Optical Assistant Apprentice

An Optical Assistant requires many skills to be able to work within the Optical retail Industry. They are often the people that spend the most time interacting with customers. Therefore strong communication, listening skills and a passion for working with others to deliver excellent service and products that are both clinically and cosmetically correct, are skills, knowledge and behaviours that need to be demonstrated at all times.

They may be working within a small practice, a large multiple practice or within the domiciliary environment. Optical Assistants have to interpret and understand a clinically issued prescription, its effects on the eye, and the customer’s vision. They need to be able to identify the appropriate spectacles to meet the customer's needs and be able to explain the features and benefits of these, using non-technical customer friendly language.

Optical Assistants require a broad range of technical knowledge about spectacle frame materials and fitting requirements including facial measurements, to ensure the maximum comfort of the spectacle frame for the customer, avoiding physical damage to the skin through ill-fitting or wrong material choice. They also require technical knowledge of optical lenses and the associated measurements of these lenses to allow correct and safe customer vision. They use an extensive range of technical equipment and tools to take measurements and adjust and repair spectacles.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to interpret a prescription to identify the appropriate optical device to meet the need of the prescription and customer. To review spectacles for quality, prescription, measurement and accuracy and the effects on the eye and vision. Optical Assistants need to be able to identify the appropriate optical appliance, such as spectacles, contact lenses or magnifiers to meet the individual's needs, and be able to explain the features and benefits of these, using non-technical, customer friendly language. Optical assistants need to be able to problem solve and manage customer expectations ensuring that products meet the specification.

In addition to core knowledge and skills, Optical Assistants will complete specialist knowledge and skills relevant to the optical environment they are working in, choosing from one of the following options:

Providing screening services to customers (pre-screening)

Delivering services independently in people’s homes or care settings (domiciliary)

Working with customers with contact lens. (insertion and removal)

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with:

Patients, service users and carers

Other members of the multidisciplinary team, including GPs, optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists and optical assistants

Administration, management and other non-clinical staff like receptionists and retail managers

Clinical staff including optometrists and dispensing opticians.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for:

Accurately interpreting a prescription and selecting the most appropriate optical appliance.

Providing accurate and appropriate advice to customers within the scope of their job role.

Managing clinical appointments.

Delivering responsive customer experience.

Using an extensive range of technical equipment and tools to provide optical services.

The safety and wellbeing of themselves and the customers.

Collaborating with team members and supporting professional colleagues to provide optical services.

On Programme Assessment

It is recommended that on programme assessment takes place at regular intervals agreed between the Employer and Training Provider. On programme assessment should

be used to check the Apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in line with the standard and fail, pass and distinction criteria outlined in appendices 2 - 4.

End Point Assessment overview

Direct Observation, Professional Discussion and Case Study

The direct observation, professional discussion and case study provides the opportunity to use a range of assessment methods across the standard and must include all

areas of the standard to include real life customer interactions, dispensing of spectacles, collection and adjustment procedures and understanding of legislation and

governance within the optical retail sector.

Direct Observation

The direct observation will be a naturally occurring real work situation this must include as a minimum one spectacle dispense and one spectacle collection.

In order to provide sufficient flexibility in the workplace and to allow for normal working patterns and interactions that may occur, we would expect this process to take

between 120 and 150 minutes to allow the apprentice sufficient opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge , skills and behaviours. This will be pre-planned, agreed and

scheduled at the Apprentice’s normal place of work and will be carried out by the Independent Assessor. The direct observation should enable the Apprentice to

demonstrate their skills, knowledge and behaviour from across the standard.

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment as well as sitting Level 2.