Training and Development

LOCSU’s training and development programme is central to our mission to identify, nurture and support talent throughout LOCs. It is designed to help participants become more effective LOC members and to build a strong cohort of future leaders to drive transformation and confidently engage with all key stakeholders.

Alongside learning opportunities, the training and development programme is designed to foster connections between participants. This allows them to support each other during the course and beyond, helping to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the sector over the long term. This year, alongside in-person and online sessions, participants have joined course-specific WhatsApp groups for informal communications. These have proved very popular and have endured beyond the conclusion of each course.

LOCSU has also evolved its courses to incorporate more outcomes that are immediately valuable to LOCs.

LOC Induction Course: Action with Confidence

This year 36 candidates completed the LOC induction course, which is designed to help new LOC members gain insight into the role of the LOC, its functions, and responsibilities. Courses ran in June and September 2022 and January 2023.

For the first time, a dedicated candidates’ WhatsApp group was established. Simone Mason, LOCSU’s Digital Support Officer and LOC induction course facilitator, explains the aim of the group: “Networking is a key objective for the induction course, so creating a WhatsApp group was a logical step. It allows participants to connect in a more “instant” way during the course to support and learn from each other. It is the ideal place to ask questions about course content and share experiences more generally about LOCs and roles. It also allows candidates to stay connected after the course to share how they are progressing and any good news stories.”

This year, the LOC induction course also included a new format for participants to collate learnings and translate them into an immediate benefit for their LOC. The action plan template provided a structure for candidates to identify “quick wins” their LOC could target and devise a step-by-step plan to achieve them.

This proved popular with course attendees. Anoop Bains, Communications Officer of Walsall LOC, said: “I found the action plan template has been super helpful to easily detail what actions my LOC can make and breaking it down into simple steps.

“As a new member, I’m always apprehensive to share new ideas in case I’m stepping on any toes, but I think sometimes it can be helpful to have a new outside view of things especially to promote productivity. I’m excited to share my plan and easy wins as I don’t feel it’s overly ambitious but can have a huge impact if done well.”

The topic of confidence has been a recurring theme among course candidates this year, both in the induction and leadership courses. Taking part in the induction course has helped some candidates grow more confident and comfortable sharing their ideas. Phillippa Goodwin of Ashton, Leigh and Wigan LOC shared her discovery: “That all new [LOC] members feel the same! We do have skills to offer, even if we feel we don’t!” On completing the induction course, Phillippa said: “I do feel more confident in getting involved and feel like I’m going to learn so much for being part of the LOC, it really does feel like I’m finally becoming #notjustaDO!”

The January 2023 course introduced a new element in the form of a “setting goals” workshop designed to keep candidates on track to complete the course. Course facilitator Simone had identified that participants didn’t always complete the full course, and sought a way to boost completion rates from 60%. The course contains a variety of activities that candidates undertake on a weekly basis, including resources for all learning styles such as powerpoint presentations, podcasts, videos, quizzes and more. It is available 24/7 and is designed to fit around participants’ busy professional and home lives as far as possible. The overt focus on setting goals for completion resulted in 80% of participants having competed the course by the end of March.

On completing the course, Haneen from Central Mersey LOC said “I feel I have a much better understanding of what the LOC is about, and what it sets out to achieve. But most importantly I feel I have grown in confidence. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I feel with the knowledge I have gained, I can approach things with better understanding. I feel I will be able to contribute better at the LOC meetings.”

Four candidates from the LOC induction course in 2022–23 have since progressed onto the leadership course, demonstrating its value as a pathway to progression in the industry.

LOC Leadership Course: Communications and Setting the Seeds for Growth

Nine candidates were funded by LOCSU to take the LOC leadership course in 2022. The course’s goal is to equip participants with key leadership skills and develop their ability to recognise and support effective leadership in others. This year’s cohort was especially engaged and developed exceptionally strong communication skills, in particular, over the duration of their study programme.

Clear, consistent communication is essential for good leadership, and it will be vital as the sector continues its journey of transformation. For this cohort, in common with the induction group, confidence is also a key issue. Therefore, LOCSU was delighted when course participant Reena Rani Anand of Walsall LOC wrote and published an article in Optometry Today about her experience.

In the article, Reena reflected on the importance of lifelong learning, saying: “As optometrists, our roles are constantly evolving and expanding, and self-directed lifelong learning is an important part of keeping our knowledge and skills up to date. The course has allowed me to take ownership of my learning and to discover gaps in my knowledge and address these. I am motivated to continue to learn and to further improve my practice.”

Joanne Lindley, of Surrey LOC, echoed Reena’s thoughts, adding: “The leadership course has given me a turbo boost not only personally but professionally and I will be forever grateful for all the support LOCSU has shown me to be able to give me the tools and the confidence to have a go and to step outside my comfort zone with confidence!” Joanne also notes that she is busier than she has ever been but credits the leadership course for giving her the courage to take on more responsibilities, saying: “it’s all come about with the leadership course; the seed was set there, and it continues to grow!”

Jagdeep Singh, of Shropshire LOC took the LOC induction course in 2021 and embarked on the leadership course as the ideal way to build on his learning and develop stronger understanding of the challenges ahead for Optometry.

He found the networking aspect of the course particularly valuable and also appreciated the role of team-building and change management when developing his own leadership style. Jagdeep has been able to translate what he learned on the course in a practical sense, supporting his LOC to focus on succession planning. On a personal level he says: “since completing the course I have taken on a senior role which will allow me to utilise the skills I’ve learned when it comes to building more strategic networks and relationships to roll out more enhanced optical services in primary eye care.”

Jagdeep joined LOCSU as a Non-exec Director in 2023.

Two more candidates who are putting their studies to practical use are Mohammed Bhuta and Fionnuala Kidd. Following their successful completion of the leadership course in 2022, they have both taken on vital roles as Advancement Leads at LOCSU.

Commitment to Skills Development

Commenting on the training and development programme in 2022–23, Simone Mason says: “This year’s training cohort showed superb commitment to building their skillset so they can actively engage in the elevation of primary eye care within the NHS landscape. We are seeing them move into key roles with the confidence and knowledge that they have honed through the induction and leadership courses.”