Annual Report 2014-2015

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DavidParkinsFCOptom, PresidentIt’s been an exciting year, filled with successes and challenges, and I’m honoured to have led the College Council and played a leading role in the Board during this time, and pleased to have had you, our members, supporting me along the way.

We are working in challenging times: we have to improve the value of healthcare to meet a rising demand that is coupled with fixed or shrinking budgets, and offer more patient-centred and

integrated care, especially for people with multiple long-term conditions. Navigating this environment is a vital part of the College’s role, and we ensure the voice of the profession, and you, the professional, is heard at the highest levels, and is at the heart of all relevant policy discussions and debates.

In 2014, following months of hard work and consultation with our members and stakeholders, we published our new Guidance for professional practice. This vital resource is already helping our members in this changing environment, and to meet the GOC’s standards.

We also continue to undertake and support research that is developing the profession’s evidence base, and you will read more about that in this report.

On a lighter note, but still important to us, vision has been firmly in the news, with thousands of column inches and broadcast minutes spent talking about #thatdress (was it black and blue or white and gold?), the solar eclipse and Eyes on our Future, our children’s campaign. The College was included in many of these stories and discussions, giving a trusted, professional opinion on vision and eye health. Our media involvement and public facing work, including our increasing range of patient information resources, means that the College is at the forefront of promoting the role

of the optometrist to the public and other health professionals. I look forward to discovering what stories emerge in the future!

It’s been my privilege to serve the profession via our respected professional body. As my presidency comes to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to remind you that the College is a powerful and effective voice within the eye and wider health sector, and in representing optometry to the wider public. And, by being a member of the College, you are helping to ensure that our profession continues to be heard. Thank you for your support.

Engaging with patients and the public

To help members in this changing environment, we published our new Guidance for professional practice in October 2014, a vital resource for all UK optometrists.

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IanHumphreysChief ExecutiveThis report summarises our work during 2014-15, and is one of my first opportunities to address you as the College’s Chief Executive.

As many of you know, I took up post as Chief Executive in January 2016, but was very much involved in the work reported here in my role as Deputy Chief Executive. In the eight years I have been at the College I have been lucky enough to see

the organisation grow and develop in response to changes in the sector and needs of our members.

Although this report looks back on what we have achieved, I, along with our senior management team, Board and Council, am already looking forward to the years ahead. Optometry is currently in a period of significant change, and I intend to ensure that College members are best placed to make the most of all opportunities that arise. Top of the priority list must be current pressures on the NHS and future funding of the sector. Capacity issues in hospitals need to be addressed urgently, and optometrists can play a key role in helping by taking part in new models of care such as primary care and community ophthalmology.

But, it’s important to remember that, as challenging as these issues are, with the right management and a willingness to adapt, they also present opportunities for the profession.

We will be introducing many new member benefits this year, and there will be a much greater emphasis placed on digital media. Our new website will be at the heart of this and will feature much more flexible and online learning - so expect more ethical scenarios, case studies and blogs.

None of the achievements detailed in this report would be possible without the dedication of our volunteer Council members, Trustees and committee members, as well as members of a number of working groups and reference groups and not forgetting the College staff.

Ultimately, we are only as successful as our members, and I hope that the successes detailed in this report illustrate just how much members trust in, and rely on, the College services which allow optometrists across the UK and beyond to deliver the highest standards of care to their patients.

Everything starts and ends with our members. This is something I, and the College, will never lose sight of.

A welcome from the Chief Executive

Optometry is currently in a period of significant change, and I intend to ensure that College members are best placed to make the most of all opportunities that arise.

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Our vision, mission and objectsOur visionA society where policy makers and the public understand the unique role optometrists play in providing the nation’s eye care, and recognise membership of the College as the guarantee of the best clinical and ethical standards from practitioners who put the welfare of their patients before all other considerations.

Our missionRaising standards of optometric education and practice by providing the necessary evidence-base and by supporting our members in their professional development so they deliver the highest quality of eye care for the benefit of the public.

Our aims• The improvement and conservation of human vision.

• The advancement for the public benefit of the study of and research into optometry and related subjects and the publication of the results thereof.

• The promotion and improvement for the public benefit of the science and practice of optometry and related subjects.

