Optical Assistant Apprenticeship - Specsavers Dudley

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

Requirements

• Enthusiastic about providing great customer service
• Desire to pursue a career in optics
• Ability to travel to the store location on a daily basis

Responsibilities

• Booking customers in for eye tests
• Pre-screening patients
• Recommending suitable frames
• Giving customers top-notch advice and a warm welcome
• Ensuring the store runs smoothly by identifying and addressing minor issues
• Delivering customer service aligned with company values, beliefs, and purposes
• Identifying when and who to refer to for supervision (e.g., ocular emergencies, screening, dispensing, collections of restricted categories)
• Working within policies, procedures, and regulated activities (e.g., GDPR, NHS, GOC, Health and Safety at Work, safeguarding)
• Following employer guidelines for presentation and teamwork
• Identifying and meeting customer needs within the optical environment
• Communicating with customers and the optical team to maximise understanding
• Referring customers needing communication support (e.g., language, hearing, visual, or learning difficulties) to appropriate services
• Following health and safety legislation, including customer safety, hygiene, and infection control
• Using optical equipment safely (e.g., adjustment tools, screening equipment, measuring equipment)
• Following procedures for first aid, accident/incident reporting, or evacuations
• Providing information on the benefits and limitations of services (e.g., sight tests, contact lenses, minor eye condition services, low vision services)
• Offering non-prescribed products (e.g., contact lens solutions, ready readers, magnifiers)
• Selecting appointments, recall information, appointment types, and exemptions on the employer’s system, and maintaining accurate records
• Reporting and recording ocular emergencies following employer procedures
• Preparing clinical records for use following employer procedures
• Completing customer pre-appointment procedures accurately
• 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, highlighting features and benefits
• Offering specialised products based on customer needs and preferences, highlighting features and benefits
• Offering suitable frames based on customer needs and preferences, highlighting features and benefits
• Identifying frame fitting suitability, including facial, frame, and spectacle lens measurements for spectacle orders
• Processing spectacle orders, payments, and arranging collections, offering relevant promotions
• Identifying and checking visual acuity for near vision spectacles, explaining adaptation
• Fitting spectacle frames using questioning, measurements, and tools
• Adjusting frames correctly using tools without causing damage
• Providing advice and guidance on frame fitting, lens care, and after-sales service
• Identifying guarantees and warranties of optical products and 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 or complaints
• Communicating with customers to resolve concerns or complaints within their authority limits
• Following remake procedures
• Following repair procedures
• Recognising and resolving customer complaints (e.g., poor fitting, incorrect measurements), or offering alternative options
• Participating in training and development activities to maintain practice
• Participating in appraisals, obtaining feedback, and using self-reflection for development planning and identifying career opportunities
• Adapting approach for customers with ocular conditions (e.g., glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes)
• Conducting screening using screening equipment and recording accurate results
• Informing patients about screening equipment, processes, and procedures
• Gaining support from colleagues during screening when required
• Informing patients that tests check for medical conditions (e.g., glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes)
• Demonstrating contact lens handling, insertion, and removal to patients
• Showing patients how to care for their lenses
• Providing advice and guidance on cleaning lenses and solution types
• Following out-of-hours emergency procedures
• Recognising a customer’s ability to make an informed decision
• Informing the customer 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 to ensure an appropriate eye test can be delivered
• Managing own wellbeing and resources
• Maintaining team communications when working remotely