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Mentoring and support

People talking around tables

Recent research demonstrated, newly qualified optometrists may over refer. At a time when clinical confidence and experience are still developing, an increased workload on qualification may lead to pressure to make quick and more risk‐averse decisions, and consequently refer more readily.  A Mentor, recourse to a peer support network and opportunities to take part in peer review will build confidence and enable newly qualified optometrists to accept an appropriate level of clinical risk.

Mentoring facilitates CPD through a network of experienced optometrists that guide newly qualified optometrists. Mentoring considers their scope of practice for CPD requirements as well as providing support and guidance. Mentoring support includes an assigned designated Mentor, an online platform to create a portfolio and a peer support network. Optometrists need support when they take on additional clinical roles and, crucially, enable them to become more adept at managing and accepting clinical risk.  The Newly Qualified Independent Prescriber Support Forum is a HEIW  initiative, started in 2023 that addresses this need, and has been received well by the profession.

Interview with Hannah Jones

Hannah Jones is newly qualified optometrist in Wales, and one of the first to receive the mentoring support:

Q: Why is further support from a mentor important to your career progression?
A: In any healthcare occupation, I believe you are constantly learning from new research and other’s experiences. Having a mentor will allow me to see other optometrist’s mode of practice and create my own. I think this support could be very beneficial to future optometrists.
Q: Why did you decide to use the mentor service?
A: The transition between pre reg to fully qualified optometrist is very daunting. It is reassuring to have a mentor that you can approach to talk through your decision making and ask how you could improve in the future. I am looking forward to getting some advice on how I can progress my future and gain further qualifications.

The newly qualified optometrists are being mentored by optometric tutors from the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) (link to www.wopec site) under supervision from Sharon Beatty and Nik Sheen (not sure if you have links to individuals details) in conjunction with the Re-validation support team in HEIW.

The independent evaluation is being undertaken by Professor Alison Bullock in CureMed at Cardiff University.