General Optical Council

Current vacancies

We are currently recruiting. Please see below our current vacancies.

Scheduling Officer

We are looking for a Scheduling Officer to join on a 12 month fixed term contract basis to manage and coordinate the scheduling of Fitness to Practise events.

The job holder will be expected to:

• Propose, arrange and coordinate dates for FtP hearings
• Responsible for managing complex logistical issues and facilitating the fair and efficient progress of all FtP events
• Proactively plan and manage own allocated caseload of substantive hearings
• Proactively manage non-substantive reviewable orders caseload
• Assess complex case information quickly and make decisions on the next steps.
• Manage progression of older, complex cases, identifying any underlying issues and escalating as appropriate.
• Work with case officers and other relevant parties on procedural issues to progress difficult cases through the hearing process.
• Undertake a risk assessment of all events, highlighting any issues to the Hearings Manager.
• Liaise with the Council’s solicitors and Registrants’ representatives to ensure hearings are allocated the appropriate amount of time to run.
• Responsible for the co-ordination of special measures that may be required for hearings.
• Act as the first point of contact on queries relating to the scheduling of cases for solicitor firms, representatives, committee members, legal adviser and all parties involved in the case
• Provide the Hearings Manager with statistical information on case progression
• Manage the allocation of committee members, legal advisers and clinical advisers to hearing events.
• Ensure that upcoming events are published on the GOC website.
• On occasions, assist during GOC hearing events.

 

Salary Range: £28,780 - £33,859

Contract – 12 Month FTC

Closing Date: 12:00pm (midday) Wednesday 29^th August 2018

Interview Date: TBC

Scheduling Officer Job Advert August 2018

Scheduling Officer Job Description August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

If you think you have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this role demands, please send the following to hr@optical.org:

• A statement in support of your application that fully addresses the Essential Skills/Experience/Qualifications and the Critical Competencies/Behaviours as set out in the Role Profile. This supporting statement is mandatory and your application will not be progressed without it.
• Your CV
• Your monitoring form

Should you have any problems, please call Human Resources on 020 7307 3470 or via email at hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

Senior Business Analyst

The purpose of this role is to manage and develop our data management and corporate performance function.

The role holder will use their expertise to assimilate and analyse operational data, comparing with other data sources to identify trends and data insight to support the achievement of: organisational objectives, identify appropriate interventions to reduce public harm, improve performance and promote good data management across the organisation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Work closely with business and project teams to produce quality data monitoring, analysis, modelling and forecasting to set and track performance targets and identify trends, patterns, anomalies, and liaise productively to transform intelligence into effective interventions focused on:
  - emerging risks to public safety;
  - emerging patterns of behaviour from registrants and registrant groups;
  - performance improvement; and
  - internal business improvement.
• Work closely with teams to develop evidence based robust performance and quality assurance measures ensuring teams are able to track progress and provide assurance of performance and delivery of plans
• Improve our collation of data from internal and external sources, ensuring: data integrity and quality; data requirements are clearly defined, understood and prioritised; and sourcing strategies are defined to address data availability gaps
• Present data, trends and analysis in different formats which are accessible and concise to: share learning; drive business improvements; monitor performance; and embed evidence based thinking into decision making
• Monitor and present progress with the achievement of delivery against business and project plans
• Keep up to date with current good practice and innovation, including engagement both internally and externally, and use this knowledge to provide information, support and advice
• Support the organisations business planning and project management activity

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL

• Results orientated with exceptional organisational and planning skills, and the ability to prioritise workload
• Good understanding of statistics and experience with statistical analysing, interpreting and modelling complex data sets, including demonstrably strong analytical, creative-thinking and problem-solving skills
• High levels of numeracy and attention to detail
• Experience of identifying risk, impact and mitigating actions
• Good understanding of key metrics used within corporate performance measurement processes and quality assurance, and knowledge of data analysis methodologies, such as six sigma and lean
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including management of stakeholders and the ability to structure written reports concisely and appropriately to the audience
• Excellent MS Office skills, SQL knowledge and understanding of ETL tools

DESIRABLE

• Knowledge of regulation and regulatory governance
• Experience of presenting in a formal setting
• Experience of project management processes
• Experience of business planning processes
• Experience of quality assurance systems [for example ISO (International Standards Organisation)/BS (British Standards)/Total Quality Management]

Salary Range: £36,442 - £42,873

Closing Date:   12:00pm (midday) Monday 3^rd September 2018

Interview Dates: Mid-September 2018

Senior Business Analyst Job Advert August 2018

Senior Business Analyst Job Description August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

If you think you might have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this role demands and would like to use them to help shape the future of the GOC, please send the following to hr@optical.org:

• Your CV (up to three A4 pages)
• Your monitoring form
• A statement in support of your application (NO MORE THAN 2 SIDES OF A4) that fully addresses the Essential Skills/Experience/Qualifications and the Critical Competencies/Behaviours as set out in the Role Profile. This supporting statement is mandatory, and your application will not be progressed without it.

