Beyond the consulting room

f the many reasons for extending your skills and experience outside the consulting room, all The letters game apply to studying for additional qualifications. OIf you want to improve patient Continuing our series on finding inspiration in and out of practice, care, make your job more varied and satisfying, move into new areas of Alison Ewbank looks at how gaining extra qualifications can clinical practice while at the same time further your career and enhance patient care help your profession to progress, then continuing your studies is surely one of the best ways of achieving this. Extra letters after your name can also enhance your personal status and career prospects and make you more marketable, particularly when job opportunities are scarce. Not least, adding further study to your CV may increase your earning potential at a time of downward pressure on salaries. Qualifications that supplement those essential to practise as an optometrist or dispensing optician fall into various categories. There are academic or professional qualifications required by the General Continuing Optical Council for inclusion on the your studies specialist registers. For the ‘registrable after specialities’, contact lens opticians qualifying need to hold ABDO’s contact lens can be an diploma or certificate, and optometrists inspiring the Additional Supply (AS), experience Supplementary Prescribing (SP) or Independent Prescribing (IP) diplomas of the College of Optometrists. Then there are other qualifications offered by the professional bodies accessible (see panel below). ABDO recognised by the GOC for inclusion such as the College of Optometrists’ offers its own diplomas, in low vision in the registers and therefore accessible Fellowship by Portfolio (FCOptom) aids and spectacle lens design as well as to the public. These are listed on the and its various diplomas (currently in contact lenses. Other qualifications GOC website and include first or DipCLP, DipOrth etc). Fellowship of are not recognised in these ways but higher degrees relevant to optics such the American Academy of Optometry can still give you letters after your as PhD and MSc, whether acquired (FAAO) also falls into this category. name, examples being a Masters in via research or taught. The GOC will Business Administration (MBA) or also consider applications for relevant Changes ahead the British Contact Lens Association’s qualifications not currently listed. At present the College offers diplomas mark of esteem in contact lenses Other GOC-approved qualifications in five subject areas but these Higher (FBCLA). For contact lens academics which can be listed in the register Qualifications are undergoing a radical and educators, fellowship of the include diplomas and fellowships change designed to make them more International Association of Contact Lens Educators (FIACLE) is another option. How the College’s new Higher Framework and include example routes. There are also courses and Qualifications will work So far Cardiff University and City University qualifications which may not give The qualifications will be at three levels: have accredited courses towards the you letters after your name but can ● Professional Certificate (15-20 credits) Professional Certificate in Glaucoma. Providers be used to extend your skills, role and ● Professional Higher Certificate (30-40 will soon be invited to submit courses in low responsibilities. Examples here are the credits) vision for accreditation, followed by AMD. courses run by the Welsh Optometric ● Professional Diploma (60-75 credits) in areas During 2012, the College will continue to Postgraduate Education Centre such as therapeutics, glaucoma, low vision and offer its existing certificates and diplomas in (WOPEC), such as for participation contact lenses. low vision, glaucoma, contact lens practice, in acute referral under the PEARS The framework will allow optometrists to orthoptics and diabetes. Examinations will scheme, and the many locally accredited build up to Diploma level, either in depth in one continue in 2013 for those already studying. schemes for enhanced services. area, such as glaucoma, or across a number of The good news is that successfully topics, for example primary eye care. The topics ● For more information, contact education completing this type of course can now suggested by the College for qualifications are co-ordinator David Maun on 020 7839 6000 or count towards higher qualifications listed on its website under Revised Modular visit www.college-optometrists.org/hq as more flexible ways of studying are introduced.

