Author Archives: Amber Tennant

Remember to vote in the RCVS and VN Councils elections!

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is encouraging veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to, not only, vote, in this year’s RCVS and VN Councils elections, but to vote online. The elections will feature both a new voting platform and regular personalised email reminders from Electorial Reform Services (ERS) Ltd which will make it easier to vote online. These emails will include a unique link to the voting platform and the ability to log in securely straight away, without having to remember where you left your ballot paper in order to find your security codes.

Ballot papers and candidates details will be posted on Wednesday 22 March 2017 to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses eligible to vote, and online voting will open on Friday 24 March 2017. All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 28 April 2017.

If you are a veterinary surgeon and have not received your ballot papers by Friday 31 March, please contact Luke Bishop on l.bishop@rcvs.org.uk. If you are a veterinary nurse and have not received your ballot papers by Friday 31 March, please contact Annette Amato on a.amato@rcvs.org.uk Further information can be found on the RCVS website.

World down's syndrome day logo

World Down’s Syndrome Day (21 March)

Down’s Syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features; around 775 babies are born with the condition each year in England and Wales, and approximately 6,000 in the US; making Down’s Syndrome one of the most common chromosomal conditions. Children and adults with Down Syndrome have mild to moderate impairments and experience developmental delays, however they also have many talents and World Down’s Syndrome Day is about celebrating the contribution that people with Down’s Syndrome make to society, and understand how we can better help people with Down’s Syndrome integrate into every-day life. Below are some facts about Down’s Syndrome…

  • The exact cause of the extra chromosome that triggers Down syndrome is unknown.
  • In 1983, the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome was a mere 25-years-old. Today, it’s 60.
  • Children and adults with Down syndrome share some common features, but naturally the individuals will more closely resemble their immediate family members.
  • Since the 1970s, public schools are required by law to provide a free and appropriate education to children with Down syndrome.
  • The likelihood of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome increases with maternal age, however, 80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age because this age group gives birth most frequently.
  • While behavior, mental ability, and physical development varies from person to person, many individuals with Down syndrome grow up to hold jobs, live independently, and enjoy normal recreational activities.

Further information about Down’s Syndrome can be found on the NHS website.

RCVS launches new CPD pilot

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) hosted two continuing professional development (CPD) pilot days on 28 February and 1 March 2017, training volunteers to trial a proposed new outcomes-based system of measuring and recording learning and development.

This trial is the result of a six-week consultation held by the College in June 2016, asking for the profession’s views on a proposed new system of CPD – one that concentrates less on hours logged and more on interactive, reflective learning and measuring the impact that CPD has on the individual’s practice and patient health outcomes.

 

Further information can be found on the RCVS website.

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: Managing Stress

 

Everybody knows what it is like to feel stressed. Stress can be a useful drive that can help us to be more productive and feel more energised*, however chronic stress that becomes overwhelming over time can, not only, make existing mental health problems worse, but contribute to the development of mental health problems too.* If you’re feeling like you’re struggling to cope with your stress, consider the following…

  1. Take control

Confronting the source of the problem is empowering. Passive thinking like “I can’t do anything” will only make your stress worse. The first step to feeling better is to identify the cause of your stress and then think about how to find a solution.

  1. Be active

Two hours of moderate-intense aerobic activity per week (such as fast walking or cycling) will improve your self-esteem and wellbeing.

  1. Connect

Reach out to people around you—family, friends and  colleagues. This allows us to share feelings and support others. The more you give, the happier you will feel. Even the smallest act can count, like a smile or a “thank you;” or larger ones such as volunteering in the local community. Doing something kind stimulates the reward area of the brain, creating positive feelings.

  1. Keep learning

Gaining new skills by setting targets and hitting them can inspire a sense of achievement and confidence.  Challenge yourself, whether at work or in your personal life.

  1. Be Mindful

Be aware of your thoughts and feelings, and when your thoughts take over the present moment. Remember these are simply thoughts that do not need to control us. Be aware, even as you about your daily routine, by appreciating the journey to work or taking a lunch time walk.

  1. Work smarter

Rather than working harder, prioritise your activities and leave the least important task for last. You may need to accept that your inbox will never read “zero” at the end of the day.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/stress/what-is-stress/?o=6278#.WMFPX5MpWcw

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Always wanted to work with animals? Come and find out how!

If you love animals, at some point in your life you may have considered working with them, but what options are there and where do you start? There’s no better place to find out than our annual Careers With Animals Day!

Running at our education and training centre in Godmanchester on Saturday 25 March, the event offers the ideal opportunity to learn more about training opportunities and employment prospects within the animal and veterinary sector. What’s more, entry is completely free of charge!

