your member benefits 2015 final interactive
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Your member benefits 2015AOP membership – promoting the profession, protecting the professional
2 www.aop.org.uk
Supporting you
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading optometry membership organisation in the UK. We provide high quality services and benefits to enable our 15,500 members to fulfil their professional roles. We are the only membership body solely dedicated to the support of individual practitioners and we put our members at the heart of everything we do.
We are the leading provider of medical malpractice insurance for optometrists in the UK and our in-house legal team defends the reputation and livelihood of our members.
www.aop.org.uk/benefits
We represent over 15,500
members
Defence PAGE 4Cover for your daily practise, with expert advice from our in-house team of lawyers
Support PAGE 6Access to world-class CET, guidance and benefits, whatever your mode of practise or career stage
Representation PAGE 11Promotion of optometry and representation to government
Our benefits fit into three core areas:From the day you start university right through to your retirement
We know the profession inside out
For nearly 70 years we have been defending,
representing and supporting members
You’re in good company
Eight out of ten members rate the AOP as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’
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What’s in it for you?
Responding to the needs of our members, we have introduced a range of new benefits to support you personally and professionally, including financial advice and preferential rates on essential insurance services delivered through our new affinity partner, Lloyd & Whyte.
• Everyday insurance essentials – home, travel, motor and property owners’ insurance
• Financial planning – savings and investments, pensions and retirement planning, independent financial advice
• For your practice – practice insurance, locum insurance, credit and debit card processing
[email protected] 250700
New member benefits
www.aop.org.uk 3
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Defending our members
Holding your hand through the bad timesMany practitioners will have a complaint made against them at some point in their career. Our team understands what members go through and their job is to defend your reputation and livelihood.
Who’s looking out for you?As an employee, AOP membership provides not just professional indemnity insurance (a legal requirement) but a range of member benefits which include expert employment advice individually tailored to you.
“I’m confident that the AOP provide the right package to cover me because they understand the
profession and the needs of the individual practitioner. Also, as the cover is an integral part of
membership, I have the assurance of expert legal back-up if needed.”
Penny Shaw, AOP member(pictured right)
www.aop.org.uk 5
More than insurance – we represent, defend and advise you
✓ Up to £5m medical professional liability insurance for the work you carry out, whatever your mode of practise or career stage, including enhanced services
✓ Up to £2m product liability insurance, covering you in the event of defects in any CE-marked products you sell
✓ Expert employment law service, covering the full range of employment issues you face today
✓ Representation at General Optical Council (GOC) disciplinary hearings with one-to-one support from our team of in-house lawyers
✓ Expert legal advice in relation to your dealings with NHS England
✓ Access to a free legal helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for all your personal and commercial issues
✓ Free cover for tax investigations and VAT dispute insurance, saving you more than £400
www.aop.org.uk/legal 020 7549 2020
Our in-house legal and regulatory team includes six lawyers, two trainee solicitors, two clinical advisers,
one paralegal and one professional adviser.
You are well protected
6 www.aop.org.uk
Support to help you practise
Optometry Today your one-stop shop for education, news and debate
As the journal of the AOP, Optometry Today (OT) is a leading supplier of continuing education and training (CET) to optometrists.
OT online provides our members with up-to-the-minute industry and clinical news, reviews and features.
Training, guidance and benefits, whatever your mode of practise or career stage
www.optometry.co.uk
60 NEW CET-accredited articles and 6 CET-accredited videos
published every year
WIDE RANGEof GOC core competencies
for optometrists, independent prescribers, dispensing opticians and
contact lens opticians
VIDEO CONTENT including CET videos and interviews with opinion leaders from across the
optical sector
“Brilliant, informative and refreshing. Nice to see a bit
more detail to put dispensing back where it belongs.”
Gareth Gibbs, AOP member, commenting on the OT CET
video, ‘How to fit frames and influence people’
Nine in ten members highlight the
importance of reading OT for their career and
keeping up-to-date
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www.optometry.co.uk
Our events in 2015 include:
2015 events
• 100% Optical
• Peer Review roadshows
• Legal roadshows
• Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference
• National Optical Conference
• AOP Awards
✓�Free or discounted for members
✓�Excellent networking opportunities
✓ New blended learning approach
✓�Clinical and non-clinical courses
✓�Member-only exclusive content at 100% Optical
www.aop.org.uk/events
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“A relaxing evening, sharing opinions with colleagues”
Mark Nelson, AOP member,
commenting on our Peer Review roadshow
“Definitely NOT one to miss”
Helen Jenkyn, AOP member,
commenting on our legal roadshow
In 2015 we will build on our wide range of sell-out events in 2014
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14,000CET points delivered to over 2,000 participants
events
different locations
2014highlights andachievements
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“The service you are offering is fantastic and, for us, invaluable. I have
been checking almost on a weekly basis for new
images to use.” Drew Thompson,
AOP member
Free access to our exclusive members’ image library
www.aop.org.uk/imagelibrary
• Wide range of high quality optical images
to promote optometry
• Images can be used in practice marketing,
including leaflets and websites
• Unlimited access with average savings of
about £30 per image
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Representation
Political influenceAs a founding member of the Optical Confederation, we work closely with other optical bodies to lobby national decision-makers on issues related to the eye health agenda. We respond to consultations on behalf of our members, to ensure that your voice is heard at the national level.
