Optical assistant 2022

Key information

Reference: OCC1377B
Date updated: 09/03/2023
Level: 3
Route: Health and science
Regulated occupation: No

Details of the occupational standard

T-Levels logo T Levels focus on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the healthcare industry including small practices, large multiple practices, or within a person’s home or care facility. It is a support role assisting an Optometrist and/or Dispensing Optician.

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.

Typical job titles include:

Optical Assistant

Core occupation duties

Duty	KSBs
Duty 1 Act within the limits of own competence and within agreed ways of working, following the relevant local and national standards, policies, standard operating procedures used in the workplace.	K1 K2 K3 K4 S1 S2 S3 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 2 Promote and provide a high level of service and care throughout the customer journey.	K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 S5 S6 S7 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 3 Maintain the health, safety and security of yourself, customers and others in the workplace by identifying risks and taking appropriate action to keep people safe.	K8 K9 K10 S8 S9 S10 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 4 Identify customer needs and offer the appropriate services and products to meet those needs.	K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K11 K12 K39 K40 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S11 S12 S39 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 5 Provide and maintain a triage and appointment booking service for customers.	K1 K2 K3 K5 K6 K7 K14 K15 K16 K17 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S13 S14 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 6 Provide a pre-appointment service for customers, gaining valid consent.	K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K13 K14 K17 K21 K22 K23 K24 K26 K41 S1 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S11 S14 S16 S21 S22 S25 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 7 Review spectacles for quality, prescription and measurement accuracy.	K9 K11 K12 K22 K24 K25 K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 K34 S9 S17 S18 S19 S20 S28 S29 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 8 Provide a (product recommendation, measurement and fitting) dispensing service for customers requiring spectacles.	K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K34 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S11 S12 S15 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24 S25 S27 S28 S29 S30 S36 S37 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 9 Provide a spectacle collection, fitting and adjustment service.	K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K18 K20 K21 K23 K24 K25 K26 K31 K33 K34 K35 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S11 S12 S15 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24 S26 S27 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S36 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 10 Provide and maintain a concern handling service for customers and manage queries.	K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K11 K12 K16 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S11 S12 S14 S15 S17 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24 S25 S26 S27 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 11 Meet personal and business targets and goals on an ongoing basis.	K1 K4 K36 K37 K38 S1 S4 S38 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Option duties

Option 2: Contact Lens Assistant duties

Duty	KSBs
Duty 13 Provide a contact lens insertion and removal service.	K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K11 K12 K14 K15 K16 K26 K45 K46 K47 K50 S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S12 S13 S14 S25 S44 S45 S46 S47 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty

KSBs

Duty 13 Provide a contact lens insertion and removal service.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K11 K12 K14 K15 K16 K26 K45 K46 K47 K50

S1 S2 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S12 S13 S14 S25 S44 S45 S46 S47

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Employer or company values, beliefs and purpose Back to Duty

K2: Patient referral processes and procedures and the implications of not following procedures Back to Duty

K3: Policies, procedures, and regulated activities within the Optical working environment, such as GDPR, NHS, GOC health and safety and safeguarding Back to Duty

K4: Importance of personal presentation, time management and teamwork Back to Duty

K5: Different customer types and needs within the optical environment Back to Duty

K6: Communication principles and techniques to use to communicate at work to reduce barriers of communication Back to Duty

K7: Wider services that are available to support customers with specific needs such as non-English speaking, non-verbal, profoundly deaf, learning needs Back to Duty

K8: Health and safety at work legislation relevant to working in the optical environment, including hygiene and infection control measures and customer safety Back to Duty

K11: The services available to customers in the optical environment such as sight tests, contact lens and extended services including minor eye care services, low vision services and their benefits or limitations Back to Duty

K12: The non-prescribed products available to the customer within the optical environment such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories Back to Duty

K14: Appointment types, lengths, booking systems and clinic management in the optical environment including NHS exemptions and private appointments Back to Duty

K15: Business sight test and contact lens recall requirements Back to Duty

K16: Ocular emergencies and when to seek advice, including escalation and reporting procedures Back to Duty

K26: Pricing, promotions and offers, ordering and payment systems and collection options and procedures Back to Duty

K45: Contact lens handling, insertion, and removal procedures Back to Duty

K46: Advice and guidance given to customers such as cleaning regime and solution types including wearing schedules and lens care Back to Duty

