General Optical Council

General Optical Council

Expert Witness Pool (consultant)

Information pack for applicants

Date: August 2017

Contents

1. Introduction...... 1

2. Overview ...... 2

3. About the General Optical Council (GOC) ...... 3

4. Role and responsibilities of an expert witness……...... 4

5. Person Specification ...... 6

6. Joining the pool………………………………………………………………… 8

7. How to apply ...... 9

8. Application Guidance ...... 12

1. Introduction

Thank you for expressing your interest in joining the GOC’s Expert Witness Pool and for taking the time to read this information pack which I hope gives you all the information you need to apply.

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct amongst opticians. We currently register around 29,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.

It is absolutely essential for both public protection and confidence in the professions that the GOC provides a high quality, robust and fair service across all its core functions. To support this aim, we are inviting applications from optometrists and dispensing opticians to join the GOC’s Expert Witness Pool. The GOC is seeking to create a pool of at least 25 expert witnesses, predominantly optometrists. Successful applicants will be added to the list of approved experts in the Pool. They will receive instructions from the GOC on a case-by-case consultancy basis.

The GOC will issue instructions in individual cases on a fixed fee basis so it is very important that you read the fixed fee criteria before completing the application form.

As well as helping us to protect the public and to maintain confidence in the

professions, this is an opportunity for personal and professional development due to the challenging and varied nature of the work.

More detailed information about this role can be found at section 4 of this pack.

Interviews will be held in our London office (10 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7NG).

We particularly welcome applications from applicants who can reflect the diverse mix of our registrants and patients.

This information pack provides details of the expert witness role, information about the GOC, details of how to apply and information regarding the appointments process as well as further detail about the timetable. If you welcome the challenge of helping to take a leading role in supporting optical regulation at this time, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Safia Iman, Interim Director of Fitness to Practise

August 2017

2. Overview

Timeline

The key timeline for this exercise is set out below:

·  Application deadline Monday 18 September 2017 (14:00)

·  Applicants who are invited to interview will be notified w/c 25 September 2017

·  Interviews (provisionally) w/c 23 and 30 October and w/c 6 November 2017 (which will include assessments to test clinical ability and the competencies required for expert witness work)

·  Appointment to the Pool confirmed by Friday 17 November 2017

[please note that timelines may be subject to change depending on the volume of responses]

Competencies required

Applicants will need to clearly demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and competencies for the role as specified in section 5.

Eligibility

Please carefully read the information about potential conflicts of interest (section six) before you submit an application.

Final appointment to the Pool will be subject to attendance at a one-day training event at the GOC. The GOC will pay a training fee of £218 as well as reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses for those invited to attend this event, in accordance with the GOC Expenses Policy.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is not an employee, worker or contractor role and being accepted into the Pool will not imply any sort of contractual relationship with the GOC. This is a consultancy role and applicants must therefore be aware that payment of consultant fees will be made gross (upon invoice). The successful applicant will be responsible for making their own arrangements for payment of tax and National Insurance.

Although the GOC will endeavour to offer work to all pool members during the membership period, acceptance into the pool is not in itself a guarantee of work being offered.

Key contacts

For more information about the selection process, please email Paula Thompson () and we will aim respond to your query within 48 hours.

3. About the GOC

Background

We are governed by a Council (our Board of Trustees) which sets strategic direction. The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (optometrists and dispensing opticians). At least one member of the Council must live or work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Our primary legislation is the Opticians Act 1989 (as amended) and we also have a series of related rules that describe how we must carry out our statutory functions.

Our legislation can be found on our website at:

http://www.optical.org/en/about_us/legislation/index.cfm

Our Primary Functions

Our overarching objective is the protection of the public. We achieve this through our four primary functions:

1)  Setting standards for optical education and training, performance and conduct;

2)  Approving qualifications leading to registration;

3)  Maintaining a register of individuals who are qualified and fit to practise, train or carry on business as optometrists and dispensing opticians; and

4)  Investigating and acting where registrants’ fitness to practise, train or carry on business is impaired.

Our Mission

In line with our statutory function, our mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of members of the public.

Our Values

We are responsible, forward thinking and principled:

Responsible

We inspire confidence because:

·  We make clear, well-reasoned, evidenced based decisions.

·  We account for our actions and are open to scrutiny.

·  We apply our resources in a targeted and proportionate manner.

Forward thinking

We make a difference because:

·  We pursue defined goals and measure our results.

·  We are progressive, innovative and agile in our ways of working.

·  We achieve and deliver more by working collaboratively.

·  We are a learning organisation committed to continuous improvement.

Principled

We build trust because:

·  We gain respect through our credibility, integrity and high standards.

·  We listen openly, act responsively and communicate honestly.

·  We behave consistently and fairly to everyone.

·  We foster a positive and productive culture.

Overseeing our work

Our work is overseen by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The PSA oversees the nine UK healthcare regulators and works with them to improve the way professionals are regulated. For more information about the PSA, visit www.professionalstandards.org.uk.

4. Role and responsibilities of an Expert witness

The Fitness to Practise (FTP) directorate manages approximately 400 initial contacts per annum, with approximately 300 of these proceeding to full investigation and approximately 25% of those cases reaching a full Fitness to Practise Committee hearing.