18 | Optician | 30.03.12 opticianonline.net Beyond the consulting room

standing out from the crowd Craig McArthur: hen optometrist Craig McArthur is out of personal and Whis consulting room you’ll often find him professional performing at Scottish ceilidhs with his band, benefits The Tatties. That’s when he’s not lecturing at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) or speaking at conferences and roadshows. But somehow he has also found time clinically — especially if, like outside the practice for further study to me, you’ve been qualified advance his career. 30 years — but also opens McArthur graduated from Glasgow up all sorts of possibilities Caledonian University (GCU) in 2007 and in practice development first worked for Black & Lizars where he and involvement in set up a macular screening service for the community eye care, which group. He joined Peter Ivins Eye Care in for independent practices is Bearsden when it opened in October 2010. a great place to be. It’s also The practice provides a range of specialist very reassuring for patients, services including macular screening and dry knowing you can deliver the eye management that give him the freedom whole care package.’ to use his clinical skills to the full. learning. The cost of the first module was Ivins has long experience in recruiting For McArthur, the motivation to begin covered by training funds available to professional staff and says additional training as an independent prescriber (IP) Scottish optometrists. He now intends to qualifications are among the factors he was both personal and professional. ‘It’s a complete the remaining two modules to might consider in a potential employee. ‘As a differentiating factor between myself and my achieve full IP status. marker that this is someone who’s committed peers. If you look at the market place today, McArthur predicts that, in future, the to delivering quality eye care and should it’s polarising – some people are looking solely profession will have multiple levels of have the necessary “hard skill set”, although at price so we have to go the other way. IP is optometric skills and some practitioners will this is by no means the full package as just one way of doing that.’ take on more of a shared care role, integrated personality, communication skills etc play a Taking on new responsibilities makes with hospitals. ‘To utilise that properly you very important part. the job more varied and the business also have to have the training,’ he argues. ‘We now see a large number of benefits. ‘From the patient’s point of view, Practice owner Peter Ivins is optometrists — some may say too many — the practice is offering services that others understandably supportive, since he has who have recently qualified and who from can’t.’ an IP qualification himself. ‘I know how day one are left in a practice to work on their So far, McArthur has completed the first hard this is to achieve, especially if you’re own. Further qualifications, either clinical or part of the IP course at GCU which involves working full time. ‘The rewards are worth otherwise, help differentiate an optometrist weekend courses as well as distance it, though, as it not only challenges you from his peers and stand out from the crowd.’

Specialist status for the qualifications, which are also courses and qualifications for optical Other changes may be afoot since the open to optometrists. technicians and support staff, and GOC is considering whether to restrict Less well known is the ABDO provides training in customer service. the qualifications that appear in the diploma in low vision aids, which can registers only to those that are essential also extend responsibilities in a clinical New learning routes to registration, although this change direction and lead to a satisfying and For optometrists, too, there are many would require legislation and is not rewarding role. opportunities to continue learning likely to happen for some time. Another route for DOs to consider and take on additional responsibilities. There are, of course, other ways to is converting to optometry. Various Increasingly, this means having more use letters after your name to promote routes are available, such as the than the entry level qualifications that your skills and expertise, whether Optometry Career Progression Course are required for registration. With on letter headings or signage, by offered by the University of Bradford several new routes available, and others displaying certificates in the practice or or, at other departments, exemption being phased out, the picture here can on your CV. from some elements of the first year be confusing. Some of the most recognisable of an undergraduate optometry course. Concerns about the low uptake of qualifications, and which can give Studying the full three or four years its existing diplomas led the College to the holder a new job description as of a degree in optometry is a further review its Higher Qualifications and well as wider responsibilities and option. the decision to work with universities job opportunities, will continue to Taking on new clinical roles is not and other organisations to provide appear under the specialist registers to the only route for DOs to broaden their nationally accredited qualifications for distinguish holders from their peers. horizons. ABDO’s diploma in spectacle working in enhanced services. ABDO’s Contact Lens Certificate or lens design can be a springboard into a The College says that cost and time Diploma in Advanced Contact Lens technical role in industry, while courses commitments, along with a lack of Practice allows DOs to join the contact in optical management, retailing or an tuition and opportunities for practical lens specialist register and become MBA may offer advantages in retail experience, were among the barriers contact lens opticians. Three colleges optics. to take-up of the previous diplomas. – ABDO, Bradford and City & East The Worshipful Company of Courses will now be delivered around London – offer courses in preparation Spectacle Makers has a range of the country and will be better suited to opticianonline.net 30.03.12 | Optician | 19 Beyond the consulting room