Should you have any queries, please call HR on 020 7307 3470 or email hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

Hearings Administrator

We are looking for a Hearings Administrator to proactively support the Hearings Team, to participate in the development and maintenance of administrative systems within the team according to its aims and objectives, also to provide administrative support in relation to the preparation of events heard by the Fitness to Practise Committee.

The holder will be expected to:

• Provide administrative support to the Hearings staff, including the drafting of letters and making/receiving telephone calls (e.g. chasing up requests for information) and liaising with the hearing parties involved in a hearing event. 
•  Provide information to registrants, witnesses, representatives, observers and others, about the hearings role, functions and procedures.
• Manage distribution of incoming post, including the scanning of correspondence and records. Maintain departmental filing (paper and electronic), including entering/retrieving information from databases to a high standard of efficiency.
•  Liaise with interested parties to a case with support as necessary and obtaining necessary documents for the hearing.
• Assist in the collation of data and information from a range of internal and external stakeholders in order to retain and update central databases for the team.
• Manage the hearings inbox and act as the first point of contact for all telephone queries within the hearings department and action the query as necessary. If an action needs to be completed by another team member, ensure that it is distributed and completed within a reasonable time.
• Actively participate in training and development events within the directorate, and keep own skills and knowledge up to date.
• Provide other equivalent administrative support to the directorate, and to the organisation, as directed.
• Provide scheduling support and assistance as required.

Salary Range: £23,990 - £32,458

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 12:00 (midday) Tuesday 28^th August

Interview Dates: TBC

   

Hearings Administrator Job Advert August 2018

Hearings Administrator Job Description August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

If you think you have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this role demands, please send the following to hr@optical.org:

• A statement in support of your application that fully addresses the Critical Competencies/Behaviours as set out in the Job Description. This supporting statement is mandatory and your application will not be progressed without it.
• Your CV
• Your monitoring form

Should you have any problems, please contact Human Resources on 020 7307 9470 or via email at hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

 

2 X Deputy Chair of CET Approvers

We are currently looking for two optometrists to serve as Deputy Chairs of CET Approvers. The purpose of the role is to oversee the work of the CET approvers, providing them with guidance and feedback; undertaking approvals and dealing with appeals; and contributing to the design of and changes to the approval process.

Key accountabilities include: 

Work with the Chair of the CET Approvers to:

• Oversee the work of the CET approvers providing guidance and feedback as necessary
• Assess CET applications, including non-UK CET, ‘other’ CET, ‘multi-part CET delivered over time’ and registrant-led peer reviews, in line with key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Manage appeals and input into complaints made by CET providers about approval decisions, giving guidance and feedback to approvers where necessary

Closing date	9am, Tuesday 28 August 2018
Salary	£318 per day
Requirements	CV and cover letter - the cover letter must demonstrate how you meet the essential skills/qualifications/experience and critical competencies/behaviours in the job description
Interview dates	3, 4, 11 or 12 September 2018
Time commitment for Chair of Approvers	One day per week
Time commitment for Deputy Chair of Approvers	0.5 days per week

Deputy Chair of CET approvers 2018

If you are interested in this role, please contact Theo Miller at tmiller@optical.org to arrange a discussion. 

 

Chair of CET Approvers

We are currently looking for an optometrist to serve as Chair of CET Approvers. The purpose of the role is to oversee the work of the CET approvers and Deputy Chair of Approvers, providing them with guidance and feedback; undertaking approvals and dealing with appeals; and contributing to the design of and changes to the approval process. 

Key accountabilities include:

• Oversee the work of the CET approvers and two Deputy Chair of Approvers, providing guidance and feedback as necessary
• Provide regular review and statistics of CET approvers’ and Deputy Chair of Approvers’ performance
• Oversight and assessment of applications for non-UK CET, applications for ‘other’ CET, ‘multi-part CET over time’ and registrant-led peer reviews, in line with key performance indicators (KPIs)

Closing date	9am, Tuesday 28 August 2018
Salary	£318 per day
Requirements	CV and cover letter - the cover letter must demonstrate how you meet the essential skills/qualifications/experience and critical competencies/behaviours in the job description
Interview dates	3, 4, 11 or 12 September 2018
Time commitment for Chair of Approvers	One day per week
Time commitment for Deputy Chair of Approvers	0.5 days per week

Chair of CET Approvers 2018

If you are interested in this role, please contact Theo Miller at tmiller@optical.org to arrange a discussion. 

