At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist customers with choosing and fitting glasses while providing excellent service.
- Company: Suzanne Floyd Optometrist, a friendly family-run practice in Shropshire.
- Benefits: Gain valuable skills, earn a Level 3 qualification, and enjoy career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and potential for part-time roles after training.
- Why this job: Start your journey in optics with fun training and a chance to make a difference.
- Qualifications: GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above.
The predicted salary is between 18500 - 25000 £ per year.
Introduction
This vacancy is for an Apprentice Optical Assistant based in Shropshire.
Administration tasks, reception work, meeting and greeting patients, assisting in the choosing and dispensing of glasses, ordering and fitting of glasses.
Working within a small team focussed on delivering friendly and caring service to the local community.
About the Employer
Suzanne Floyd Optometrist is an independent, family run opticians based in Craven Arms, Shropshire.
Established in 1992, the practice offers comprehensive eye examinations, NHS sight tests, contact lens fittings, and a wide selection of eyewear for the local community.
What You’ll Do
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 practice.
The duties within this role include
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 customers 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 ensuring they are a suitable size for a customer and can accommodate their lenses.
- Adjusting 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 and lifestyle requirements.
- Ordering prescription glasses and contact lenses for the customer.
- Correct completion of NHS paperwork and written records in line with company procedures.
- Making follow up appointments for customers.
- Use a focimeter to find the prescription from spectacles.
- Communicate contact lenses suitability, features and benefits.
- Carrying out pre screening tests such as retinal imaging, pressure and visual field testing.
- Explaining offers and products to customers.
- 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.
- Career Progression
- 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, advise on improving contrast and other non optical aids such as bump ons.
- Optometry courses – Carry out full eye examinations and issue prescriptions.
- Clinical representative – Visit practices introducing new frame ranges and ophthalmic lenses.
- In practice trainer – Use your knowledge to train others.
- Practice Management – Complete a management course.
- Practice ownership – Enter business yourself, partnership or franchise.
Skills Required
- Communication skills
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
Qualifications
- GCSE English 4/C or above
- GCSE Maths 4/C or above
- Course Information
- Course: Optical assistant 2022 (level 3)
- Level: 3
- Route: Health and science
- Apprenticeship Level: Advanced
- Working Arrangements
Working Week: Tuesday to Friday, 9:30am - 5:00pm. Saturday, 9:00am - 1:00pm.
- Expected Duration: 1 Year 6 Months
- Training Provider: TRAINING 2000 LIMITED
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Apprentice Optical Assistant in Bucknell employer: Suzanne Floyd Optometrist
Suzanne Floyd Optometrist is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and friendly work environment in the heart of Craven Arms, Shropshire. As a family-run independent opticians, we prioritise employee growth through comprehensive training and career progression opportunities, ensuring that our team members develop valuable skills while providing exceptional service to our local community. Join us to embark on a rewarding journey in the optical field, where your contributions are valued and your career can flourish.
