Standards of practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians (effective from 1 January 2025)

Standards of Practice

Our Standards of Practice define the standards of behaviour and performance we expect of all registered optometrists and dispensing opticians.

The General Optical Council

The General Optical Council is the UK regulator for the optical professions with statutory responsibility for setting standards.

This document sets out the nineteen standards that you must meet as an optical professional. These standards are not listed in order of priority and include both standards relating to your behaviour and your professional performance. You will need to use your professional judgement in deciding how to meet the standards. To help you in doing so, we have provided additional information about what we expect of you under each standard. In relation to a small number of standards we may produce supplementary material where we feel that registrants need additional support.

Your role as a professional

As a healthcare professional you have a responsibility to ensure the care and safety of your patients and the public and to uphold professional standards.

You are professionally accountable and personally responsible for your practice and for what you do or do not do, no matter what direction or guidance you are given by an employer or colleague. This means you must always be able to justify your decisions and actions.

You must comply with all legal requirements that apply to you, including but not limited to, legislation relating to equalities, health and safety, data protection, medicines, and consumer protection. If you provide national health services, you should adhere to any additional requirements.

All registrants are expected to demonstrate leadership skills, attributes and behaviours, relevant to their scope of practice. Examples of when registrants could demonstrate leadership include adopting a collaborative approach to practice, role modelling professional behaviours, suggesting innovative solutions to problems and supporting the education and training of others. Leadership skills, attributes and behaviours are embedded throughout the standards and relate to all aspects of your work.

If someone raises concerns about your fitness to practise, we will refer to these standards when deciding if we need to take any action. You will need to demonstrate that your decision making was informed by these standards and that you have acted in the best interests of your patients.

Making the care of your patients your first and overriding concern

The care, well-being and safety of patients must always be your first concern. This is at the heart of being a healthcare professional. Even if you do not have direct contact with patients, your decisions or behaviour can still affect their care and safety.

Consider and respond to the needs of patients who, due to their personal circumstances, are in need of particular care, support or protection or at risk of abuse and neglect. Patients may be vulnerable for a range of reasons, including physical or mental health conditions, capability in managing their health, or handling a difficult set of life events. Levels of vulnerability may vary between contexts, and change over time, so consider a patient's vulnerabilities as part of each consultation.

The standards

As an optometrist or dispensing optician you must:

1. Listen to patients and ensure that they are at the heart of the decisions made about their care

2. Communicate effectively with your patients

3. Obtain valid consent

4. Show care and compassion for your patients

5. Keep your knowledge and skills up to date

6. Recognise, and work within, your limits of competence

7. Conduct appropriate assessments, examinations, treatments and referrals

8. Maintain adequate patient records

9. Ensure that supervision is undertaken appropriately and complies with the law

10. Work collaboratively with colleagues in the interests of patients

11. Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm

12. Ensure a safe environment for your patients

13. Show respect and fairness to others and do not discriminate

14. Maintain confidentiality and respect your patients’ privacy

15. Maintain appropriate boundaries with others

16. Be honest and trustworthy

17. Do not damage the reputation of your profession through your conduct

18. Respond to complaints effectively

19. Be candid when things have gone wrong

You will need to use your professional judgement in deciding how to meet the standards. To help you in doing so, the next section provides more detail about what we expect of you in relation to each standard.