Apprentice Optical Assistant

Summary

A Level 3 Apprentice Optical Assistant is required. A friendly, helpful attitude is essential to make patients feel welcome to the practice. Duties include: instructing patients on contact lens insertion, removal, care and hygiene, as directed by the optometrist, and making appointments by telephone and in person.

Annual wage

£14,352 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£8 per hour

Training course

Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)

Hours

Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 9am - 5:15pm alternate Wed & Sat 9 -12:30 this may change in the future

34 hours a week

Possible start date

Thursday 12 December

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Meeting and greeting customers
Cash handling
Building professional relationships with customers
Receptionist duties
Booking appointments
Ordering spectacles and contact lenses
Pretesting
Showing spectacle frames to customers, providing feedback suitability
Contact lenses handling

Where you’ll work

25 NILE STREET

NORTH SHIELDS

NE29 0AZ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

WOODSPEEN TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Deliver customer service which aligns with company values, beliefs and purposes
Identify when and who to refer to when supervision is required such as ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing and collections of restricted categories
Work within the limits of policies, procedures, and regulated activity such as GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety at Work and safeguarding
Follow employer’s guidelines and expectations for presentation and team working
Identify and meet customer needs within the optical environment
Communicate with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding
Refer customers needing communication support such as language, hearing, visual or learning difficulties to appropriate services
Follow health and safety legislation in the optical environment including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
Follow safe use instructions when using optical equipment such as adjustment tools, screening equipment and measuring equipment
Follow procedures and processes for first aid, accident and incident reporting or evacuations
Provide the benefits and limitations of the different services (e.g. sight tests, contact lenses) and extended services (e.g. minor eye condition services, low vision services) to the customers within the optical environment
Offer non-prescribed products such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories to customers
Select appointments, recall information, appointment types and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintain accurate records, e.g. customer details
Report and record ocular emergencies following correct employer procedures
Accurately prepare clinical records for use following employer procedures
Accurately complete customer pre-appointment procedures
Use product tolerances to validate product accuracy
Use lens measuring equipment to identify prescriptions and lens measurements
Identify lens types using engravings such as progressive lenses and safety spectacles and remark lenses where required
Interpret the spectacle prescription to identify a range of vision correction options suitable for the customer
Offer suitable lens products to the customer based on customer needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Offer specialised products to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Offer suitable frames to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Identify frame fitting suitability including facial, frame and spectacle lens measurements required to process spectacle orders for the customer
Process spectacle orders, payments and arrange collections, offering relevant promotions to the customer where appropriate
Identify and check visual acuity for near vision spectacle, explaining adaption as required
Fit spectacle frames through the use of questioning, measurements, and tools
Use tools correctly to adjust frame without causing damage
Provide advice and guidance on frame fitting, lens care and after sales service
Identify guarantees and warranties of optical products and adhere to the Sales of Good Act
Manage customer concerns and or complaints in line with employer procedures
Use problem solving techniques to identify concern and or complaint causes
Communicate with customers to resolve concerns or complaints within the limits of their own authority
Follow remake procedures
Follow repair procedures
Recognise and resolve customer complaints e.g. poor fitting, incorrect measurements, or offer alternative options in line with business requirements
Participate in training and development activities to maintain own practice
Participate in appraisal, obtain feedback, and use self-reflection to plan further development opportunities and identify available career opportunities to support progression
Adapt approach for customers with ocular conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes
Conduct screening using screening equipment and record accurate results
Inform the patient about the equipment, processes and procedures used for screening
Gain support or guidance from colleagues during screening when required
Inform the patient that the tests check for medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes
Demonstrate contact lens handling and insertion and removal to a patient
Show the patient how to care for their lens
Provide advice and guidance on cleaning of lenses and solution types
Follow out of hours emergency procedures
Recognise a customer’s ability to make an informed decision
Tell the customer what the sight test includes and how it is carried out
Work independently to plan and manage workload
Assess and mitigate risk in patient’s home to ensure an appropriate eye test can be delivered
Mange own wellbeing and resources
Maintain team communications when working remotely
Deliver customer service which aligns with company values, beliefs and purposes
Identify when and who to refer to when supervision is required such as ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing and collections of restricted categories
Work within the limits of policies, procedures, and regulated activity such as GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety at Work and safeguarding
Follow employer’s guidelines and expectations for presentation and team working
Identify and meet customer needs within the optical environment
Communicate with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding
Refer customers needing communication support such as language, hearing, visual or learning difficulties to appropriate services
Follow health and safety legislation in the optical environment including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
Follow safe use instructions when using optical equipment such as adjustment tools, screening equipment and measuring equipment
Follow procedures and processes for first aid, accident and incident reporting or evacuations
Provide the benefits and limitations of the different services (e.g. sight tests, contact lenses) and extended services (e.g. minor eye condition services, low vision services) to the customers within the optical environment
Offer non-prescribed products such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories to customers
Select appointments, recall information, appointment types and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintain accurate records, e.g. customer details
Report and record ocular emergencies following correct employer procedures
Accurately prepare clinical records for use following employer procedures
Accurately complete customer pre-appointment procedures
Use product tolerances to validate product accuracy
Use lens measuring equipment to identify prescriptions and lens measurements
Identify lens types using engravings such as progressive lenses and safety spectacles and remark lenses where required
Interpret the spectacle prescription to identify a range of vision correction options suitable for the customer
Offer suitable lens products to the customer based on customer needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Offer specialised products to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Offer suitable frames to the customer based on their needs and preferences, using features and benefits to highlight suitability
Identify frame fitting suitability including facial, frame and spectacle lens measurements required to process spectacle orders for the customer
Process spectacle orders, payments and arrange collections, offering relevant promotions to the customer where appropriate
Identify and check visual acuity for near vision spectacle, explaining adaption as required
Fit spectacle frames through the use of questioning, measurements, and tools
Use tools correctly to adjust frame without causing damage
Provide advice and guidance on frame fitting, lens care and after sales service
Identify guarantees and warranties of optical products and adhere to the Sales of Good Act
Manage customer concerns and or complaints in line with employer procedures
Use problem solving techniques to identify concern and or complaint causes
Communicate with customers to resolve concerns or complaints within the limits of their own authority
Follow remake procedures
Follow repair procedures
Recognise and resolve customer complaints e.g. poor fitting, incorrect measurements, or offer alternative options in line with business requirements
Participate in training and development activities to maintain own practice
Participate in appraisal, obtain feedback, and use self-reflection to plan further development opportunities and identify available career opportunities to support progression
Adapt approach for customers with ocular conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes

Your training plan

Optical Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard qualification
Long term career and promotion prospects
EPA (End-Point Assessment)
This is a full-time role with training delivered remotely to the workplace

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade C/4 or above)
Maths (grade C/4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Glasses fashion/ trends aware

About this company

Trading as J.A Hicks Optometrist We provide a personal professional service We have been established as an independent practice in North Shields for over 35 years.

After this apprenticeship

After gaining the Level 3 Optical Assistant qualification, you can study further to become a qualified Dispensing Optician. From there, you can progress and study to become a Contact Lens Optician or Optometrist.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WOODSPEEN TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000284090.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Tuesday 10 December)

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