The Case Progression department is responsible for supporting and taking forward the work of Case Examiners and the Investigation Committee, who consider all allegations of impaired fitness to practise relating to persons or bodies corporate registered with the Council. The Fitness to Practise department undertakes the investigation of such allegations, including collating patient records, taking witness statements, obtaining expert clinical advice, preparing case papers and obtaining the representations of the registrant whose fitness to practise is in question.

In respect of cases which have been referred by Case Examiners or the Investigation Committee to the Fitness to Practise Committee, the department is responsible for managing the further preparation of those cases and their presentation before the Fitness to Practise Committee. This is done in liaison with the GOC Legal Team and/or external lawyers.

The responsibilities and core role functions for the expert witness are as follows:

1)  In accordance with the GOC’s letter of instruction in an individual case, the expert witness will provide expert analysis of the clinical allegations in a formal report to the Council.

2)  The expert witness will prepare all reports in accordance with GOC instructions (including the agreed timeframes issued by the GOC) and within the report will provide an assessment of the clinical treatment provided, the standards applied in determining the expected level of care and an overall opinion of the treatment provided by the registrant(s). The report must include all relevant information to enable the Case Examiners and/or the Fitness to Practice Committee (FTPC) to make informed decisions.

3)  The GOC will aim to provide the expert witness with all the information and documents they require as soon as reasonably possible after they have accepted an instruction.

4)  The expert witness report will be disclosed to the registrant and their representative(s) and to either GOC Case Examiners and/or the FTPC, depending on which stage of the FTP process their expertise has been requested.

5)  The findings of the expert witness may be relied upon by the GOC in presenting its case to the Case Examiners and/or the FTPC and the expert witness is likely to be required to give evidence before the FTPC if the case is referred for a full hearing.

Fixed Fees

·  The GOC will pay a fee of £150 per hour (plus VAT if you are VAT registered). This fee is capped at a maximum of £1,500 per initial (substantive) report (+ VAT).

·  Any supplemental reports required will be paid at a fixed fee of £100 per hour, capped at a maximum of £300 (plus VAT)

·  Should you be required to attend a FTPC hearing to give evidence then the GOC will pay up to a maximum of £325 (up to 4 hours) and £650 (4 hours and over) for your attendance and will reimburse your reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence costs in accordance with the GOC Expenses Policy.

·  Should you be required to attend a case conference the GOC will pay up to a maximum of £325 (up to 4 hours) and £650 (4 hours and over) for your attendance and will reimburse your reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence costs in accordance with the GOC Expenses Policy.

·  In exceptional cases, the GOC will consider payment over and above the fixed fee rate but this must be agreed by the GOC Head of Case Progression in advance of starting work.

Fees will be reviewed annually from April 2019.

The appointee is eligible to reimbursement of expenses, at rates set centrally, for travel and subsistence costs incurred necessarily on GOC business.

Timescales

Successful applicants will be expected to produce written reports generally within four weeks of instruction and on occasion, to a shorter timescale. The timescale will be set out within the instruction letter on a case-by-case basis.

5. Person Specification

Applicants will be required to provide in their application form examples of how their experience matches the essential and desirable criteria outlined below. Applicants who provide evidence that also support the desirable criteria may be even better positioned to demonstrate that they meet the challenges of the position. For applicants who have a similar level of skills, knowledge and experience evidenced against the essential criteria, an assessment against the desirable criteria will be made in order to rank applications.

Essential competencies

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following:

Production and presentation of complex information and decisions in understandable formats appropriate for a range of audiences

·  Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and evidence in an impartial way, with excellent attention to detail

·  Ability to think logically, weighing evidence and information and reaching thoughtful, fair and unbiased evidence-based conclusions

·  Simplifies complex situations and/or information

Effective Communication and Problem-Solving Skills

·  Excellent written communication skills with the ability to draft high-quality, fully-reasoned, formal reports

·  An ability to articulate – both orally and in writing – clear, well-founded reasons for any conclusions reached and to apply the correct standard to both reasoning and conclusions

Ability to work independently, without close supervision, and prioritise work appropriately

·  Ability to manage competing priorities, identifying and progressing high risk matters appropriately

·  Ability to work autonomously and independently

Demonstrates positive behaviours

·  Takes responsibility for, and learns from, own performance

·  Commitment to own continuing professional education and training

·  Undertakes their work in a fair, balance and unbiased manner

·  Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion – dealing with people and issues honestly, fairly and with respect

Essential Skills/Experience

·  On the GOC register of fully-qualified optometrists/dispensing opticians with no adverse fitness to practise history or any other adverse findings that could affect your ability to undertake the role

·  You command the respect and confidence of your professional peers [References will generally not be accepted. You must be able to evidence this through, for example, professional experience, roles held, published works]

·  Ability to assimilate and communicate large amounts of information and to apply relevant and confident consideration to the ‘reasonable body of opinion’ test

·  Experience of attending a broad range of patients

·  At least 5 post-qualification years’ experience in a substantive clinical post (e.g. regular practice as an optometrist/dispensing optician in a primary care setting, optometric clinical adviser role, or other clinical setting).

·  Thorough knowledge of GOC legislation, rules and regulations relating to optics

·  A broad and extensive knowledge and understanding of national and regional policies and current issues relating to optics

·  To currently be holding a patient-facing role (at least 1 day a week)

·  Excellent written English skills with the ability to research and draft formal clinical reports of a very high standard

·  Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to explain complex matters clearly and succinctly at a hearing

·  Experienced in the use of IT applications, specifically experience of Microsoft Office programmes (Excel, Word and Outlook).

Desirable skills/experience