Spring CPD sessions launched

Neil Retallic, head of professional development at Specsavers

Specsavers is offering free online CPD sessions for optical practitioners this spring.

The online sessions in the latest Specsavers Mini Professional Advancement Conferences (MiniPACs) series get underway in March and run until June.

“Our MiniPAC online sessions are free of charge and open to all optical practitioners, including self-employed and non-Specsavers clinicians,’ said Neil Retallic, head of professional development at Specsavers.

“Our mission is to change lives through better sight and improving access to care, and the MiniPAC series form part of that mission by supporting the clinical development of colleagues across the wider sector to serve our patients and support the NHS.”

Topics that will be covered include myopia management, dispensing, presbyopia, a day in the life of an independent prescriber, living with low vision as well as domiciliary practice. ‘Trusted expertise’ is the theme – and how eyecare practitioners can work closely with ophthalmology and other health care providers, including building knowledge around learning disabilities and autism, will also feature.

Neil added: ‘The online programme is made up of a mix of discussion workshops, provider-led peer review and lectures with discussion. The programme offers points in all four CPD domains of clinical practice, professionalism, communication and leadership, and accountability, as well as providing contact lens optician and therapeutic optometrist specialist domains.”

As well as the online sessions, the MiniPAC series includes 10 face-to-face sessions between February and June for Specsavers colleagues and Specsavers locums with permission from their practice director. The first of these sessions will be in Cardiff, followed by Manchester, Swindon, Leeds, Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, Exeter, Newcastle and finishing in London.

“Our face-to-face events offer a range of CPD sessions across a packed day in each location,” Neil explained. “We are looking forwarding to welcoming our colleagues and expert facilitators to both online and face-to-face events as Specsavers works with the sector to develop the clinical skills of optical professions and provide the perfect networking opportunities.”

To find out more information and to register for sessions, click here.