be prepared Helen Denton: working with low vision patients t was volunteering for an eye care project is very rewarding Ioverseas that first prompted DO Helen Denton to think about extending her skills things such as advice on lighting into low vision work some 20 years after and contrast. I can’t perform a qualifying. Working as a locum in practices miracle and give them the sight close to her home on the Wirral-Cheshire they’ve lost back but I am able to borders, she was also seeing increasing maximise their useful vision. numbers of elderly patients in practice with ‘It’s very different from other low vision, many of them with AMD. dispensing and very rewarding. Having the ability to juggle her locum days, It’s like a bereavement losing and with her children either at or about to your vision − you have to regain leave for university, the timing was right. their trust and confidence, and ‘They no longer needed mother,’ says Denton. be able to empathise.’ Giving up interests in Girl Guiding and Keeping abreast of changing swimming tuition, she enrolled on ABDO’s technology is also important as LVA diploma course. With theory and hand-held electronic devices practical exams, the course involved 23 and screen-based systems are weeks of distance learning and a residential increasingly used to supplement weekend. She then had to present 15 case Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted, traditional optical magnifiers. studies from practical experience in hospital working alongside professionals from other Moving low vision services into the and community-based clinics around the disciplines. She also sees LVA patients in the community under the LOCSU pathway may northwest. practices where she locums. well create more opportunities for LVA work Since receiving the diploma Denton has ‘It’s been a hard slog. It was hard work in practice and Denton is keen to get involved. spent three days a month as a volunteer getting the qualification under my belt ‘That would be the way forward for me. Being doing low vision assessments for Wirral but it’s made me more confident in simple part of a holistic service is what I’d love to see.’ optometrists’ work schedules. distance learning. Most also offer who have this can still use it, while AS Candidates will be able to take one postgraduate degrees by research. will continue for those who prefer not module or several, and work in one Departments are also becoming aware to take on independent prescribing. topic area or across a range of topics. of Border Agency changes that have Therapeutics training has three Courses may work out more expensive implications for overseas students. components: a theoretical course, than the previous College diplomas but New courses are emerging all currently offered by City University, will offer more in terms of tuition and the time so it is worth visiting the Glasgow Caledonian University and support. institutions’ websites for the latest jointly by Manchester and Aston The College has already introduced information. Among recent additions Universities; a clinical placement of Fellowship by Portfolio based on are the Doctor of Optometry and set duration for each level; then a final work or study already achieved in the Ophthalmic Doctorate offered by assessment through the College. workplace. The intention here was Aston University, and the Institute of Since 2009, a total of 104 to make the scheme more flexible Optometry’s Doctor of Optometry in optometrists have gained the IP and remove the cost barrier. So far 10 partnership with London South Bank qualification over six examination College members have taken up this University. sittings and most of these have option but more interest is expected in Aston’s professional doctorate registered an IP speciality with the future. programme started in 2008 and can GOC. Interest in therapeutics seems be completed on a distance learning likely to increase as new pathways Integrated learning basis. Students undertake modules and emerge and professional responsibilities The new Higher Qualifications will practical work to accumulate credits change. also be integrated with other learning towards various awards. With a range of qualifications pathways. At WOPEC in Cardiff, For optometrists and DOs, these available, the College says its purpose for instance, successful completion of are the PgCert, PgDip or MSc in is to raise standards of education and previous postgraduate courses gives Optometry or in Ophthalmic Science practice by supporting its members in academic credits to use towards a respectively. The highest awards are their professional development so they degree, certificate or diploma. the DOptom (Doctor of Optometry) deliver the highest quality of eye care. The Centre offers a full MSc in or the DOphSc (Doctor of Ophthalmic NHS reforms are expected to offer Clinical Optometry, or a Postgraduate Science) both of which entitle the new opportunities for the profession Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma holder to use the title ‘Dr’. to provide enhanced clinical care allowing you to use the suffixes PgCert and make further study even more or PgDip. Alternatively you can choose Prescribing role relevant. to study individual modules that Perhaps the most recognisable way Chief executive Bryony Pawinska interest you without working towards for optometrists to extend their scope sums up the benefits: ‘Gaining extra a qualification. of practice is to take a therapeutics qualifications will give optometrists the Other universities such as City qualification to train as an optometrist confidence, recognition and skills they have modular courses that aim for a prescriber and register an AS or IP need to play a significant part in the flexible or ‘blended’ learning approach, speciality. The SP has now been new health service by offering patients combining face-to-face teaching with incorporated into IP although those a wider range of services.’ ●

20 | Optician | 30.03.12 opticianonline.net