Monitoring Report - General Optical Council 2022/23

We have published our most recent report for the General Optical Council (GOC).

Key statistics

• The GOC regulates the practice of optometrists, dispensing opticians, students and optical businesses in the United Kingdom
• There were 30,837 professionals and 2,917 optical businesses on its register (as at 31 December 2023)

Key findings

Fitness to Practise timeliness

We are pleased to report that the GOC has sustained the improvements in the timeliness of its fitness to practise investigations. (Last year, it met our Standard relating to fitness to practise timeliness for the first time in seven years.) The GOC is now carrying out a further programme of work to build on its improvements.

Engaging with stakeholders

The GOC carried out multiple consultations and engagements. We have seen clear evidence of the GOC’s commitment to working with its stakeholders and their approach has been, on the whole, very well-received.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The GOC continues to make good progress against its EDI Action Plan 2020-2024 and remains on track to achieve its objectives. It continues to use data and other evidence to identify areas for further work, such as producing a joint statement with stakeholders on zero tolerance to bullying, harassment, abuse and discrimination following the findings of its registrant survey.

Quality-assuring education and training

Since updating its Education and Training Requirements in March 2021, the GOC has quality assured adaptations for more than half of existing providers. It also commissioned the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) to establish a Knowledge Hub designed to support providers in meeting the updated requirements.