Author Archives: Amber Tennant

FAO: Vet nursing diploma students – Submitting Applications for Entry onto the Register of VNs

Please note the college process in place for submitting applications for entry onto the VN Register is changing…

Going forward, all veterinary nursing diploma students will need to submit their Application to Register to us, to be reviewed and forwarded to the RCVS with the required evidence of training.

If you are a non-employed student, the process has not changed. We will collate your Records of Training from your time in placement based on the registers submitted. You will need to send us your Application to Register.

If you are an employed student, you will need to send us your Application to Register, as well as your completed Records of Training from employment, signed off by the Practice Principal.

If you have spent time in both employed and non-employed training, you will need to send us your Application to Register, and your completed Records of Training from periods of employment only, signed off by the Practice Principal.  We will collate your Records of Training from your time in placement.

Before sending us your documentation, you should complete and sign your Application to Register, and provide your payment details. The total hours spent both in college and in practice should be left blank, as this will be completed by the college; however you should ensure you have accumulated enough training time to register prior to submission. You will be notified once we have received your documentation, and when your application has been sent to the RCVS.

The outlined change has been made in an effort to minimise issues which should be resolved before documentation arrives with the RCVS. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Ruth Franklin on rfranklin@caw.ac.uk or 01480 422060.

Image of a veterinary receptionist working

New Veterinary Receptionist Qualification Now Open for Registration

Applications for the new VetSkill Level 2 Certificate for Veterinary Receptionists qualification are now open!

The qualification, designed to provide key receptionist skills tailored to a veterinary practice setting,  will help those working in a veterinary receptionist role to manage the reception area, communicate confidently and effectively with clients about retail products and services, manage difficult situations, understand medical terminology, maintain client and business records – and much more.

Run on an online, distance learning, basis the programme allows learners to study alongside any existing commitments, from work or home. What’s more, monthly payment options make it easy to spread out the cost of learning!

Further information, and details on how to apply, can be found on our website or by calling the College on 01480 422060.

New Veterinary Receptionist Qualification Now Open for Registration

The College of Animal Welfare is delighted to announce that applications for the new VetSkill Level 2 Certificate for Veterinary Receptionists qualification are now open.

The qualification, designed to provide key receptionist skills tailored to a veterinary practice setting, will help those working in a receptionist role to manage the reception area, communicate confidently and effectively with clients about retails products and services, manage difficult situations, understand medical terminology, maintain client and business records and much more.

Run on an online, distance learning, basis the programme allows learners to study alongside any existing commitments, from work or home. What’s more, monthly payment options make it easy to spread out the cost of learning.

Mel Young, Academic Manager at The College of Animal Welfare, said: “We are delighted to be offering this new qualification as part of our growing portfolio of online learning programmes”. She continued: “The importance of effective front-of-house service in a veterinary environment cannot be emphasised enough. This course will help staff further develop their confidence as well as gaining formal recognition of their skills and knowledge”.

Further information, and details on how to apply, can be found at www.caw.ac.uk or by calling the College on 01480 422060.

– Ends –

For more information please contact:
Alison German RVN
Marketing Executive
The College of Animal Welfare
Tel: 01480 422060
Email: agerman@caw.ac.uk

Notes to editors:
The College of Animal Welfare is one of the UK’s leading providers of veterinary nurse and animal care training and education; operating from four training centres around the UK.

The College has a well-earned reputation for excellence and has created a number of unique achievements that have created new opportunities for learning.

For more information about The College of Animal Welfare please visit www.caw.ac.uk

Voting opens for the BVNA council election

Voting is now open for the BVNA council election, with eight candidates competing for six places.

Voting is open until 16 July, to full and student BVNA members only.

For further details on how to vote, and to view all the candidate profiles, visit the BVNA website.

summer pet safety blog featured image

Keeping your pets safe in the heat – top tips!

Keeping your pets safe in the heat – top tips!

Our pets love making the most out of the warm summer weather just as much as we do! Take the following precautions to ensure your pet stays safe in the sun.

  • Be sensible! To avoid heatstroke, it is best to exercise your pets in the early morning or evenings when temperatures are cooler. Try to keep pets out of sunlight during peak daylight hours, and provide regular shade. Remember that roads and paths can get extremely hot during the summer. If you’re unable to keep your hand on the path comfortably, the same applies to your pet and the heat will burn your pet’s paws.
  • If you suspect your pet may be suffering from heatstroke contact your vet immediately. Signs of heat stroke include panting, excessive drooling, increased body temperature, reddened gums, production of only small amounts of urine or no urine and rapid heart rate.
  • Ensuring your pet has regular access to cool, fresh water is vital to preventing overheating and dehydration. Additionally, never leave your pet in a hot car. You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s worth saying over and over again! Temperatures inside a car can rise to dangerous levels very quickly, which can cause organ failure and rapid death in animals.

East Sussex fire crews kitted out with specialist oxygen masks for pets

Pets rescued from fires in East Sussex will have access to specially designed oxygen masks in a bid to save the lives of more animals.

An initiative by the RSPCA and charity Smokey Paws, which joined forces to pay for the specialist kit, has ensured all fire engines in the county will now carry the equipment as part of standard practice. It is hoped the scheme will eventually be applied across the country.

Smokey Paws raises money for the life-saving masks via public donations, company sponsorships and fund-raisers.

Chief executive Brian Lockyer said: “With 46% of UK households having pets, and more than 40,000 house fires a year in the UK, pets can tragically often become the victims of smoke inhalation and poisoning. If oxygen is available at the scene, it should be provided to the pet.

