This page answers some common questions for those interested in supervising students during the Optometry FTY. If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact us at nes.ftyoptometry@nhs.scot.
Clinical Supervisors must be a GOC-registered optometrist or other qualified healthcare professional (e.g. ophthalmic medical practitioner) who are legally responsible for a student’s work and ensure safe patient care throughout the placement.
Clinical Supervisors will support students day-to-day by guiding their clinical development, exposing them to a range of patients and conditions, and helping them apply university learning in practice.
The previous requirement for supervisors to have two years’ post-registration experience has been removed by the GOC. This means newly qualified optometrists or other professionals with the right skills and motivation can join the multidisciplinary team supervising students from Day 1.
There are many potential benefits to your working life and career, including:
1The GOC has updated its Standards of Practice from 1 January 2025. New requirements include ‘demonstrating leadership in practice, for example by supporting the education and training of others’
Individuals will use their unique strengths to effectively support students. Common qualities include professional integrity, dedication to maintaining high standards of practice and care, attention to detail, effective communication, patience, enthusiasm for training and education, strong organisational skills, as well as empathy and tolerance.
Supervision offers valuable experience in mentoring, coaching, and clinical leadership. It provides opportunities to develop new skills, reflect on your own practice, and engage with current educational and evidence-based developments. These experiences can support progression into roles in education, management, or advanced clinical practice, and are often professionally rewarding.
Here are some of the key considerations for practices when taking part in supervision in the FTY:
Supervision is a chance for the profession to help shape the next generation of optometrists. By guiding students - including providing Independent Prescribing support where applicable – supervisors will contribute to developing a more skilled workforce, helping to prepare for the needs of modern eye care.
Absolutely. While we require an IP‑qualified Clinical Supervisor for at least one of each student’s placements, we also recognise the valuable ability, skill, and experience that non‑IP supervisors can provide.
GOC-registered practitioners can begin supervising immediately, working alongside experienced colleagues or within a supervisory team. In the FTY, newly qualified optometrists may join the team after completing PSD Scotland-facilitated supervisor training. With experience, mentorship, and active involvement in FTY, in time, practitioners can progress to the role of Clinical Supervisor.
Supervisors play a crucial role in helping students develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviours to meet the standards required of a GOC registered optometrist.
Throughout the FTY, Clinical Supervisors will oversee students on a day-to-day basis during placements, supporting learning, providing feedback, and reviewing evidence. As with the current model, supervisors will spend significant time observing and assisting students in practice. As students gain experience, they will work more independently, with supervisors conducting regular observations, reviewing patient interaction records, and holding brief meetings to discuss progress and development. This process prepares students for assessment, and ultimately, qualification and registration.
As with the current model, the level of supervision will vary based on the student’s development stage and the number of supervisors involved. Students must spend at least 20 hours per week in the consulting room, primarily conducting sight tests. Initially, supervisors will need to observe consultations directly, discuss them, and provide feedback. As the placement progresses, this time will decrease. Supervision can also be shared among multiple supervisors, distributing the training workload.
Students will need to document and log patient consultations and keep notes and reflections on their activity and learning. A Clinical Supervisor will be required to check and sign off records and provide feedback but can use a variety of methods for this depending on supervisor and student preferences and the specific activity or skill being observed or discussed during the learning.
An e-portfolio hosted by NHS Scotland will serve as the central electronic record of each student’s evidence and progress. This e-portfolio will be accessible to all individuals involved in supporting a student throughout their training.
In addition to the actual supervision, there will be some initial paperwork to register the Placement Provider and Clinical Supervisor to take on a FTY student placement. This will entail reading guidance and contractual agreements and providing basic information about the practice and supervisor, however this is not expected to be onerous.
The number of students a practice can supervise depends on available space, staffing, and internal arrangements. In larger practices with multiple qualified staff, it’s possible to supervise more than one student, with shared supervision across the team. The new ETR encourages collaborative supervision, and team-based approaches are expected to become increasingly common.
No, you do not have to supervise alone. You can collaborate with colleagues in your workplace as part of a supervisory team. The FTY supervisory model will include a university appointed Academic Mentor and a PSD Scotland appointed Educational Supervisor who will work with the Clinical Supervisor and wider practice supervisory team. Additionally, there will be resources and peer networks for supervisors to share experiences and advice.
PSD Scotland will provide initial training and ongoing educational support for FTY supervisors, aligned with NHS Scotland standards for health and social care professions. The training includes mandatory e-learning modules, supervisor-specific online peer review sessions, and continued support for all team members involved in student supervision.
To support effective supervision, PSD Scotland has developed a suite of resources that will be accessible via the Supervisor Hub in due course, including guidance, tools, and learning materials. Supervisors will also use the ePortfolio to monitor student progress, sign off clinical experience, and prepare students for assessment, all in one central platform.
All time required for mandatory supervisor training will be protected and as such, funding will be provided to complete all modules.
If you are supervising a student, your employer will have committed to providing the necessary time and resources to support your role. You should discuss and agree on the expected time requirements, how this will be accommodated (e.g. reduced clinic commitments), and ensure it does not negatively impact your role progression.
Yes, you can host and supervise students in a small practice. The key requirement is that the practice can provide the range of experiences needed for the student's development. Small practices often offer unique learning opportunities due to their close-knit and varied work environments. There may be opportunities for smaller practices to work in collaboration to offer students a split placement if the practice has limited capacity for the students to have practical experiences throughout the week. This can be discussed and arranged directly with PSD Scotland.
Yes, it could be possible to supervise students in a domiciliary setting as part of the wider supervisory team. This setting can provide valuable learning experiences in delivering eye care services to patients who cannot visit a practice. The most practical approach may be to share a student with, for example, a high street practice or hospital and supervise them for a set number of days each week in domiciliary settings. This would widen the scope of learning for the student. This can be discussed and arranged directly with PSD Scotland.
As the FTY is the clinical placement element of the final, fifth year of the MOptom (IP) programme in Scotland, each university will retain overall responsibility for its students while they are on placement. It will maintain regular contact and support students’ academic development through placement activities and learning days. The university also retains responsibility for conducting any disciplinary or fitness‑to‑practise investigations or proceedings, which will be carried out in accordance with its own policies and procedures.
Supervision is covered by all major sector insurers as part of standard optometrist or dispensing optician practice under GOC standards. Current case law requires supervisors to be on the premises, aware of who they are supervising, and able to intervene if needed. This may range from close oversight early on to being available and reviewing records later. It is good practice to ensure appropriate cover is in place before taking on a supervisory role.
Follow our newsletters for information on project development. We look forward to releasing more information on the practicalities of becoming a supervisor later in the year.
For more information on becoming a supervisor with the FTY or to registered your interest, please contact nes.ftyoptometry@nhs.scot.