 

Education Transition Manager (2 year FTC)

The GOC approves and quality assures optical education and qualifications in order to protect the public by ensuring that optical students achieve the requisite professional Standards. We are conducting a fundamental review of the system of optical education and training in the UK (entitled the Education Strategic Review) in which we have completed wide stakeholder engagement and research regarding optical education. Key outcomes have been identified to improve optical education and how we regulate it. The purpose of this role is to operationalise the Education Strategic Review’s outcomes; to plan and oversee the safe and effective transition from our current Standards for education providers and practitioner competencies to our new Standards and learning outcomes that will allow more flexibility and innovation, and enable providers to respond to a rapidly changing optical sector and ensure that students are equipped for future roles, working with GOC-approved Education providers and programmes and those seeking GOC-approval in the near future.

This is a high-profile role with significant external stakeholder engagement.

The role is a fixed term contract for 2 years, with the potential to be extended to 3 years.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

The role holder will plan and lead on the transition activity by:

• Designing an appropriate transition plan and process;
• Working individually with every single new and existing provider to agree their transition timeline and assess impact;
• Refining the new Quality Assurance (QA) process in line with the outcomes from the ESR, gaining appropriate involvement from stakeholders;
• Supporting the providers to transition and conducting the appropriate level of QA in the period;
• Producing FAQs and other guidance documents;
• Leading on the training for Education Visitor Panel members and Education team on the new model and the implementation plan;
• Ensuring consistency in communication to external parties.

This role involves travel around the UK to visit education providers.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

ESSENTIAL:

• Results orientated with exceptional organisational and planning skills, and the ability to prioritise workload
• Knowledge of professional regulation, including governance of decision-making
• Knowledge of HE/FE Education sector – including higher education, further education, assessment/awarding bodies, apprenticeships
• Experience in project management
• Experience of identifying risk, impact and mitigating actions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including management of stakeholders and the ability to structure written reports concisely and appropriately to the audience
• Experience in quality assurance.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience of healthcare regulation
• Experience of group / workshop facilitation.

Salary range:  £36,442 - £49,304

Closing date:  12:00pm (Midday) on Wednesday 5 September 2018

Interview date:  Thursday 13^th September 2018 (provisional)

Education Transition Manager Job Advert August 2018

Education Transition Manager Job Description August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

The selection process will comprise a competency interview which will include a 10 minute presentation. Details of which will be communicated with your interview confirmation.

If you think you have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this highly visible role demands and would like to use them to help shape the future of the GOC, please send the following to hr@optical.org:   

• Your CV (up to three A4 pages)
• Your Covering Letter
• Your monitoring form (which will be held confidentially by HR, used only for the purposes of monitoring our recruitment processes, and will not be shared with anyone involved in the selection process).

Should you have any queries, please call HR on 020 7307 3470 or email hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

Registrations Administrator (6 month FTC)

We are looking for a Registration Administrator, who will be responsible for providing day to day support for the Councils registration function.

Registration is one of the key statutory functions of the Council. You will need to be able to understand and work within the legislative framework created by the Opticians Act and GOC Registration Rules. You will work closely with the registration team in providing excellent customer to our stakeholders through ensuring registration processes are carried out efficiently and effectively. You will need to have strong experience with electronic administration.

 

Salary Range: £23,990 - £25,049

Duration - 6 month Fixed Term Contract  

Closing Date: 12:00 (midday) 20^th August 2018

Interviews: Week commencing 27^th August 2018

Registrations Administrator Job Advert August 2018

Registrations Administrator Job Description August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

This role is an excellent opportunity for a candidate with the right skills and experience to be part of an innovative, collaborative leadership team and help drive the organisation forward.

If you think you might have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this role demands and would like to use them to help shape the future of the GOC, please the following to hr@optical.org:

• Your CV (up to three A4 pages)
• Your monitoring form

Should you have any queries, please call HR on 020 7307 3470 or email hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

Director of Investigations and Resolution

The GOC is looking to recruit a new Director to lead the continuing modernisation of the organisation’s Fitness to Practise division.  The role will focus on driving increased efficiency and speed in carrying out the organisation’s statutory responsibility for investigating and resolving complaints regarding registrants’ fitness to practise (FtP), without compromising quality.  It will also include overseeing the management of formal hearings and line management responsibility for the organisation’s legal team.  Central to the role will be the sourcing, design and implementation of a new IT-based casework management system.

Working with the CEO and other senior managers, to oversee the fitness to practise function of the GOC, ensuring that complaints raised are properly triaged, investigated and resolved speedily and efficiently and in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legal requirements, focusing particularly on operational improvement.