• The maintenance for the public benefit of the highest possible standards of professional competence and conduct.

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Our strategic objectivesStrategic objective 1To ensure that College membership is valuable to optometrists and an asset to their employers.

Strategic objective 2To provide and promote high quality services and support for members to develop their individual clinical practice.

Strategic objective 3To influence policy and decision makers in health care delivery in the UK countries by showing how optometrists can improve the quality of eye care.

Strategic objective 4To make people aware that they should look after their eyes and of the important role optometrists play in maintaining or improving sight.

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Our highlights

This report highlights the work we carried out, successes achieved, and challenges met during the membership year from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.

Our key achievements include:

• publishing our new Guidance for professional practice, including the launch of a dedicated public website, and a bound copy and app only available to College members

• doubling the number of regional CET events for members, featuring new filmed scenarios for peer discussion and voting pad technology

• expanding our range of higher qualifications with six new courses accredited. Affixes were introduced for each of the HQs, and are now published on the GOC register

• redesigning and expanding our the patient information leaflet series, including new leaflets on presbyopia, contact lenses and a tear-off Amsler chart

• submitting the PrOVIDe (Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Dementia) report to the National Institute for Health Research, disseminating its emerging findings and the hosting of a dementia and vision stakeholder summit

• prioritising continuing professional development (CPD) by appointing a Head of CPD to ensure delivery of a wide-ranging, relevant package of development opportunities for members

• securing a 118% increase in national media coverage.

100% of our regional event delegates rated our events as excellent or good

1,100,018 patient leaflets distributed

680OSCE passes

6new higher qualifications developed

946 mentions of the College in national and international print and broadcast media

2,581 delegates welcomed at our regional events and conferences

Our year at a glanceWe’ve been working hard for you and the profession. Here’s a snapshot of our achievements over the last year.

79 new independent prescribers accredited

21,454 tear-off pads distributed

81% increase in queries handled by our clinical advice team

2% increase in members

109,957 page views of our dedicated Guidance for professional practice website

£5,000worth of journal subscriptions available for free from our library

28free regional CET events

118% increase in visitors to our consumer website lookafteryoureyes.org

725successful completions of our online supervisor training

1,111 museum visitors

£292,000of funding awarded to members through our scholarships programme

Figures from 1 October 2014 – 30 September 2015

0% increase in member fees!

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PrabBoparai MCOptom

I find that I really engage with the interactive nature of the College’s regional events. I particularly like the mix of speakers - from renowned ophthalmologists to high street optometrists who we can easily relate to. They cover key points relevant to everyday practice and reflect the current climate in optometry.

Guidance for professional practice The revised online version of our Guidance for professional practice, with its advanced search function, has proved to be the ‘go-to’ reference tool for advice on good optometric practice since its launch in November 2014. The website and a member-only hard copy version were swiftly followed by an app, making the guidance available to members from their smartphone or tablet - even when working offline.

Clinical Management Guidelines Our easy-to-search Clinical Management Guidelines are a ready source of evidence-based information on the diagnosis and management of more than 50 eye conditions. They are primarily for independent prescribing optometrists but are useful for all optometrists, particularly those involved in community schemes.

A packed calendar of free CET eventsEvery year we develop our cycle of free member CET events, and 2014-15 was no exception, with 28 events taking place across the UK, doubling the number of events held the previous year. We introduced filmed case studies and voting pad technology to increase interactivity.

Our flagship event, Optometry Tomorrow – last held in Brighton in 2015 – also saw a dramatic increase in delegates (now over 700), making it the biggest College conference to date. Other Optometry Tomorrow developments included the incorporation of sponsor sessions for the first time, CET points added to the poster exhibition, and the introduction of a BV case study exercise which encouraged discussion among delegates outside of the timetabled sessions.

Sandeep Garcha MCOptom

Since the guidance was reviewed it is far more up to date. It’s now more in touch with all the changes we have seen in every aspect of healthcare, technology, research and public knowledge. I’ve started using it online, as it’s more convenient and accessible.

We support our members in practice by providing clinical and professional advice and guidance, and a range of practical resources which help them to develop professionally and to provide high quality care to their patients. We have been working hard over the last year to develop new services and enhance those that we already provide.

