A scheme for optical assistants to gain extra skills to support optometrists is celebrating its 500th graduate.
Isabel Nibbs is now a Specsavers clinical technician after a 16-week training programme. The scheme gives people the skills to carry out pre-assessment procedures and collect diagnostic information, working under the supervision of an optometrist. The technicians support optometrists to provide better care.
“The clinician technician training has enabled me to become more confident with patients and have a deeper understanding of how to complete pre-screening efficiently,” says Isabel, who works at Specsavers Crowborough, East Sussex,
Isabel started the course after an optical assistant apprenticeship . “I feel it has been a great step in my development. It has helped me upskill so I can support the optometrist in making sure the clinic is running smoothly.”
Several people at the store have completed the course. Optometry director Dimple Mehta,, says: “It has given us someone who is skilled and confident in communications with patients and we have had some great customer feedback. It has also been reflected in a smoother customer journey, which has allowed our clinics to run more efficiently.”
Practice retail partner Badrinath Mohandas adds: “Our clinical technicians really enjoyed the anatomy and the various aspects of learning about the diagnostic equipment. It’s given them more self-confidence in responding to the questions they get from customers and patients on a day-to-day basis.”
Pictured at Specsavers Crowborough, left to right: Dimple Mehta, Isabel Nibbs, Niraj Sudera and Badrinath Mohandas.