Course details may be subject to change.
This T-Level in Health & Science: Optical Care Services has been developed in collaboration with employers, professional bodies, universities and businesses so the content meets the needs of the industry and will prepare you for the workplace.
You will develop a strong set of transferable core skills that will equip you for a career in optical care services or to go on to do a higher-level apprenticeship or degree.
You will spend 80% of your time at college where you will develop a broad range of core skills from across the whole sector.
In addition to this, you will work on an employer set project and engage in a 45-day industry placement, giving you hands-on experience in a real-life setting. You will be supported by significant employer interaction and tutors with extensive industry experience.
T-Levels include the following compulsory elements:
- A technical qualification (TQ), which includes; core theory, concepts and skills for the chosen sector, and specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career
- An industry placement with an employer which runs for a minimum of 315 hours (45 days) overall and gives you practical insights into the sector and an opportunity to embed the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom
- A minimum standard in English, maths and digital provision are also built into the classroom-based element of the T-Level, meaning you will be given a solid foundation of transferable skills.
Entry Criteria
You will hold five GCSEs at grade 5, including maths, English and science or Functional Skills Level 2.
Additional Costs
You will be required wear a tunic for all practical and work-based activities. You can purchase a tunic directly from our supplier at a cost of approximately £20 (plus P&P).
What are the next steps?
You will meet with a course tutor and see your classrooms. You will be asked a series of questions so we can find out more about you and your career aspirations. Please bring your predicted grades, school attendance record and at least one reference from a teacher or their contact details.
Study Aims
This T-Level qualification is for you if you want to start a career in Health and Science. You will develop extensive knowledge, skills and behaviours appropriate for optical care.
The course is designed for post-16 students and is an ideal qualification if you are intending to progress directly to employment within the healthcare industry, to an apprenticeship or to higher education.
This qualification will equip you with:
- The core knowledge and core skills relevant to health
- Up to date occupational knowledge and skills that have continued currency amongst employers and others
- The fundamental English, maths and digital skills
- Threshold competence that meets employer expectations and is as close to full occupational competence as possible
- Opportunities to manage and improve your performance
Modules Studied
Core Modules
- Working within the health and science sector
- The healthcare sector
- Health, safety and environmental regulations in the health and science sector
- Health and safety regulations applicable in the healthcare sector
- Managing information and data within the health and science sector
- Managing personal information
- Good scientific and clinical practice
- Providing person-centred care
- Health and wellbeing
- Infection prevention and control in health specific settings
- Safeguarding
Specialist Modules
- Provide optical care and advice including prescription interpretation, screening and dispensing to contribute to patient health and wellbeing
- Provide spectacle collection, adjustments and repair services
- Undertake retail activities to provide walk-in customers with a range of products and optical services
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching will be a variety of classroom based, self-study and workplace learning activities. Assessment is both formative and summative.
Formative assessment of learning will be through a range of methods including peer assessment, self-assessment and tutor assessment and aims to support your learning in preparation for summative assessment.
Summative assessment is undertaken through synoptic projects, an employer-set project and exams and is conducted by the awarding body.
Your industry placement is assessed through your performance in the workplace by your work-based supervisor and your tutor.
You will complete:
- Two written exams
- An Employer Set Project (ESP)
- Synoptic assignments for occupational specialism component
Industry Links
We have strong links with a variety of leading employers within the sector. We are fortunate to be able to access this knowledge and experience and not only welcome them into our environment but for us to visit their places of work.
Placement
You will undertake a minimum of 315 hours of work placement in industry. To demonstrate threshold competence in adult nursing, you will be observed during your industry placement.
You will always perform to the best of your ability and conduct yourself in a professional manner as if an employee of your placement organisation.
You will gain a T-Level in Health & Science: Optical Care Services and be able to progress straight into employment or continue to a higher-level apprenticeship or degree at New College Durham or university.
You could secure a job role as a:
- Optician - there are two types of opticians: a dispensing optician who sells eyeglasses to the general public and a manufacturing optician who makes the eyeglasses.
- Optometrist - as an Optometrist you administer eye tests and are probably what you most often think of when you think of an eye doctor.
- Ophthalmologist - an ophthalmologist is an eye doctor who is licensed to perform eye surgery.
- Orthoptist - an orthoptist is someone who focuses on problems that affect both eyes. These afflictions include binocular vision, double vision and depth perception.
