Optical Assistant Apprentice

This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to embark on a journey towards a great career.

Starting as an Optical Assistant apprentice with future opportunities for career progression, you will be supported with loads of great, fun, and interactive training. You will use these exciting new skills in your day-to-day job, where you will gain customer service skills, knowledge in optical support, and develop behaviour suitable for working in an optical practice.

Those with a flair for fashion will love the new frames coming in, and if it's your forte, you may even get involved in meeting frame reps and helping choose the new ranges. If you are more technical, you will get to learn lots of information about lenses and measurements, then transform that information into jargon-free, easy-to-understand, customer-friendly language.

It's all about teamwork in an optician's practice. There are many roles, but you support each other to ensure your customers get the best experience possible. Optical assistants are a very important part of any optical practice and crucial to the customer journey. Individuals with a real passion for both healthcare and retail thrive in this role, as it is perfect for those who love to make a real difference in other people's lives.

The duties within this role include:

 Greeting customers in a professional and friendly manner as they enter the practice. Interpreting and understanding a clinically issued prescription, its effects on the eye, and the customer's vision. Helping customer's select spectacle frame(s) that are suitable in terms of comfort, looks good and fits lifestyle requirements. Be able to explain the features and benefits of particular frames, using non-technical customer friendly language. Measuring the frames and ensure they are a suitable size for a customer and can accommodate their lenses. Making adjustments to customers spectacle frames using the correct tools to ensure stability and comfort. Basic frame repairs. Have a good knowledge of Ophthalmic lenses, tints and coatings to be able to meet visual / lifestyle requirements . Ordering prescription glasses and contact lenses in for the customer. Correct completion of NHS paperwork and written records in-line with company procedures.

Training:

The successful candidate will work towards achieving a Level 3 qualification in optical and gain experience in a busy optical practice.

Training Outcome:

The successful candidate will work towards achieving a Level 3 qualification in optical and gain experience in a busy optical practice.

Upon completion of the Level 3 qualification, you will be an experienced and qualified optical assistant, and as such, you can continue building up skills that will always be in demand. Career breaks and part time working are often possible.

You could go on to acquire higher level optical qualifications such as:

 Ophthalmic Dispensing- Become a qualified Dispensing Optician. Contact lens Optician - fit Contact lenses. Low vision specialist - help people where traditional spectacles will not suffice. Supply low vision aids, magnifiers, advice on improving contrast and on other non Optical aids such as bump-ons. Optometry courses - carry out full eye examinations and issue prescriptions. Clinical representative- visiting practices introducing new frame ranges and Ophthalmic lenses. In-practice trainer - You could use your knowledge to train others.

 

Other non-clinical roles:

 Practice Management you could complete a management course. Practice ownership you could go into business yourself, partnership or franchise.

Employer Description:
Boots Opticians is one of the leading opticians in the UK with 550 practices of which around 165 operate on a franchise basis. In 2013, it became the first multiple optician in the UK to include digital retinal photography as a standard element of its eye test for customers of all ages. In 2014, Boots Opticians, unveiled its new customer offer, which champions the Clearer pricing, Clearer vision strategy, which focussed on health, value and price to ensure customers get the best experience and total price transparency when purchasing glasses.

Working Hours :
Monday to Friday 08:50 to 17:30

Skills:
Communication skills,IT skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills,Customer care skills,Problem solving skills,Presentation skills,Team working,Patience