About this course
Welcome to this practical course to help optical registrants and practice teams meet the General Optical Council's Standard 2 through confident, patient‑centred consultations. Clear communication underpins patient safety, shared decision‑making and professional record keeping.
This course is relevant to the whole optical team.
CPD Time: 90 minutes (1.50 CE Credits)
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 objective:
- Develop plain‑language and non‑verbal communication techniques to improve patient understanding and trust.
- Adapt consultations to meet diverse patient needs and use teach‑back and accessible materials to confirm comprehension.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
The learner will:
- explain clinical findings in plain language using analogies and visual aids.
- apply teach‑back and summary techniques to confirm patient understanding.
- adapt communication for language, sensory or learning needs using interpreters and accessible formats.
- manage distressed or confrontational consultations with empathy and professional de‑escalation.
- document and involve families or carers while prioritising the patient's voice and confidentiality.
GOC Development Outcomes:
A B D
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? |