Expert clinical adviceOver the last few years, demand from members for our clinical advice service has steadily increased. In response, at the end of 2014, we recruited an additional clinical adviser to help ensure that there is always someone on hand to assist the growing number of members seeking help with their clinical, ethical and professional queries. Our clinical advisers have also produced new peer discussion case studies and ethical scenarios for members.

Supporting our members in practice

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BernardDonleavyMCOptom

I find that most patients have a vague understanding of their conditions but there are misconceptions. The College’s free patient leaflets have just the right level of information to make them feel confident and knowledgeable. The leaflets look good and are easy to use – especially in the gloom of the exam room. I’ve also got the tear-off slips and children’s stickers. They keep younger patients busy while they are waiting and make good rewards for letting me put eye drops in!

Our range of free patient information leaflets give our members the peace of mind that their patients have accurate information to supplement what was discussed during their examination.

We first launched our patient information leaflets in 2011 and, based on member feedback, we’ve been developing them ever since. 2014 saw the first major review and redesign of the leaflets, as well as the introduction of a new edition – a leaflet on presbyopia. This was quickly followed an Amsler chart tear-off pad and leaflet on contact lenses.

National media campaignsOur regular media campaigns promote the role of the optometrist and communicate key eye healthcare messages to the public. Our Eyes on Our Future campaign, launched in July 2015, helps parents and carers to recognise the signs of vision problems in children. We produced a colourful poster for members to display in-practice with a downloadable version and a video which shows what happens during an eye examination through the eyes of a child, which members can link to or embed on their own websites.

Look after your eyesOur consumer website, lookafteryoureyes.org has been developed, leading to a 118% increase in page views. A redesigned directory now makes it easier for members of the public to find and contact their local MCOptom/FCOptom, and in a coup for the College, eye condition pages on the ever-popular NHS Choices website are now linking to our site.

Engaging with patients and the public

Patient information resourcesYou’ve carried out a thorough eye examination, you’ve diagnosed a common condition, and you have spent time explaining it to your patient. But once they leave your practice, can you be sure they really understood what they were told, or even remember what their condition is called?

We take a leading role in ensuring the public understands the importance of looking after their eyes and the role that optometrists play in maintaining the nation’s vision. We use the experience and expertise of our members to bring eye and vision care to life – through our media work, social media presence, consumer website and in-practice patient information materials.

Dr SusanBlakeney FCOptomProf Cert Glauc

Our Eyes on Our Future campaign highlighted how important it is for parents to make sure they’re thinking about their child’s sight from an early age. We encouraged parents to check if their child has had vision screening at school, and to be aware of the signs and symptoms they should look out for which may indicate their child has a problem with their vision, because the earlier any problems are picked up, the better they can be treated.

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Offering higher qualificationsOur range of accredited higher qualifications grew in 2014-15, and saw the introduction of six new courses across low vision, medical retina, glaucoma and contact lens practice.

Developed by the College, these flexible, modular qualifications are available via distance learning through accredited institutions across the UK, and are designed to fit with life in a busy practice or hospital department, and are ideal for enabling individual career development, and for practices offering specialist services. We also introduced affixes for those gaining these awards – a visible demonstration of additional training in a chosen area.

Help finding your perfect pre-reg traineeWe launched a pre-reg jobs board in December 2014 in response to feedback from our student members, who told us that this would be an invaluable resource. Finding a pre-reg placement can be difficult for students, and we want to help them by putting them in touch with our members. The jobs board gives our supervisors the chance to advertise, for free, to find their perfect trainee, and receives over 5,000 page views every month, with this figure set to increase as the board grows.

Developing the Scheme for Registration Since its inception in 2009, we have continuously developed and monitored the Scheme for Registration, and this year was no exception. The Scheme incorporates a robust series of quality assurance measures including assessor observations, trainee interviews and report verifications for the work-based assessments. There is also a process to support trainees who are struggling on the Scheme.

JennyWilson MCOptom, Supervisor

Every pre-reg trainee is different - the more time and patience you give at the beginning the faster they will progress. It’s incredibly rewarding and keeps you on your toes, and ensures you keep refreshing your knowledge and can be really fun.

