View from the other side

But how do you become that star worker within your team? And how can you ensure that you are providing the right kind of support for colleagues in every role within the optical practice?

OT approached an optometrist and two optical assistants for their view on the qualities they value in colleagues.

An optical assistant on what she values in a practice manager

Name: Irene Melville
Role: Optical assistant
Practice: Bennett and Batty Opticians, Crompton Opticians (Hakim Group practices)

As a practice manager, you need to interact well with patients and staff and so it’s really important to be professional but also very friendly. Organisation also comes in super handy when you’re keeping an eye on frames, overheads and ensuring the practice really benefits from the hard work put in by being sensible about how we reinvest. As a practice manager, you should always be looking at the best ways to improve the practice.

Arguably the most crucial quality is communication. There needs to be interaction between the two at every opportunity; giving them plenty of options, helping them with dispenses and giving them all the information they need to use machinery within the practice.

Every morning, my practice manager Amelia will sit down and will run through the day ahead with the team, including the upcoming clinic and daily tasks, whether it’s figuring out what types of dispenses we can expect or just generally helping each other to tackle the day head on. There is a lot of communication between the two of us and I always feel that her support is there if ever we need to back each other up. We are a team and we trust each other to follow up on anything even if it’s outside of our work hours. I think it’s a really valuable way of going above and beyond. By forming that trust upon those key qualities, the result is a team that feels supported and confident and works much more efficiently.

An optical assistant on the qualities that make a good optometrist

Name: Gwen Eccles
Role: Optical assistant
Practice: Tyrrells and Embery Optometry (a Hakim group practice)

Since starting my job in 1978, optometry has advanced massively; we now do a lot of the pre-testing and visual field tests, and have more input upon improvements for our patients. Working with some very talented optometrists, I have learnt to value certain qualities. Along with a sense of humour, which anybody working with the general public needs, a key quality is patience: our patients range from young children to people over 100 years old, bringing a plethora of complex issues and requirements.

Organisational skills are also a priority. It takes hard work to keep a clinic running to time when you're in the test room and it’s vital to keep the whole practice running as it should.
 
Your optometrist needs to be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of all practice staff. Regular training has helped our practice keep refreshed on topics and learn about new procedures and equipment as we offer a wide variety of services. This keeps our practice current and a place the patients feel safe and looked after. It also gives you confidence in answering patient questions that they're a bit wary of discussing in the test room.

Our optometrist also encourages us to give a valued input in the choice of frames that we think will go well in the practice and fit the practice profile. That is the bit I really enjoy doing most of all. I absolutely love when people are thrilled with new glasses because it makes them feel good that they look good.

An optometrist on the attributes she appreciates in a dispensing optician

Name: Josie Evans
Role: Optometrist
Practice: Linklater & Warren Opticians 

When handing a patient over for a dispense, I value when a dispensing optician makes eye contact with you when you’re walking towards them. This confirms they’re available to take the dispense and it also welcomes and acknowledges the patient, making it a smoother transition.

Time in the consulting room can be limited and dispensing opticians are the experts on different lens designs and frame choice. I really appreciate how our dispensing optician colleagues explore a patient’s lifestyle and working environment further outside of the consulting room, ensuring the patient has been recommended the best lens for their needs.

Likewise, if a patient is having difficulty with their glasses, a dispensing optician’s opinion is invaluable. I find it useful to have notes of their assessment before a recheck is considered, for example – are the measurements correct, have there been any changes in lens design compared to previous dispenses, what other solutions are available if the prescription is stable, etc.