
Home Visits: The importance of bringing people together
Sign Up For Post Alerts
'You'll be surprised what you can learn about what interests you.'
I’ve been with Specsavers for about 20 years now, after starting off working Saturdays while I was at university. I graduated with an optical management degree which allowed me to knuckle down and focus on the mechanics of what happens behind the scenes. I then started looking at doing something a bit more complex and clinical, going from being a contact lens optician to eventually a managerial role. This is when I started to get into leading a team and providing as much eye and hear care as I could. Now, I’m one of the directors for Specsavers home visits.
The history of domiciliary
It came to a point where Specsavers wanted to make sure we were able to see the customers that couldn’t get into store anymore. So, 10 years ago, I got into domiciliary and home visits, which was brand new at the time. Specsavers home visits are opposite to working in store as we travel to peoples’ homes, and the patients we see are different by nature. These are people unable to get into store, possibly less mobile or not in the same mental space they used to be. Alongside my domiciliary role, I also wanted to become a director so I could lead my team even further and make sure I could really look after our most vulnerable customers.
Taking care directly to the people
The patients we see now might not have seen a face in weeks or months, and you can be the one providing eye and hear care in their homes to ensure they have the highest quality of life possible. Taking on this role was a great step for me to be able to still be in optics, but also provide some type of value to the community. It really puts everything into perspective and I’m grateful I have the chance to give back someone’s smile. It can really be a lifeline for these people.
Showing care through D&I
As well as my domiciliary and home visit work, I’m part of the Committee of the Embrace Network, which is one of Specsavers’ diversity and inclusion networks. Embrace focuses on people who are connected to an ethnic background or are an ally to ethnic backgrounds, it gives us the platform where we can ask the right questions to provide the right solutions. You want to make sure, as an employer, that you’re offering a space where people can feel comfortable to be their true selves. It’s important for both our staff, and the patients we see and homes we enter, as everyone has some type of tradition, culture or religion.
The importance of bringing people together
I, myself, am mixed race – half Irish, half Jamaican – so it’s really important to me to prioritise D&I. Even though I now feel like I’m part of both the Black and Irish communities, I believe I understand what some people experience when they don’t feel they’re part of a community or don’t feel represented. Thankfully, in Specsavers there is representation and you do feel comfortable here. We have our diversity and inclusion networks for a reason, so if you don’t feel safe, if you don’t feel represented, there are people on the committee who act as a mentor to help you. And this isn’t just with the Embrace network, this is across all of the other D&I networks we have set up too.
Continuing to grow
There’s always room for improvement but we’ve come a long way and I’m confident that there’s plenty of opportunities with Specsavers. I’m comfortable where I am. I feel like I’ve gone from strength to strength and now there’s even more to achieve, so it’s onwards and upwards
Tags
#FeelsLikeSpecsavers

Teaser
Support OfficeContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/29/2025
Summary
Celebrating National Payroll WeekPayroll might happen behind the scenes, but it’s at the heart of every organisation. Our Payroll Services team is a mix of problem-solvers, people champions, and proce
by
Mike Davidson

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/27/2025
Summary
Rachel Pointon’s career in optometry has been anything but linear—and that’s exactly what makes it so inspiring. From hospital clinics to high-performing stores, from mentoring pre-regs to influencin

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/27/2025
Summary
Hi, I’m Alan 👋 I grew up on the southside of Glasgow and I’m currently the Lead Optometrist at Specsavers in Sauchiehall Street. How did I get here? To be honest, I was never entirely sure that op
by
Mike Davidson

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/22/2025
Summary
From law to lenses: Hannan Qureshi’s story After years in the legal profession, Hannan Qureshi has made a bold career switch to follow his passion - becoming the new Retail Director at Specsavers Shep

Teaser
Home VisitsContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/22/2025
Summary
“I’ve found my place here.” Meet Daniel – Optometrist, Specsavers Home Visits Manchester Daniel Morgans didn’t follow the usual path into optometry. His early career included everything from call cent

Teaser
Home VisitsContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/22/2025
Summary
A career shaped by experience- and instinct When Saraneeya Sivathas joined Specsavers as an Optical Assistant during her BioMed degree, she had no idea that a part-time job would spark a whole new car

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/18/2025
Summary
"Home visits is refreshing, it’s fulfilling, and I wouldn’t go back.” Meet EllaElla Helliwell lives in a quiet village in Cheshire with her husband and their cat, Rosie. After moving away for universi

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/15/2025
Summary
Parth Shah, Lead Clinical Performance Consultant (CPC), qualified as an optometrist at Specsavers in 2003. Since then, his journey has taken him from the clinic to the classroom, the boardroom, and ev

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/28/2025
Summary
A career begins with a life-changing moment When Mahnoor Khan joined Specsavers Norton as a pre-reg optometrist, she never imagined her clinical training would be put to the test in such a personal an

Teaser
OptometryContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/25/2025
Summary
When Deepali Modha first qualified as an Optometrist, she never imagined her career would one day take her far beyond the test room. But over the years, she’s carved out a path that’s as inspiri
Selected jobs for you
Salary
Competitive
Location
Golders Green, Greater London, United Kingdom
Store ID
1791
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Optometrist
Locations
Golders Green
Description
OptometristAre you an ambitious optometrist looking to keep your career moving as part of our well-established team? You’ve come to the right place.Our Golders Green store hosts 3 fully equipped test
Reference
sf-84546-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001

Author
George Coleing
Author
George ColeingSalary
upto £31,500
Location
Oldham, North West, United Kingdom
Store ID
1552
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Dispensing Optician
Locations
Oldham
Description
Position: Dispensing Optician Location: Royton, Greater Manchester Salary: up to £31,500 depending on experience + High reward potential bonus scheme Working Hours: Full or Part-time considered Expe
Reference
sf-85018-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
€13.50
Location
Portlaoise, Ireland, Republic of Ireland
Store ID
1868
Contract Duration
Permanent
Area of Interest
Retail Assistant
Description
Are you a caring individual looking to start your career as an Optical Assistant? You’ve come to the right place. We aren’t looking for people with years of experience and heaps of qualifications, ju
Reference
sf-85016-1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001

Author
Andrew Hastings
Author
Andrew Hastings