We also work closely with Optometry Scotland, Optometry Northern Ireland and Optometry Wales to ensure that our members’ views are reflected in the valuable work carried out in the devolved nations.
Promotion of optometry and representation to government
www.opticalconfederation.org.uk
The Optical Confederation
enables the profession to speak
with one voice
We safeguard the future of the
profession
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In the news
We have continued to champion the profession and
promote optometry and eye health to the national
media. We regularly respond to journalists on a range
of topics, from the importance of eye health and sight
tests, to smart phone usage and screen fatigue.
12 www.aop.org.uk
“The children’s eye health campaign
is something very worthwhile to be involved
in. Spending time in the classroom can be good fun and it’s great to build links with local
communities.”Lizzie Houlton, AOP member
Children’s eye health campaign
www.aop.org.uk/childrenseyehealth
Our back to school campaign helps members promote the importance of regular sight tests for children. Hundreds of members have been involved in the campaign, making use of our range of free resources, from posters to top tips and presentations for schools.
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Nearly 26,000 votes were cast
for the AOP Awards 2014
“The process of collecting votes, both online and in practice, has been
tremendous fun. Our whole community has come together
to show their support.”Huw Pinney, AOP member
AOP Awards Helping raise awareness of optometry and eye health with the public
Launched in 2010, the AOP Awards has become a highlight of the optical calendar. In 2014, we produced a range of free marketing materials for all shortlisted nominees to use to promote their achievements.
We had some great feedback, with coverage included in the trade and regional press and even a bill board
advert.
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Representation• The Optical Confederation, of which the
AOP is a founding member, enables the profession to speak with one voice
• Representation to government, ensuring your voice is heard at the national level
• Promotion of optometry and the importance of sight tests, through our media work, children’s campaign and the AOP Awards
Your member benefitsA reminder of what’s in it for you
Defence• Medical professional liability insurance,
covering you for the work you carry out, whatever your mode of practise or career stage, including enhanced services
• Expert employment law service, covering the full range of employment issues you face today
• Product liability insurance, covering you in the event of defects in any CE-marked products you sell
• Representation at GOC disciplinary hearings, with one-to-one support from our team of in-house lawyers
• Support and advice about disputes at work, whether you’re an employer or employee
• Expert legal advice in relation to your dealings with NHS England
• Access to a free legal helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for personal and commercial issues
• Free cover for tax investigations and VAT dispute insurance, saving you more than £400
Support• Optometry Today – your one-stop shop
for education, news and debate• Priority access to quality CET at 100%
Optical and member-only content • Access to world-class CET, guidance and
benefits, whatever your mode of practise or career stage
• Access to a range of events around the country, enabling you to meet your peers, network and share ideas
• Free access to our exclusive members’ image library
Benefits to support you personally and
professionally, including financial advice and insurance services
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The communications team produces our publications, newsletters and campaign materials, manages our website and new members’ image library, and deals with the media. t: 020 7549 2063/2040 e: [email protected]
The education team helps with queries relating to continuing education and training (CET), Peer Review, pre-registration and student support, career breaks and professional development.t: 020 7549 2033 e: [email protected]
The events team organises our flagship events, including Peer Review and legal roadshows, the National Optical Conference and the Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference.t: 020 7549 2061/62 e: [email protected]
The legal team advises on a wide variety of legal issues related to optometric practise, including civil litigation and employment.t: 020 7549 2020e: [email protected]
The membership team deals with new members, general membership enquiries, subscription fees, student applications and the circulation of our flagship magazine, Optometry Today (OT).t: 020 7549 2010 e: [email protected]
The Optometry Today (OT) team is happy to hear of any news or feature ideas for OT.t: 020 7549 2070 e: [email protected]
The regulatory team deals with querieson the application of regulations tooptometric practise. t: 020 7549 2034 e: [email protected]
Contacts
General enquiries: 020 7549 2000Email: [email protected]
Company registered in England and Wales - number 404790 Copyright © 2014 Association of Optometrists
The top five reasons our members join the AOP are:
1. Our medical malpractice insurance2. Our in-house legal services3. Being part of a well respected body 4. Optometry Today and our CET programme5. Our clinical support
Trusted, representative,
informative, helpful, approachable
The top five words our members use to
describe us
Image page four courtesy of Marcus Holdsworth Photography, provided by Lunettes Opticians.
2 Woodbridge Street,London EC1R 0DG
t: 020 7549 2000f: 020 7251 8315e: [email protected] w: www.aop.org.uk
twitter.com/The_AOP twitter.com/OT