Beyond the graduate – Specsavers professional development support for newly qualified optometrists

At Specsavers, we are on a mission to change lives through better sight. And in order to help us do this, we put learning and development for our graduates at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to your development as a clinician may well have started when you were a student on our world class pre-reg academy, but we know this is just the start of your journey and that’s why we make sure that opportunities for growth continue throughout your career with Specsavers.

Beyond the Graduate highlights the exciting learning and development opportunities available to you once you’ve become a registered professional. Beyond the Graduate offers development in three key areas:

Clinical excellence
Ensuring that, as a clinician, you have the knowledge and skills required to deliver the best possible care for our customers. This includes external elements, such as WPOEC accreditation as well as support to complete the College of Optometrists Professional and Higher Certificates, and their Independent Prescribing qualification. As a GOC approved provider we offer online CPD content via our always-on learning management system, as well as virtually through our instructor-led CPD webinars and face-to-face practical skills workshops but perhaps most importantly we deliver thousands of CPD points each year during our annual programme of Professional Advancement Conferences (PAC).

Professional excellence
We will work with you to develop your skills as a supervisor, primarily in support of pre-registration optometrists but also in the supervision of other colleagues undertaking accredited training in store. We also provide the tools needed to develop your facilitator skills to help deliver, and ultimately present pre-reg academy or CPD sessions, including those delivered in-store as registrant-led sessions. Professional excellence also helps provide the knowledge and skills required to become a WOPEC or College of Optometrists assessor, and helps our clinicians to take on the role of Lead Optometrist in our stores

Excellence in service
A focus on some of the softer skills required to ensure the best possible experience for our customers. This includes things like communication skills, clinical decision making linked to recommendations and efficient practice to improve the customer journey.

As you can see, Specsavers are committed to your ongoing development as a clinician, a professional and as a service provider. So rest assured, as part of the Specsavers team we’ll be with you every step of the way, as you continue to learn, develop and fulfil your potential.