GOC updated Standards of Practice launched

The General Optical Council’s (GOC) new Standards of Practice came into effect as of 1 January 2025.

The launch of the refreshed Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, Standards for Optical Students, and Standards for Optical Businesses coincides with the beginning of a new continuing professional development cycle.

The GOC explained that the updates to the standards follow a period of consultation with key stakeholders and aim to improve the clarity of the standards.

The refreshed standards reflect emerging changes in the sector, including the increased use of digital technologies, along with the changing expectations of patients and the public.

The GOC highlighted that most of the existing standards have not changed, but key changes have been put in place to address areas including the delivery of better care for patients in vulnerable circumstances, maintaining confidentiality when sharing patient images online, and requiring registrants to identify themselves and their role and advising patients on who will provide their care.

Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, including prohibiting conduct of a sexual nature with patients, is another area of focus, along with promoting better workplace culture by explicitly referencing inclusive behaviour and ensuring employers support staff who have experienced discrimination, bullying, or harassment in the workplace.

Changes also address demonstrating leadership in practice, along with keeping updated on developments in digital technologies and applying professional judgement when utilising the data they generate to inform decision making.

The standards outline the behaviours, attitudes, conduct, and professional practice expected of registrants and the minimum standard of care which patients and public can expect from optical professionals, and inform decision making about the Fitness to Practise of optical professionals.

The GOC has produced an animation on the updated Standards of Practice, which can be viewed here.

The new standards are available on the GOC website, with guidance available to support registrants.