SPOKE to establish GOC Knowledge Hub to assist with new education and training requirements

The General Optical Council (GOC) has commissioned the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) to establish its new Knowledge Hub.

The Knowledge Hub will facilitate collaborations within the optical sector to meet the updated requirements for independent prescribing categories and contact lens opticians, the optical regulator said.

It will exist for a limited time, from January 2023 to July 2025.

It is expected that by mid-2025 providers of currently approved and provisionally approved qualifications will have adapted to the new GOC education and training requirements.

One of the Knowledge Hub’s first key projects is to consider the demand for indicative requirements to accompany the Outcomes for Approved Qualifications for the additional supply, supplementary prescribing and independent prescribing categories, and contact lens optics.

It will also undertake further projects in consultation with the optical sector and academic community, on topics including the development of fitness to train procedures, work-based and experiential learning, and mentoring and supervision.
SPOKE was commissioned by the GOC after an open tender process.

Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy, said: “We are pleased to appoint SPOKE to take forward this crucial work to ensure programme leaders and academic faculty are supported as they design and develop their qualifications to meet our updated requirements for independent prescribing and contact lens opticians.

“SPOKE has already produced useful work in relation to the knowledge hub for optometry and dispensing optics qualifications, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in supporting the sector to adapt the qualifications we approve.”