“Specially designed pet oxygen masks are more effective on pets than the human masks often used to try to revive pets by first responders. Our mission is to equip every fire engine in the UK with these life-saving pet oxygen masks.”

For information about Smokey Paws can be found at www.smokeypaws.co.uk

Dogs Trust Be Dog Smart Week Infographic

Dogs Trust Be Dog Smart Week (19-25 June)

Dogs Trust launched its third annual “Be Dog Smart Week” this week (19-25 June). The initiative aims to teach children how to stay safe around dogs.

Dogs Trust officials said 8,000 children have been admitted to hospital as a result of dog bites in the past five years. It is hoped wider awareness could help reduce the number of dog bites in the home and in public spaces.

The practical tips and advice developed by the charity are available through easy-to-follow infographics, as well as through engaging school workshops; and will help children understand the simple ways they can “Be Dog Smart”

Further information, including details about how to arrange a FREE workshop in your local school, library or community centre, can be found at www.bedogsmart.org.uk

Dogs Trust Be Dog Smart Week Infographic

aht study blog featured image

AHT study needs owners to volunteer their horses – Can you help?

The AHT is asking horse owners to volunteer their horses to help in a unique study.

The aim of the study is to provide some evidence-based guidelines to the equine industry as to what constitutes excessive rider size, under various circumstances. Riders who are too heavy for their horse or pony can cause chronic back pain and lameness.

During the study, each horse will be ridden by four competent riders of different weights. Subjective and objective assessment of gait and behaviour when ridden, measurement of forces under the saddle, heart rate during exercise and recovery, cortisol levels, and back dimensions before and after exercise will be assessed.

Horses for the study need to be:

  • between 450kg and 550kg bodyweight (about 15hh to16hh)
  • in regular work and capable of working two 30-minute sessions in a day
  • capable of working on the bit in walk, trot and canter
  • available between 3 and 8 September (horses will be stabled on site throughout the study)
  • able to travel to World Horse Welfare in Snetterton, Norfolk (costs will be reimbursed)
  • vaccinated against influenza and tetanus

If you think you can help, email equine.centre@aht.org.uk or telephone 01638 751908.

world refugee day refugee crisis blog

World Refugee Day (20 June)

To describe current global displacement levels as indicative of a ‘refugee crisis’ would be an incredible understatement. Nearly 34,000 people are forcibly displaced every day as a result of conflict or persecution; and we are currently witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.

An unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced from home, including nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. In addition, there are 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.

We can help address the refugee crisis partly by breaking down the myths and scare mongering that prevents people from effectively understanding the refugee crisis, and having meaningful discussion over how we respond to asylum seekers and their families in need.

There is a difference between an asylum seeker, a refugee and an economic migrant.

The terms asylum seeker, refugee and economic migrant are often used interchangeably in public discourse, however it is important to understand the legal distinction between each one.

An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country and has submitted a claim for asylum to the authorities; they have a legal right to stay in the country until a decision has been made.

A refugee, by comparison, has proven to the authorities that returning to their home country would put themselves in danger; their claim for asylum has been accepted and they can stay in the country either long-term or indefinitely. Refugees also have a legal right, under UK and International law, to bring their families over to the UK to join them.

Economic migrant is not a legal classification, merely an umbrella term used to cover any person who has moved to another country to work. Whether they are legally or illegally resident is dependent on how they entered the country, and they may or may not have a legal work permit.

The number of refugees living in the UK is low.

We’re all familiar with the scare stories about asylum seekers ‘flooding’ the UK, however when held up against statistical data the picture is different. There is an estimated 117,234 refugees living in the UK, meaning that refugees make up just 0.18% of the total UK population. The UK received 38, 878 asylum applications in 2015, with just 45 percent of these cases being granted asylum once their cases had been fully concluded. By comparison countries throughout Europe such as Germany (431,000) and Hungary (163,000) received many more; however, less still than many developing countries, that currently host over 80% of the refugee population combined.

Further Information

For further information on the refugee crisis and global displacement levels, visit:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Refugee-support/Refugee-facts-and-figures
http://www.unhcr.org/uk/figures-at-a-glance.html

 

Learning Disability Week 2017 (19-25 June)

Learning Disability Week 2017 is a welcome opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of people with learning disabilities. NHS figures estimate that around 1.5m people in the UK have a learning disability.

This year’s theme is employment; around 8 in 10 working age people with a learning disability have a mild or moderate learning disability, but fewer than 2 in 10 are in employment.

Research has indicated there are a number of barriers which make it harder for people with a learning disability to find work and stay in work. This includes negative attitudes and low expectations towards people with a learning disability from employers, managers and colleagues; skills and qualifications gaps, lack of flexible, personalised employment programmes and unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace.

The week aims to tackle the low levels of employment among people with learning disabilities by combating stigma and raising awareness of the benefits of employing people with a learning disability. Social stigma surrounding learning disability negatively influences, not only, employment, but many other areas of life. Below are some more facts about learning disability and society:

  • Just 1 in 3 people with a learning disability take part in some form of education and training.
  • Children with special educational needs (SEN) are twice as likely as other children to be bullied regularly.
  • 40% of disabled children live in poverty.
  • 75% of GPs have received no training to help them treat people with a learning disability.
  • 7 out of 10 families have reached or come close to ‘breaking point’ because of a lack of short break services.

To find out more about Learning Disability Week 2017, and what you can do to help, you can visit the Mencap website, the leading voice on learning disability.