We support our members in their professional development - from the first days at university, through the Scheme for Registration, which marks the transition from student to professional optometrist and offers trainees a structured and supported route to qualification, and throughout their careers. We provide this support in a number of ways, from high-quality, engaging local events, reading lists and development plans, to peer discussion case studies and ethical scenarios.

Educating the profession

Dr KeziahLatham FCOptom Prof Cert LV

My work involves teaching, researching and practising low vision, and I wanted a qualification that demonstrates my commitment in this area. As professionals, we need to develop and continue to learn so we provide our patients with the best care and most up-to-date ways of practising, and I use the material covered in the modules every day. What I’ve found really helpful is to be able to use the affix Prof Cert LV, to highlight to patients that this is an area that I know something about!

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The College is committed to supporting work that helps to build an evidence base for the profession and develop the optometric researchers of the future. Each year, we provide hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding to support community, university and hospital-based researchers at all levels, from undergraduates to established researchers.

MikeBowenthe College’sDirector of Research

We know that the majority of optometric patients are mature adults, and we also know that we have an ageing population. The growth of the older population will inevitably mean that optometrists will encounter increasing numbers of people with dementia, and we need to make sure the profession can meet the needs of these people.

Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO)OPO celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2015 and marked the milestone with a reception at ARVO 2015 in Denver, the leading international vision and eye research conference. This was a valuable opportunity to promote the continued success of OPO as a leading vision science journal internationally, engage with influential researchers and encourage leaders in the fields to view OPO as the journal of choice. The anniversary was marked by the publication of a review issue, featuring a selection of classic OPO papers and a podcast interview with two of the three previous editors, available for download via the OPO website.

Findings from PrOVIDe publishedIn 2012, the College was awarded a £450,000 grant by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to investigate the prevalence of visual impairment in people with dementia. Findings from the resulting PrOVIDE (Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Dementia) project, released in 2015, led to calls for a dedicated dementia eye care pathway. In an article based on this research, published in our peer-reviewed journal, Optometry in Practice (Volume 16 Issue 4), the College team behind the study recommended that a dementia diagnosis should automatically trigger a range of measures, to provide a route through the care system, ensuring that people are guided to the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time.

The final findings from the PrOVIDE study will be published in 2016.

Providing the evidence base

Optical Workforce Survey 2015In 2015, we led stakeholders from across the sector to undertake a survey of the optical workforce. The project set out to gather key information about optometrists and dispensing opticians in order to build a picture of current workforce levels and the issues that will impact on their futures. This work is important, and will provide evidence on which to base the answers to vital questions on the current and future requirements of the optometric and the wider optical workforce.

Dr TonyRedmond MCOptom

A good research skill for optometrists is to have a critical eye and recognise carefully executed research. I would encourage optometrists to question everything, and maintain the curiosity and clinical insight that is so important for guiding research.

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We take the lead on influencing the agenda of policy makers to ensure that optometrists’ skills are used appropriately in designing eye care services, and through consultation with our patient reference group, we make sure that we include the views of patients in all that we do.

DavidParkinsFCOptom, President

There is growing evidence to support the case that commissioners would manage capacity better by enabling optometrists to do more. The core aim of NHS eye health services is to minimise sight loss and to reduce eye health inequalities, with the biggest challenge to achieving this being a lack of capacity. Enabling optometrists to do more more will go a long way to meeting this challenge. The evidence is showing us that optometrists can do more safely and effectively.

Implementing recommendations from Focus on FallsWe continued to take steps to bring our falls report, published in May 2014, to life. These include the production of a presentation about the role of vision in falls, which has been used by LOCs and occupational therapists, and has been sent to all falls teams in Scotland. A directory which allows optometrists to find contact details for their local falls team has been also published, and over 100 falls teams have requested the Thomas Pocklington Trust’s screening tool, Eyes Right, as a result.

The Clinical Council for Eye Health CommissioningWe provide the secretariat for the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, alongside the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and in doing so, offer united, evidence-based clinical advice and guidance to those commissioning and delivering eye health services in England. As part of this work, we also provide the secretariat to the Clinical Council working groups that have been producing useful guidance for commissioning new services that will help service delivery where hospital capacity is diminishing.

