GOC shares 2016-18 CET cycle evaluation report

The General Optical Council (GOC) has published the final report of the evaluation of its 2016-18 Continuing Education and Training (CET) cycle, following a review of the data it holds within its MyCET administrative online platform.

The review analysed data from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the CET scheme, identify trends in registrant behaviour and identify any future developments required.

The report reveals positive results with 81 percent of registrants completing more than their minimum CET requirements for general points and 72 percent of registrants with a peer review requirement completing more than one peer review session. Peer review is not mandatory for dispensing opticians, yet 83 percent completed a review and more than half (57 percent) completed more than one.

Another area of success is reflective practice and the data shows that registrants are again exceeding the minimum practice requirements set by the GOC. In the 2016-18 CET cycle, 80 percent of registrants had created additional learning goals other than the set minimum of one, and 60 percent of registrants used reflection statements for activities other than peer review.

Marcus Dye, Head of Standards and CET, said:

"We are delighted that the CET scheme continues to support the professional development of optometrists and dispensing opticians and that registrants are going above and beyond their requirements.

The findings and recommendations within the evaluation report will inform improvements to the scheme, as well as the CET Review. We will be considering further ways of embedding reflective practice and ensuring flexibility to accommodate changes in scopes of practice.

As patients’ needs are changing due to the ageing population, multi-disciplinary working and the use of technology, it is important that registrants pursue ongoing training and professional development and that the CET system meets the demands of the future."

The full CET cycle evaluation report.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Communications Team

General Optical Council

t: 020 7307 3478 – option 3

e: communications@optical.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. A mixed method approach was taken to this evaluation, with a quantitative (statistical) analysis of our data on the CET cycle and a qualitative survey of a subset of registrants who would be able to inform us about key areas of interest.
2. Last year the GOC conducted a Fit for the Future CET consultation to explore registrant views on the current scheme and our proposed changes.
3. Earlier this month, the GOC today published research into risk in the optical professions. The research identifies current and future risks posed to patients and the public by optical professionals.

About the General Optical Council:

The GOC is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Its purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, conduct and performance amongst opticians. The Council currently registers over 30,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.