards recognise achievement and celebrate outstanding contributions to research in the fields of optometry, optics and vision science at all levels. Some awards include a bursary and members are invited to apply directly or nominate a colleague, depending on the particular award. college-optometrists.org/excellence-awards Protecting and promoting our heritage The British Optical Association Museum is housed in the College headquarters in London’s West End, and is essential viewing for all those interested in the optical and eye care professions. Book a guided tour with our informative and engaging curator or go to the website for a virtual visit. college-optometrists.org/museum

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Here to help with your membership queries Forgotten your membership number? Need a replacement certificate? Time to pay your subscription fees? Can’t find the information you need on our website? email membership@college-optometrists.org or call 020 7839 6000

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The College of Optometrists 42 Craven St, London WC2N 5NG college-optometrists.org T 020 7839 6000 E info@college-optometrists.org

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