Reading List

Sources below underpin the course content. Support staff do not need to read every item in full; managers, supervisors, registrants and learners may find them useful for understanding the regulatory and safety context.

GOC standards and optical business expectations

• GOC Optical Business Standard 1.1: patients can expect to be safe in your care - sets the safety context for identity checks, booking and escalation.
• GOC Optical Business Standard 2.3: governance - supports clear systems, record keeping, risk management and learning from incidents.
• GOC Optical Business Standard 2.4: confidentiality is respected - relevant to telephone, reception and online booking processes.
• GOC Optical Business Standard 3.3: staff are adequately supervised and supported - covers training, escalation and handover arrangements.

GOC standards for registrants

• GOC Standard 2: communicate effectively with your patients - relevant to clear booking questions, explanations and handover.
• GOC Standard 7: conduct appropriate assessments, examinations, treatments and referrals - provides clinical context for recognising and escalating urgent symptoms.
• GOC Standard 8: maintain adequate patient records - the principal standard for record accuracy and documentation.
• GOC Standard 14: maintain confidentiality and respect your patients' privacy - sets expectations for privacy and information sharing.

Identity, handover and information guidance

• NHS England: identity verification - practical guidance on checking identity before granting access or taking service actions.
• NHS Digital: NHS number - explains the NHS number as a unique identifier across NHS services.
• NHS England patient safety alert: communication and handover - describes risks when information is not acted on during handover.
• College of Optometrists: urgency of referrals table - clinical reference for registrants; support staff should follow local escalation routes.
• ICO: what is personal data? - guidance relevant to reception, booking and message-handling privacy.