GENERAL OPTICAL COUNCIL

Please see job description for more information Join us at The General Optical Council (GOC) - Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and RNIB are collaborating with organisations from both the sight loss and wider charity sector as well as corporate organisations to create new opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to find employment through the Get Set Progress (GSP) Internship programme. The GOC is delighted to be offering an internship as part of the Get Set Progress Programme. Important Information About The Role As part of your 9-month internship, you will be taking part in Thomas Pocklington Trusts Get Set Progress internship program. As this role forms part of the programme, we will share your name and email address with TPT to monitor participation, confirm eligibility and, where appropriate, enable TPT to provide employment support to unsuccessful applicants.We process and share this information in accordance with UK GDPR and our Recruitment Privacy Notice.You will be part of a large cohort of fellow interns and gain the following:• Obtain valuable work experience within the charity sector• Technology support (including Microsoft Office) and upskilling opportunities• Online and in-person training and development opportunities• Opportunity to present and network with senior leaders within the sight loss sector• Opportunities to build relationships with fellow interns• A personal mentor offering support, advice and guidance throughout your internship• Help deliver positive changes for people with sight loss Role Purpose To provide flexible administrative and project support across the organisation, helping to ensure the smooth delivery of day-to-day operations and key initiatives. Essential Application Criteria • This role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the successful applicant be a person who is blind or partially sighted, in line with The Equality Act 2010.• Interns need to be able to travel to the TPT Hub in London for development events throughout the course of the internship programme (costs covered by TPT).• Having not previously undertaken the Get Set Progress internship programme.• Successful applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the Internship. Sponsorship will not be provided. Key Accountabilities • Provide general administrative support across the organisation, including processing requests, maintaining records and supporting routine processes.• Support the coordination and delivery of projects and initiatives, including scheduling, communications and follow-up actions.• Draft and issue correspondence, ensuring appropriate approvals are obtained where required.• Maintain and update records, trackers and databases to support accurate reporting and oversight.• Liaise with colleagues at all levels to gather information, provide updates and ensure timely completion of tasks.• Support internal processes such as onboarding administration, documentation checks and record keeping.• Contribute to internal communications, including intranet updates and news items where needed.• Support the organisation and delivery of internal meetings, training sessions and events.• Assist with the coordination of organisational initiatives, including wellbeing and engagement activities.• Provide ad hoc administrative support across different areas of the organisation as required, including occasional front-of-house or facilities-related support. Personal specification - Essential criteria • Experience of providing administrative support in a professional environment (this could include internships, placements, or voluntary work). • Comfortable using Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel, Outlook and Word, with the ability to manage and update basic data and records accurately. • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively. • Good written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to draft emails and communicate clearly with colleagues. • A proactive and flexible approach, with the willingness to support a range of tasks across different areas of the organisation. • Good attention to detail, particularly when handling data, documentation and processes. • Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues at different levels. Closing date for this role is 12 August :59pm, please note we reserve the right to close this role early dependent on number of applications. At the GOC we have staff networks that are here to provide a supportive space and celebrate our diversity! They also help influence GOC practices and policy to ensure they are inclusive as possible. We hold Disability Confident Level 2 and are members of Onvero. Please note your application will not be accepted without a covering letter exampling how you meet the essential criteria of this role, no more than 2 A4 pages. REF-229944

Please see job description for more information Role Purpose The lawyer will be responsible for providing legal and advocacy services to the General Optical Council's in-house casework team investigating concerns about registrants' fitness to practise.The role requires an advocate with experience of preparing and presenting fitness to practise cases in the regulatory healthcare sector (or similar). They will have responsibility for preparing cases for hearings before the GOC's Fitness to Practise Committee (FtPC), Registrations Appeals Committee (RAC) and the High Court (if qualified), and for presenting cases on behalf of the GOC as required. This will require the jobholder to work closely with Operations Managers and other team members to ensure that cases are fully prepared for hearing in a timely and efficient manner.The jobholder will also provide legal advice and support to the regulatory operations directorate at all stages of the fitness to practise process, and to the rest of the GOC as required, and will play a significant role in supporting and developing our investigation team.The jobholder will have a 'hands-on' approach with a strong and positive commitment to continuous improvement. Key Accountabilities Presentation of cases on behalf of the GOC in front of the FtPC, RAC and High Court (where applicable). Preparation of cases prior to presentation (including cases being presented by others) including the drafting of high-quality legal documents, including (but not limited to): Statements of Facts Skeleton Arguments Rule 16 applications Allegations (charges) High Court IO extension applications/consent orders Supporting casework teams to ensure the efficient and effective assessment, investigation and progression of cases, including advising on the assessment of risk in relation to the need for interim orders (at both investigation and FtPC stages). Communicating effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including registrant representatives and external third parties, as required. Providing advice, support and training to casework staff including advice on risk, evidence, proportionate enquiry and investigation, the drafting of charges and correspondence with external parties. Provision of routine and complex legal advice to the regulatory operations directorate teams on a day to day basis (and, if required, to the wider GOC). Ensuring continuous improvement taking into consideration, and implementing learning from, outcomes in practice committees and relevant case law. Liaison with internal and external stakeholders, legal representatives and external third parties as required. Acquiring an outstanding working knowledge of the GOC's governing legislation, relevant policies and procedures and relevant case law. Participate in project teams and working groups as necessary to further the work of the department. Essential Skills/Experience/Qualifications Qualified lawyer with experience of professional regulation or the ability to gain the experience quickly (solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, holding a current practising certificate with at least 3 years' PQE). Significant experience of managing and/ or directing investigations and presenting cases within agreed timeframes and to a high quality, preferably within the professional regulation setting. An excellent understanding of complex legal concepts and ability to apply knowledge to case work. Ability to grasp unfamiliar and/or new legislation quickly and to accurately apply rules and legislation to daily work. Ability to handle a high-volume caseload and manage competing priorities effectively. Ability to communicate to a high standard with legally qualified and non legally qualified colleagues. Excellent literacy and written and oral communication skills. Good general IT skills with the ability to use case management systems and Microsoft Office products. Interviews will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams from 21 August 2026. Closing date for applications is 11 August :59pm, please note we reserve the right to close the role early dependent on number of applications. Please note that your application will only be considered if it includes both CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should be no longer than 2 A4 pages and must demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria of this role.