About this course
Clear communication means safer care, stronger relationships, and better outcomes.
[podcast mini /media/goc-standard-2-intro.mp3]
Imagine sitting opposite a patient who trusts you completely, yet leaves unsure about how to use their new eye drops—or whether their referral really matters. That gap between what we say and what patients truly understand can make the difference between safety and risk. Communication isn’t just a courtesy; it is the foundation of good optical practice, and it is exactly what GOC Standard 2 is all about.
This course is your chance to strengthen those everyday skills that transform consultations: turning complex terms into simple, clear explanations, using tone and body language to build trust, and checking understanding in ways that empower patients rather than overwhelm them. You’ll discover practical tools you can use immediately—teach-back, summaries, visual aids—that not only reduce misunderstandings but also demonstrate your professionalism and compliance with GOC requirements.
Every word, every gesture, every note you write has impact. By refining how you communicate, you give patients confidence, protect their safety, and elevate the standard of care across your practice.
Every patient interaction relies on more than knowledge and skill — it relies on how well we communicate. This course gives you practical strategies to explain findings clearly, support shared decision-making, and keep accurate, professional records — helping you meet GOC Standard 2 with confidence.
This course is relevant to the whole optical team, including
- Registered optical professionals wanting reliable CPD mapped to GOC Standards
- Locums, jobseekers, and overseas practitioners needing to demonstrate current knowledge
- Colleagues addressing professional challenges who require structured CPD for reflection and remediation
- Managers and teams who want consistent, defensible training
CPD Time: 60 minutes (1 CE Credit / 1 Non-interactive CPD Point)
Assessment: 10 MCQs. Pass mark 80%. more…
On passing the assessment you will immediately receive a CPD Certificate.
Customer feedback on this course
- Clear, practical techniques I used the next day in clinic.
- Excellent focus on teach‑back and documentation for GOC compliance.
- Useful scenarios for dealing with hearing and sight impairment.
- Well structured and directly relevant to daily consultations.
- Good balance of empathy, safety and record‑keeping guidance.
Aim:
The aim of this course is to enable optical professionals to meet GOC Standard 2 by communicating clearly, empathetically, and safely with patients.
Course objectives:
- Provide practical methods and resources to support clear, empathetic communication in daily optical practice.
- Equip learners with strategies to adapt consultations for diverse needs, reduce misunderstandings, and demonstrate compliance with GOC Standard 2.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
On course completion you will be able to:
- Explain clinical findings in plain language (Standard 2) using analogies, visual aids, and teach-back to confirm patient understanding.
- Adapt communication approaches (Standard 2) for language, cultural, sensory, or learning needs using inclusive methods and accessible formats.
- Manage challenging or sensitive consultations (Standard 2) with empathy, de-escalation strategies, and appropriate documentation involving carers or families.
GOC Framework Mapping:
Standard 2 - Communicating Effectively with Patients
Domain: Communication
Learning content:
Why Communication Matters | Core Principles of Effective Communication | Scenario Page 1: Explaining and Simplifying Clinical Information | Verbal and Non‑Verbal Techniques | Adapting to Patient Needs | Scenario Page 2: Overcoming Communication Barriers | Building Trust Through Empathy | Scenario Page 3: Empathy and Patient Support | Managing Difficult Conversations | Scenario Page 4: Handling Conflict and Difficult Interactions | Checking Understanding | Communicating with Families and Carers | MCQ | Reading List
View full course description
GOC Standard 2: Communicating Effectively with Patients in Optical Practice
Course Description
GOC Standard 2: Communicating Effectively with Patients in Optical Practice
This course gives practical skills to conduct safe, patient‑centred consultations that meet the General Optical Council's Standard 2. It emphasises plain language, teach‑back, accessible adjustments and accurate documentation.
Why Communication Matters
Covers the role of communication in consultations, GOC expectations, how communication affects patient safety, and the link to trust and shared decision‑making.
Core Principles of Effective Communication
Outlines clarity, empathy, respect, active listening and summarising to improve patient understanding and rapport.
Scenario Page 1: Explaining and Simplifying Clinical Information
Practical examples of converting jargon (for example, astigmatism), using analogies and visual aids, adapting for low health literacy and using teach‑back.
Verbal and Non‑Verbal Techniques
Covers tone, pace, body language, positioning, eye contact and managing silence to support comprehension and comfort.
Adapting to Patient Needs
Guidance on working with interpreters, supporting hearing or visually impaired patients, adjustments for learning differences and providing accessible materials.
Scenario Page 2: Overcoming Communication Barriers
Practical approaches to family interpreters, lip‑reading support, arranging professional interpretation and documenting adaptations.
Building Trust Through Empathy
Shows how to validate concerns, offer compassionate support within professional boundaries and use attentive body language.
Scenario Page 3: Empathy and Patient Support
Handling distress during results, offering reassurance and follow‑up, supporting blind patients to choose frames and maintaining autonomy.
Managing Difficult Conversations
Techniques for responding to complaints, delivering unwelcome news, addressing dissatisfaction with appliances and de‑escalation strategies.
Scenario Page 4: Handling Conflict and Difficult Interactions
De‑escalation, prioritising the patient's voice amid family dynamics, offering choices, written information and documenting difficult consultations.
Checking Understanding
Teach‑back, summaries, written and accessible materials, and layering approaches to ensure safety and comprehension.
Communicating with Families and Carers
When and how to involve carers, prioritising the patient's voice, managing dominant relatives and documenting consent and involvement.
Reading List
Key resources: GOC standards and guidance, shared decision‑making and NICE, Accessible Information Standard, interpreting and patient information sources.
Course Completion
Complete the feedback survey and the multiple‑choice exam. On passing you will receive a CPD certificate and prompts to record your learning and apply techniques in practice.
You can copy and adapt this example PDP entry for your own needs and circumstances.
| PDP Learning or Maintenance need |
| Effective, patient-centred communication aligned with GOC Standard 2 |
| How does this relate to my field of practice? |
| Essential for safe, accessible consultations, shared decision-making, and professional standards in optical practice. |
| Which development outcome(s) does it link to? |
| A B D |
| What benefit will this have to my work? |
| Improved patient understanding, adherence, trust, and reduced safety risks from miscommunication. |
| How will I meet this learning or maintenance need? |
| Complete this course and apply techniques such as plain language, teach-back, and adapted communication for diverse needs. |
| When will I complete the activity? |