Reading List

This Reading List supports the course by offering UK-relevant and optical-sector guidance on wellbeing, burnout, speaking up, workplace stress, and the responsibilities of optical professionals and practice leaders.

GOC standards and optical professional responsibilities

• GOC: Standards of Practice for optometrists and dispensing opticians Sets out the professional standards that underpin safe practice, leadership, judgement, and patient-centred care.
• GOC Standard 11: Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm The core standard for raising concerns, acting when patient or public safety may be at risk, and considering your own fitness to practise.
• GOC: Speaking up guidance Practical guidance on speaking up about patient or public safety concerns, including how businesses can build a culture where concerns are heard.
• GOC: Standards for Optical Businesses Explains the expectations placed on registered optical businesses, including governance, culture, support for staff, and safe care.
• GOC Optical Business Standard 3.1: Staff are able to exercise professional judgement Useful when considering workload, commercial pressure, sufficient time for care, and support for difficult decisions.
• GOC Optical Business Standard 3.3: Staff are adequately supervised and supported Covers supervision, support, performance systems, and support for staff who experience discrimination, bullying, or harassment.

Optical-sector wellbeing and support

• College of Optometrists: Wellbeing A hub of wellbeing resources for optometrists, including urgent support, College resources, national resources, trainees, burnout, and resilience.
• College of Optometrists: Wellbeing national resources Signposts national services and resources for managing your own mental health and supporting others.
• Association of Optometrists: Health and wellbeing Optical-sector wellbeing information, including stress advice, peer support, webinars, mentoring, and support services.
• Association of Optometrists: Stress advice Guidance for optical professionals on recognising stress, reducing risk, and helping yourself and others.
• Association of Optometrists: Peer Support Line A confidential helpline for optical professionals, including members and non-members, at any stage of their career.
• AOP and College: OptomHelp Information about financial and practical support for optometrists and their dependants during difficult circumstances.

Workplace stress, burnout and organisational wellbeing

• Health and Safety Executive: Stress and mental health at work Employer and employee guidance on work-related stress, mental health, management standards, resources, and reporting concerns.
• Health and Safety Executive: Management Standards A structured approach for assessing and managing the main causes of work-related stress, including demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change.
• Acas: Managing work-related stress Plain-language guidance on causes and signs of stress, risk assessments, supporting workers, time off, and prevention.
• NICE NG212: Mental wellbeing at work Evidence-based guidance on creating supportive workplace conditions, training and supporting managers, and making guidance relevant for small and medium-sized organisations.
• NHS England: Looking after your team's health and wellbeing guide A practical team-based guide for developing a shared wellbeing culture, identifying goals, and supporting safe, inclusive conversations.
• NHS England: Health and Wellbeing Framework implementation guide A planning and delivery guide for diagnosing staff wellbeing needs, designing interventions, and evaluating impact.
• GOV.UK: Health matters - health and work Public health guidance on how employment and workplaces affect health and wellbeing, with actions for employers and health and care professionals.
• World Health Organization: Burn-out as an occupational phenomenon Defines burnout as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, and distinguishes it from a medical diagnosis.
• NHS: 10 stress busters Practical individual self-help suggestions for reducing stress and building everyday resilience.

Together these resources connect GOC professional duties with practical optical-sector support and broader UK guidance on preventing and responding to workplace stress and burnout.