General Optical Council (GOC) Compliance

How Reframify Kids meets UK regulatory requirements for children's eyewear

1. What is the GOC?

The General Optical Council is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. The GOC's role is to protect the public by:

• Setting standards for optical education and training
• Maintaining a register of qualified optical professionals
• Investigating complaints and fitness to practice concerns
• Ensuring safe and effective optical services

Website: www.optical.org

2. Under-16 Dispensing Regulations

What "Supervision" Means

Supervision does not require the DO to be physically present with the child, but it does require:

1. Professional Review: A qualified DO must review the prescription, PD measurements, and frame selection
2. Clinical Judgment: The DO must use their professional judgment to assess suitability and safety
3. Accountability: The DO takes professional responsibility for the dispensing decision
4. Record Keeping: The DO's decision must be documented with their GOC registration number

3. How Reframify Kids Complies

3.1 Every Order is Reviewed

100% DO Review Rate: Every single order for a child under 16 is reviewed by our qualified Dispensing Optician before production begins.

3.2 Our Dispensing Optician

3.3 The Review Process

1. Order Received: Parent submits order with prescription, PD, and frame selection
2. Automated Validation: Our system flags potential issues (e.g., unusual PD, complex prescription)
3. DO Review: Within 24-48 hours, our DO reviews:
   • Prescription validity and suitability
   • PD measurements (monocular vs binocular)
   • Frame size appropriateness for child's age
   • Lens type suitability for prescription
   • Any flags raised by the system
4. Decision: The DO can:
   • Approve: Order proceeds to glazing
   • Hold: Request clarification or verification from parent
   • Reject: Decline to dispense (e.g., if prescription appears invalid)
5. Documentation: All decisions are recorded with DO's name, GOC number, date, and notes

3.4 The £17 Supervision Fee

Every order includes a £17 Dispensing Optician supervision fee. This covers:

• Professional DO review time
• Clinical judgment and expertise
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Record keeping and compliance

This fee is mandatory and transparent - it is shown as a separate line item at checkout.

4. Clinical Record Keeping

4.1 What We Record

For each order, we maintain comprehensive records including:

• Child's date of birth (age at dispensing)
• Prescription details and issue date
• PD measurements (method, values, verification status)
• Frame and lens specifications
• DO review notes and decision
• DO name and GOC registration number
• Date of review and decision
• Any communications with parent regarding the order

4.2 Retention Periods

In accordance with GOC guidance and data protection law:

• Clinical records: 10 years from last interaction OR until child's 25th birthday (whichever is later)
• Financial records: 7 years (HMRC requirement)

See our Privacy Notice for full details on data handling.

5. Professional Standards

5.1 GOC Standards of Practice

Our DO adheres to the GOC's Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, including:

• Standard 1: Prioritize patient safety and wellbeing
• Standard 2: Communicate effectively
• Standard 3: Obtain valid consent
• Standard 4: Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others
• Standard 5: Keep skills and knowledge up to date

5.2 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Our DO maintains current CPD requirements, including specific training in:

• Pediatric dispensing
• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Remote/tele-optometry services
• Data protection and GDPR

6. Safeguarding Children

We take child protection seriously:

• All staff handling orders complete safeguarding training
• We have procedures to identify and report concerns
• If prescription appears altered or suspicious, we may contact the prescribing optometrist
• We reserve the right to decline orders if safeguarding concerns arise

7. Quality Assurance

7.1 Glazing Laboratory Standards

All lenses are glazed by ISO 9001 certified laboratories in the UK, ensuring:

• Accurate prescription manufacturing (±0.12D tolerance)
• Impact-resistant lenses for all children's glasses
• Quality inspection before dispatch
• Traceability for every order

7.2 Frame Safety

All frames supplied meet:

• BS EN ISO 12870:2016 (Spectacle frames - Requirements and test methods)
• CE marking where applicable
• Nickel release regulations for children's products

8. Complaints and Concerns

8.1 How to Complain

If you have concerns about the clinical aspect of our service:

Step 1: Contact us directly
Email: support@relensify.co.uk

Step 2: If unresolved, you can contact the GOC
Website: optical.org/complaints
Phone: 020 7580 3898
Email: goc@optical.org

8.2 GOC Investigation

The GOC can investigate complaints about:

• Professional conduct or competence
• Health concerns affecting practice
• Criminal convictions or cautions

9. Professional Indemnity

Our DO maintains professional indemnity insurance covering:

• Clinical negligence claims
• Errors in dispensing or prescription interpretation
• Appropriate and adequate professional indemnity cover, including continuous cover and run-off cover as required

10. Transparency and Accountability

We Commit To:

• Being transparent about our DO supervision model
• Providing DO details on request
• Maintaining full clinical records
• Responding to GOC enquiries promptly
• Continuous improvement of our service

11. Contact GOC

12. Questions?

If you have questions about our compliance with GOC regulations:

Email: support@relensify.co.uk

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