Optical Assistant Apprenticeship - Shepherds Bush (White City) Specsavers

Our apprenticeship gives people of all ages a chance to start an exciting career, while earning a full-time wage.

Requirements

• GCSE in Maths (grade 9-4 (A*- C))
• Enthusiastic about providing great customer service
• Willingness to pursue a career in optics
• Ability to travel to the store location on a daily basis

Responsibilities

• Booking customers for eye tests
• Pre-screening patients and measuring frames
• Recommending frames
• Providing top-notch advice and a warm welcome to the store
• Ensuring smooth store operations by identifying and addressing minor issues
• Learning on the job through hands-on experience
• Delivering customer service aligned with company values
• Identifying when and who to refer to for supervision (e.g., ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing, collections of restricted categories)
• Working within policy limits (GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety, safeguarding)
• Following employer guidelines for presentation and teamwork
• Identifying and meeting customer needs within the optical environment
• Communicating effectively with customers and the optical team
• Referring customers needing communication support to appropriate services
• Following health and safety legislation, including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
• Following safe use instructions for optical equipment
• Following procedures for first aid, accident/incident reporting, and evacuations
• Explaining benefits and limitations of various services and extended services to customers
• Offering non-prescribed products (e.g., contact lens solutions, ready readers, magnifiers)
• Selecting appointments, recalling information, and maintaining accurate records on the employer's system
• Reporting and recording ocular emergencies according to employer procedures
• Preparing clinical records for use
• Completing customer pre-appointment procedures
• Validating product accuracy using product tolerances
• Identifying prescriptions and lens measurements using lens measuring equipment
• Identifying lens types (e.g., progressive lenses, safety spectacles) and remarking lenses where required
• Interpreting spectacle prescriptions to identify suitable vision correction options
• Offering suitable lens products based on customer needs and preferences
• Offering specialized products based on customer needs and preferences
• Offering suitable frames based on customer needs and preferences
• Identifying frame fitting suitability, including facial, frame, and spectacle lens measurements
• Processing spectacle orders, payments, and arranging collections
• Offering relevant promotions to customers
• Checking visual acuity for near vision spectacles and explaining adaptation
• Fitting spectacle frames using questioning, measurements, and tools
• Adjusting frames correctly without causing damage
• Providing advice on frame fitting, lens care, and after-sales service
• Identifying guarantees and warranties of optical products
• Adhering to legal requirements for consumers
• Managing customer concerns and/or complaints in line with employer procedures
• Using problem-solving techniques to identify causes of concerns/complaints
• Communicating with customers to resolve concerns/complaints within authority limits
• Following remake and repair procedures
• Recognizing and resolving customer complaints (e.g., poor fitting, incorrect measurements)
• Participating in training and development activities
• Participating in appraisals, obtaining feedback, and using self-reflection for development
• Adapting approach for customers with ocular conditions (e.g., glaucoma, cataracts)
• Conducting screening using screening equipment and recording accurate results
• Informing patients about screening equipment, processes, and procedures
• Seeking support from colleagues during screening when required
• Informing patients about the medical conditions that tests can check for
• Demonstrating contact lens handling, insertion, and removal to patients
• Showing patients how to care for their lenses
• Providing advice on cleaning lenses and solution types
• Following out-of-hours emergency procedures
• Recognizing a customer’s ability to make an informed decision
• Informing the customer about what the sight test includes and how it is carried out
• Working independently to plan and manage workload
• Assessing and mitigating risk in patients' homes for appropriate eye tests
• Managing own well-being and resources
• Maintaining team communications when working remotely