Welcome to GOC Standard 15: Professional Boundaries in Optical Practice

Welcome to this practical course on professional boundaries in optical practice. Designed for all members of the optical team, this course shows how to maintain safe, respectful and professional relationships before, during and after consultations - whether in-clinic, online or in the community. You will gain clear, repeatable tools (scripts, documentation checklists and escalation steps) that make boundary work auditable and defensible.

Why this matters

Appropriate boundaries protect patient safety, clinician objectivity and patient dignity. Small, early boundary slips can escalate into complaints, harm or fitness-to-practise action. This course focuses on practical controls - not just theory - so you can recognise red flags, act early, and document decisions that keep care safe and impartial.

[box] Quick two-check decision test:

1. Would I act the same with a different, unrelated patient?
2. Could I explain this calmly to a colleague tomorrow with clear notes? If the answer is "no" to either, pause, reset and escalate as needed. [end box]

What you will learn

• Core principle of Standard 15 and how it applies across settings (clinic, tele-optometry, domiciliary).
• The five domains of boundaries: sexual/intimate, emotional, financial/commercial, digital/social, and dual roles - with practical examples.
• Everyday scripts to reset personal contact, decline friend requests, and stop inappropriate behaviour.
• How to offer and record chaperones and use neutral touch safely.
• Digital boundary essentials: approved platforms, device hygiene and data minimisation.
• Domiciliary tips: framing at the door, positioning equipment and handling gifts.
• Documentation: concise notes that explain who, what, when, why and actions taken.
• Early warning signs and immediate actions for common scenarios (over-involvement, sales pressure, emotional disclosures, social media requests).
• Escalation thresholds and when to involve management, governance or external agencies.
• Team and systems actions: clinic layout, rota design, governance items and supervision techniques to prevent boundary drift.

Practical skills you will gain

• Use of ready-made scripts to reset interactions and maintain neutrality.
• A succinct documentation checklist to record boundary decisions quickly and defensibly.
• Safe digital communication habits and tele-optometry workflow.
• Simple containment steps for near-misses and breaches (ask for deletion, move to approved channel, log incident).
• How to manage dual relationships (friends, family, colleagues) with safeguards or appropriate transfer of care.
• Techniques for supervisors: micro-debriefs, modelling and induction content for locums and students.

How this course will help you

Completing this course will help you:

• Reduce risk of harm, complaints and FtP referrals by embedding consistent boundary practices.
• Make boundary work visible and auditable through concise records and clear escalation routes.
• Improve staff confidence when handling difficult conversations or emotional disclosures.
• Protect patient dignity and ensure commercial neutrality in prescribing and dispensing.
• Build practical, repeatable workplace controls (scripts, signage, rotas and IT settings) that support everyday decisions.

Who is this course for

This course is suitable for:

• Optometrists and dispensing opticians
• Practice managers and clinical leads
• Optical assistants, reception teams and locums
• Students, trainees and supervisors involved in supervision and induction

How the course is structured

You will move through short, focused modules that combine:

• High-yield guidance and checklists
• Real-world scenarios with immediate actions
• Ready-to-use scripts and documentation templates
• Reflection prompts and supervisor micro-debrief exercises
• Practical system and design recommendations you can implement quickly

We are pleased you've chosen to strengthen your professional practice. Use the scripts, document early, and treat boundary work as a routine safety control. If you have any questions as you progress, refer to your local governance leads or the course resources for templates and escalation pathways. Welcome - and thank you for committing to safe, respectful care.