Working with the devolved nationsFollowing the formulation of an internal four nations engagement strategy, we now have a dedicated webpage that will provide regular updates on optometric news across the devolved nations. We continue to have a valuable presence on all devolved nation optometry bodies’ councils and attend as many related events as possible.

Influencing decision makers

ClaireRoberts MCOptom

The falls presentation I made with the College’s resources had a high impact and was very well received. This was a piece of work done at a national level by the College that I was able to put a local stamp on. With the College’s support, I felt well equipped to go out as a professional and deliver a presentation about this important topic to a multi-disciplinary team working to prevent falls in my area.

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Representing membersOur structure and governance

We’re governed by a Board of Trustees. The majority of Trustees are elected by the College’s Council of members. The Board, Council and other committees also include lay representatives to challenge the status quo and act as ‘critical friends’, ensuring the very highest standards of governance.

The Board has the legal and financial responsibility for the College and in 2014-15 consisted of 11 optometrist members and two lay members. College Council is made up of 40 members and its role is to determine the strategic and professional direction of the College. Our members in the 12 different College regions of the UK elect 35 of the Council members, four are nominated by the College’s Lay Advisory Panel and one is nominated by the Optometry Schools Council.

Get in touch

To contact a council member, please email firstname.surname@college-optometrists.org.

Yorkshire and Humber Lay members of Council

Tony CowburnKatie EngelAmarpal TakkJohn Thompson

Co-opted Trustees

Dr Rob Hogan Andrew Kitchen (Lay Trustee)

OSC nominee

Dr James Gilchrist(Optometry Schools Council)

Trustees

Dr Cindy Tromans (Chair)Prof Peter AllenRasmeet Chadha Dr Kamlesh ChauhanColin Davidson

Prof Edward MallenDavid ParkinsSanjay PatelDr Mary-Ann SherrattKiki Soteri John ThompsonOmar

HassanProf Edward Mallen

Barbara Watson

East Midlands Eastern North East

Geraint Griffiths

Professor Peter Allen

Dr Anthony Gibson

Jane Macnaughton

Parminder Randhawa

Dr Parth Shah

Sarah Townsend

London North West

David Parkins (President)

Dr Joy Myint

Neil Retallic

Kavi Kotecha

Krupa Patel

Sheetal Patel

Dr Gillian Rudduck

Dr Cindy Tromans

Northern Ireland Scotland

Dr Sara McCullough

Ian Jarvis

Prof Kathryn Saunders

Hal Rollason

Johnathan Waugh

Sanjay Patel

South East

Rasmeet Chadha

Dr Kamlesh Chauhan (Immediate Past President)

Colin Davidson (Treasurer)

South West West Midlands

Sarah Farrant

Shamina Asif

Kiki Soteri

Dr Leon Davies

Adam Wannell

Francesca Marchetti

Wales

Lisa Gerson

Dr Mary-Ann Sherratt

Investment management fees 0.5%Rental income & service charges 0.03%

Governance costs 2.1%Bank interest 0.01%

Research 1.5%Investment income 2.2%

Continuing education & training 8.8%Research 1.4%

Professional conduct & standards 6.7%Gains on investment assets 1.8%

Membership 36.2%Continuing education & training 9.6%

Education & pre-registration 44.1%Education & pre-registration 41.5%

Membership 43.5%

Total expenditure £7,806,234Total income £6,655,377

How we invested your moneyIncome Expenditure

Balance sheet

Fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets £2,509,639

Investments £4,845,022

£7,354,661

Current assets

Debtors £1,613,804

Short term deposits £500

Cash at bank and in hand £423,901

£2,038,205

Liabilities

Creditors due within one year £1,970,501

Net current (liabilities)/assets £67,704

Net assets £7,422,366

Funds

Restricted funds

Research Fund £1,369,014

DOCET & PrOVIDE £401,051

Unrestricted funds

Designated funds £2,755,632

General funds £2,896,669

Total charity funds £7,422,366

Read the full accounts at college-optometrists.org/accounts.

42 Craven StreetLondonWC2N 5NGTelephone: 020 7839 6000Fax: 020 7839 6800info@college-optometrists.orgtwitter.com/CollegeOptomUKcollege-optometrists.org