Reading List

Sources below support the course and provide further guidance for optical staff, registrants, managers and owners on candour and raising concerns.

• GOC - Standard 19: Be candid when things have gone wrong
  The core optical professional standard on candour for optometrists and dispensing opticians.
  https://optical.org/standards-and-guidance/standards/standards-of-practice-for-optometrists-and-dispens/19-be-candid-when-things-have-gone-wrong.html

• GOC - The professional duty of candour
  Optical guidance on openness, apology, records and learning after incidents.
  https://optical.org/standards-and-guidance/guidance/the-professional-duty-of-candour.html

• GOC - Speaking up
  Guidance on raising concerns where patient safety, professional behaviour or public trust may be at risk.
  https://optical.org/standards-and-guidance/guidance/speaking-up.html

• GOC - Standards for Optical Businesses
  Business standards covering governance, patient care, staff training, premises and safe service delivery.
  https://optical.org/standards-and-guidance/standards/standards-for-optical-businesses.html

• CQC - Regulation 20: Duty of candour
  England guidance on the statutory duty of candour for CQC-regulated providers.
  https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/regulation-20-duty-candour

• Scottish Government - Organisational duty of candour guidance
  Scotland-specific guidance on organisational candour procedures, revised in 2025.
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/organisational-duty-candour-non-statutory-guidance-revised-march-2025/

• GOV.WALES - NHS duty of candour
  Wales guidance on the NHS duty of candour and openness when care has caused harm.
  https://www.gov.wales/nhs-duty-candour

• Department of Health Northern Ireland - Being Open Framework
  Northern Ireland framework for openness, honesty and learning in health and social care.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/being-open-framework-health-and-social-care-northern-ireland

• GOV.UK - Whistleblowing for employees
  Official guidance on what whistleblowing means, who to tell and how worker protection may apply.
  https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing

• GOV.UK - Whistleblowing guidance for employers
  Manager guidance on policies, workplace culture and responding to staff concerns.
  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/whistleblowing-guidance-for-employers

• GOV.UK - Prescribed people and bodies
  List and guidance for prescribed persons relevant to protected whistleblowing disclosures.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blowing-the-whistle-list-of-prescribed-people-and-bodies--2

• NHS Resolution - Saying sorry
  Practical guidance explaining why apology matters and why saying sorry is not the same as admitting liability.
  https://resolution.nhs.uk/resources/saying-sorry/

• ICO - Personal data breaches: a guide
  Guidance on recognising and reporting personal data breaches where candour overlaps with confidentiality and data protection.
  https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/report-a-breach/personal-data-breach/personal-data-breaches-a-guide/

Use these readings to improve local candour processes, speaking-up routes, incident response and learning from near misses in optical services.