Accreditation and REPORTS TO Education ROLE TITLE: Quality Assurance (ROLE TITLE): Manager Officer

ROLE PURPOSE:

To provide specialist support for the education and standards function relating to the accreditation and quality assurance of optical education providers.

To manage the General Optical Council (GOC) accreditation and quality assurance visit processes and annual monitoring scheme for designated providers under the direction of the Education Manager. The role will ensure that inspections are conducted in accordance with the standards and requirements set out in the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Handbooks and against agreed KPI’s. This will involve attendance at training institutions across the UK and will involve weekend working at times.

As part of the visit process, the role holder will also attend meetings and provide support to the professional visit team, advising on relevant process and standards, acting as secretary to the team and completing follow up reports of the visit within agreed timescales.

The role holder will contribute to the development of standards for accreditation and quality assurance, guidance for training providers and the process for evaluation, ensuring that current legislation and best practice is continually reflected.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (NO MORE THAN 8) To provide administration for the process of accreditation and quality assurance visits to education providers in accordance with the GOC’s quality assurance framework and operational handbooks. Liaise with education providers to ensure that documentation and evidence is produced when required, before or after visits to providers.  Attend visits, facilitate and act as secretariat to a variety of meetings so that the visitor team can interpret standards accurately and are fully supported to develop appropriate conditions and recommendations for education providers.  Produce evaluation reports following visits, including all necessary conditions and recommendations, contribute to the design and implementation of ongoing monitoring processes so that progress of recommendations and conditions are tracked, and reporting arrangements are established, identifying and escalating any operational risks.  Draft accreditation visit report papers for the GOC Education Committee paper and any education related working groups and attend Education Committee meetings to provide input as required. Provide regular and ad-hoc reports and information to a range of stakeholders including internal colleagues, senior management, education providers, education visitors and GOC Committees so that all interested parties are fully informed on education matters. Provide administration for visitor training and provider forums as required.  Process payments of panel fees and expenses for education visitors, ensuring these are accurately recorded and submitted to finance in a timely manner.  Ensure that queries and issues raised by education providers, patients and the public on matters related to education outcomes or process are effectively resolved, involving Head of Functions and other colleagues as required.  Provide support to the design and implementation of Education and Standards department projects in respect of processes and policy development. ESSENTIAL SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS Experience working in an education related field Experience managing and operating audit / quality assurance systems Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders verbally and in writing. Well-developed understanding of higher education frameworks Ability to produce high quality written work Ability to analysis data and to produce evidenced based arguments.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES/ BEHAVIOURS (NO MORE THAN 5) (these will be agreed once the behavioural model is launched – those shown are examples) Take Ownership Takes the initiative to ensure that accreditation and quality assurance processes are continually fit for purpose and that any issues arising from their use are resolved in a timely fashion Aim for Excellence Works without close supervision and trusted to produce high quality work; delivers robust audit trail and evidence Continually Improve Drives improvements in standards and process and innovates where appropriate; looks for ways to introduce improved practices Use the Evidence Researches thoroughly and uses appropriate analysis and data in recommendations; presents robust arguments and proposing solutions; demonstrates an understanding of the implications and impact of recommendations on practice and people Works in Collaboration Engages colleagues appropriately in problem resolution and proposals for change; keeps all relevant colleagues and stakeholders informed on issues of importance to them

DIMENSIONS (e.g. BUDGET LEVELS/NO. OF STAFF MANAGED/PROJECT VALUE/RELATIONSHIPS MANAGED)  1 – 2 visits per month on average Maintains relationships with a pool of visitors Quality assures a network of educational establishments (Universities and Colleges)  ROLE DESCRIPTION PREPARED BY: Tiffany Morgan

DATE: 10 October 2016

JOB DESCRIPTION SIGNED OFF BY (HOD/DIRECTOR): Alistair Bridge

DATE: 10 October 2016