K47: What to do in an emergency (out of hours) Back to Duty

K50: The importance of team communications when working remotely Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Deliver customer service which aligns with company values, beliefs and purposes Back to Duty

S2: Identify when and who to refer to when supervision is required such as ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing and collections of restricted categories Back to Duty

S4: Follow employer’s guidelines and expectations for presentation and team working Back to Duty

S5: Identify and meet customer needs within the optical environment Back to Duty

S6: Communicate with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding Back to Duty

S7: Refer customers needing communication support such as language, hearing, visual or learning difficulties to appropriate services Back to Duty

S8: Follow health and safety legislation in the optical environment including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control Back to Duty

S12: Offer non-prescribed products such as contact lens solutions, common ophthalmic drops, ready readers, magnifiers, and other accessories to customers Back to Duty

S13: Select appointments, recall information, appointment types and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintain accurate records, e.g. customer details Back to Duty

S14: Report and record ocular emergencies following correct employer procedures Back to Duty

S25: Process spectacle orders, payments and arrange collections, offering relevant promotions to the customer where appropriate Back to Duty

S44: Demonstrate contact lens handling and insertion and removal to a patient Back to Duty

S45: Show the patient how to care for their lens Back to Duty

S46: Provide advice and guidance on cleaning of lenses and solution types Back to Duty

S47: Follow out of hours emergency procedures Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Treat people with dignity and respect. Back to Duty

B2: Show discretion and empathy for those you work with Back to Duty

B3: Be adaptable, reliable and committed Back to Duty

B4: Be caring and compassionate Back to Duty

B5: Show resilience and self-awareness Back to Duty

B6: Show openness and integrity at all times Back to Duty

T Level in healthcare science

Awarding organisation: NCFE

Qualification type: T Level Qualification level: 4 Qualification approved: 19/01/2021

Healthcare science

Occupational specialism: Optical care services

Qualification type: T Level

Qualification level: 4

Awarding organisation: NCFE

Approval date: 19/01/2021

Available from: 01/09/2021

Aligned occupational standards

OCC1377 Optical assistant 2022 - Option 1: Screening Assistant

OCC1377 Optical assistant 2022 - Option 2: Contact Lens Assistant

OCC1377 Optical assistant 2022 - Option 3: Domiciliary Optical Assistant

Alternative specialisms for this T Level

Pharmacy services
This pathway is aligned to:
OCC0299 Healthcare science
Assisting with healthcare science
This pathway is aligned to:
OCC0218 Healthcare science

Overview

A T Level is split into three main sections:

technical qualification (TQ) is the main, classroom-based element. Students will learn about their chosen sectors through a curriculum designed by employers and developed by an awarding organisation (AO)
industry placement runs for a minimum of 315 hours (45 days) overall and will give students practical insights into their sector and an opportunity to embed the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom
English, maths and digital provision are also built into the classroom-based element of the T Level, meaning students will be given a solid foundation of transferable skills

TQ Core

Your course starts by helping you get to grips with core knowledge of how the construction industry works, the principles of design and the role of technology and sustainability. You will then have the chance to specialise in one of these areas:

Grading

The overall grade is subject to completion of all T Level requirements – not just the components of the technical qualification (TQ).

T Level grades combine students’ grades for the technical qualification core and occupational specialisms. For example: to be awarded a Distinction*, you must achieve an A* in the core and a Distinction in the occupational specialism(s).

As well as passing the relevant technical qualification, the following elements are required to achieve an overall T Level grade:

industry placement: This will be arranged and verified by the provider offering the T Level. For more guidance on next steps for provider visit GOV.UK
students are required to work towards improving attainment in maths and English if they have not already achieved grade 4 at GCSE or equivalent. Where students have attained, or attain during the course of the T Level, maths and or English qualifications at level 2, this will be referenced on any T Level certificates and/or statements of achievement

Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level will get a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.

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Optical assistant 2022 - Option 2: Contact Lens Assistant

Key information

Details of the occupational standard

Occupation summary

Typical job titles include:

Core occupation duties

Option duties

Option 2: Contact Lens Assistant duties

KSBs

Knowledge

Skills

Behaviours

T Level in healthcare science

Healthcare science

Aligned occupational standards

Alternative specialisms for this T Level

Overview

TQ Core

Grading

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