I attended an examiner meeting recently and, unsurprisingly, there were many questions about what the future of qualifications for optometrists was going to look like.
By complete coincidence, news that the GOC had re-accredited the College of Optometrists’ Scheme for Registration came through during the meeting.
Apparently, they ‘particularly commended the running of the OSCEs and the Final Assessment Panel,’ both confirming the great value of in-practice experience to complement the didactic input of the universities.
Under the proposed changes, the Scheme for Registration will be gradually phased out in its current form to be replaced by integrated Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP).
CLiP will be delivered as part of a new five-year degree and work-based placements will be completed before they graduate, likely during the fourth year and supported by both university and College throughout.
On completion of the CLiP placement, some students will return to complete their studies, others will at least need to pass the CLiP placement and assessments before their degree can be awarded. Students will be expected to complete the CLiP placement within an 11 to 12-month timeframe.
All of the universities are signed up to some form of this process, except for Manchester, which is going it alone. This year sees the start of the first new degrees which, on paper, seems a sensible approach. That said, I have spoken with supervisors who are concerned about their changed or increased responsibilities and the sooner there is greater clarification the better.
Finally, I completed a diversity course last week, one section of which was a discussion of ‘white privilege.’
As an old, white bloke who, despite working class hero pretensions, is also undeniably middle class, I ticked all the boxes for WP and faced the session with a mix of guilt and trepidation. But a video put my mind at rest: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrvkbqt. Recommended viewing for all readers.