Onboarding as a Practitioner for OPERA

User Onboarding

You may have received an email asking you to complete the onboarding process for OPERA.  This page is to explain the process and what is required and why. You will have received a passcode in your email - this is very important.

Importantly you will need, if you have them, one of the following documents in image formats, such as JPG or PNG:

• A UK driving licence
• A UK passport

It's a good idea to get these documents together before you access the onboarding form. If you don't have either of these documents - you will need to contact support.

“ Opera enables greater access to patient information via NHS databases. The user requirements for Opera have been developed to balance the benefits of enhanced data access and mitigating the risks. These requirements are based on the standards used across the Department of Health and employers in the NHS.

We are therefore unable to progress your application for a user account without photographic ID.”

Completing the form

Once you have your email, your passcode and your identity document, please visit www.app.optom-referrals.org and click on the "User onboarding" link as shown below:You will then see the following, click the appropriate link for your user type.

If you are a GOC registrant you will be asked to enter your GOC details and this will autopopulate the next section for you. Continue to complete the form with your email details and the passcode you have been provided with.

ID Upload

Here you can select the type of ID and upload to the system for the verification checks and then select you preferred security method. The final screen is a confirmation:

Practitioner Accreditation 

All participating practitioners will have the core competencies as defined by the GOC and must meet the accreditation requirements as below. 

• All practitioners partaking in the provision of the service must also completed Safeguarding Level 2 training. For practitioners this is the DOCET Children’s and Adult’s Safeguarding Certificate. 

• All practitioners must have a valid Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring) certificate with the update service.

• Participating practitioners will also be expected to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

Participating practitioners must complete the associated WOPEC/LOCSU Learning modules (there may be some local additional accreditation requirements in some areas). LOSCU codes are available by contacting your Local Optical Committee.

Practice compliance and Clinician accreditation requirements are continuous and ongoing; should the practice or practitioner no longer satisfy these requirements then they must inform PES and cease providing this service. 

Support

Should you need support please use the help bubble (that can be found here) to raise a query or email hello@referral.support