Key elements of the role will include:

• Overseeing performance improvements in timeliness and cost for the FtP function;
• Sourcing and implementing a new IT casework management system;
• Working with Council members and other stakeholders on FtP performance and agreeing future process improvements;
• Working with SMT to model and implement wider organisational change.

 

Essential skills/experience/qualifications:

Degree-educated or equivalent in relevant discipline (essential); Experience of overseeing efficient casework management or other similar function (essential); Experience of leading performance change, ideally that involving the introduction of new IT systems (essential); Data analysis skills and an understanding of their use in driving performance improvement (essential); Understanding of the role of fitness to practise and similar legal issues (desirable) or a demonstrable ability to acquire such an understanding (essential); Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at a senior level (essential).

Critical competencies/behaviours:

Able to tolerate and manage ambiguity and change; Demonstrable ability to make clear, well-reasoned, evidence based decisions; Pursues defined goals and measures results, using data and other information appropriately to drive performance; Works in a way which is agile, innovative and progressive; Able to build relationships and influence at all levels; Can lead and foster cross-functional team relationships effectively; Gains respect through credibility, integrity and high standards; Fosters a positive and productive culture.

In this role you will be a member of the Senior Management Team with responsibility of budgets totalling c.£3m and three direct reports: Head of Fitness to Practise, Head of Legal, and Hearings Manager and overall responsibility for the efficient management of some 35 staff.

 

Salary Range: £74,440 - £100,713

Closing Date: 12:00 (midday) Friday 24^th August 2018

Director of Investigations and Resolution - August 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

If you think you have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this highly visible role demands and would like to use them to help shape the future of the GOC, please send the following to hr@optical.org:

• Your CV
• Your Covering Letter
• Your monitoring form

Should you have any queries, please call HR on 020 7307 3470 or email hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

2 X Communications Officers

The Communications Officer works in support of the Communications Manager, planning, administering and executing the day-to-day internal and external communications of the Council. 

The postholder will be responsible for drafting and producing a wide range of internal and external publication materials, as well as working proactively and reactively with the media.

They will be required to assist with our stakeholder engagement strategy, including managing our presence at and attending a variety of events. The postholder will need to be able to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels. They will administer our website and social media and ensure the smooth running of the communications department.

The postholder will also be expected to work flexibly in contributing to the wider work of the Strategy directorate. They will conduct research and write briefings to help colleagues fully understand the environment in which we operate and will manage policy projects under the direction of the Head of Policy and Research. Therefore a knowledge of, and interest in, healthcare and/or regulation is desirable.

The job requires occasional weekend and evening work and travel within the UK, including overnight stays.

 

Closing date: 9:00, Monday 20th August 2018

Interview date: Tuesday 28 August 2018 (provisional)

Salary range: £28,780 - £38,938

Benefits: Up to ten per cent pension contribution, 28 days annual leave and other benefits set out at https://www.optical.org/en/about_us/working_for_us/benefits.cfm

   

Communications Officer Job Advert July 2018

Communications Officer Job Description July 2018

EDI Monitoring Form 2018

To apply, please email hr@optical.org with a copy of your CV, a cover letter, your monitoring form and an example of something you have written and had published in a professional or personal capacity such as a news article, a press release or a blog post. Should you have any questions, please call Donna Erstich on 0207 3073 470.

 

2 X FTP Advocate 

We are seeking to appoint two FTP advocates on a permanent basis.

The successful applicants will present GOC cases before the FTP Committee and Registration Appeals Committee: appearing in substantive cases, interim order applications, review hearings, registration appeals, restoration applications, procedural hearings and interlocutory applications. They may also appear before the County Court and High Court (subject to higher rights of audience): presenting disclosure applications, interim order extension applications and defending registrant appeals.

These roles will work closely with the investigation officers in the FTP Case Progression department, which manages fitness to practise investigations and hearing preparation, and will provide advice and support on the management of all casework stages in preparation for hearings.

Salary Range: Up to £56,000

Closing Date: Midnight Friday 31st August 2018

Interview Dates: September 2018

FTP Advocate job advert August 2018

  

FTP Advocate job description

If you think you have the combination of skills, enthusiasm and commitment this highly visible role demands and would like to use them to help shape the future of the GOC, please send the following to hr@optical.org: 

• A statement in support of your application (up to three A4 pages) that fully addresses the Essential Skills/ Experience/ Qualifications AND the Critical Competencies/ Behaviours as set out in the Role Profile. This supporting statement is mandatory, and your application will not be progressed without it. 
• Your CV (up to three A4 pages) 

The selection process will comprise a competency interview and one or more practical exercises. 

Should you have any queries, please call HR on 020 7307 3470 or email hr@optical.org.  Alternative formats are available on request.

 

 

The GOC strives to be as diverse as the public it protects and welcomes applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.