Whether you’re a school leaver working out what your next move is going to be, an adult looking for a career change, or unemployed and looking to get back to work – everyone is welcome. Come along and speak to exhibitors from some of the leading animal welfare organisations, and leave with ideas and information that will help you launch a new career.

A series of talks will be held throughout the day covering different career options; ranging from veterinary nursing and dog grooming, to veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. Another great line up of exhibitors has been confirmed for this year, including African Conservation Experience, Royal Veterinary College, The Donkey Sanctuary, British Horse Society, Shepreth Wildlife Park – and many more!

The event will be held at The College of Animal Welfare in Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (PE29 2BQ). Doors are open from 10am until 3pm and entry is completely free of charge! For more information please visit www.careerswithanimals.co.uk or call the College on 01480 422060.

Always wanted to work with animals? Come and find out how!

If you love animals, at some point in your life you may have considered working with them, but what options are there and where do you start? There’s no better place to find out than The College of Animal Welfare’s annual Careers With Animals Day!

Running at the College’s education and training centre in Godmanchester on Saturday 25 March, the event offers the ideal opportunity to learn more about training opportunities and employment prospects within the animal and veterinary sector. What’s more, entry is completely free of charge!

Whether you’re a school leaver working out what your next move is going to be, an adult looking for a career change, or unemployed and looking to get back to work – everyone is welcome. Come along and speak to exhibitors from some of the leading animal welfare organisations, and leave with ideas and information that will help you launch a new career.

A series of talks will be held throughout the day covering different career options; ranging from veterinary nursing and dog grooming, to veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. Another great line up of exhibitors has been confirmed for this year, including African Conservation Experience, Royal Veterinary College, The Donkey Sanctuary, British Horse Society, Shepreth Wildlife Park – and many more!

Leslie Heaton-Smith, Marketing and Development Director at The College of Animal Welfare, said: “Careers With Animals Day has always been one of the highlights of our annual calendar. Each year we see people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to speak to the professionals about how they can turn their passion for animals into a rewarding career. We have another excellent set of exhibitors lined up for this year, and are looking forward to, what is set to be, another fantastic day.”

The event will be held at The College of Animal Welfare in Godmanchester, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire (PE29 2BQ). Doors are open from 10am until 3pm and entry is completely free of charge! For more information please visit www.careerswithanimals.co.uk or call 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 delighted to invite you to join them at Careers With Animals Day on Saturday 25 March 2017.

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

 

Health and Fitness Tip of the Week: Sleep

Did you know?

  • There are over 80 different sleep problems and insomnia is the most common affecting around 20% of us.

A solid night’s sleep is essential for a healthy, long life and on average people need around 8 good hours of sleep a night. However one in three people struggle with poor sleep which over time can take a toll not only on mental well-being but also physical well-being.

Follow these top tips for a better night’s sleep:

  • Stick to regular sleep hours
  • Create a peaceful and comfortable sleeping environment
  • Exercise regularly
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine which are stimulants
  • Do something to make you relax before bed

For further information follow the links below:

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/tiredness-and-fatigue/Pages/lack-of-sleep-health-risks.aspx

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/sleep

National Careers Week: Options for Animal Lovers

Recent research has revealed that Britons spend a total of 12 years at work during their lifetimes*. They say doing a job you love means you never have to work for a day in your life; and one thing is for sure – 12 years is way too long to be stuck in a role that doesn’t inspire or challenge you!

Whether you’ll soon be leaving school and wondering about what you can do next, or are already in work but unsatisfied with the role you’re in; there’s no better time to think about how to change your life for the better than National Careers Week!

For animal lovers in particular, career opportunities are endless! Sometimes the first step in kick-starting a new career is as simple as working out what kind of environment you would like to work in…

I’d like to work in a veterinary practice…

 A popular choice for those looking to make a difference to the lives of pets everywhere is to gain work in a veterinary practice. Depending on your academic history, and the responsibilities you would like to have, there are a number of roles within practice that might be suited to you.

Train as a veterinary surgeon

Animal lovers with ambitious academic prospects, and a commitment to a long career dedicated to animal welfare, may  consider training as a veterinary surgeon. Working in practice, your role would revolve around diagnosing and treating sick and injured animals; this includes performing operations, carrying out diagnostic tests such as blood analysis, x-rays and scans and carrying out regular health checks. In order to qualify as a veterinary surgeon you would need to gain a veterinary degree approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), which will take five or six years to complete.

 Train as a veterinary nurse

If becoming a veterinary surgeon doesn’t appeal to you but you would still love a role within practice; becoming a veterinary nurse could be the ideal route for you! Not for those faint-hearted at the sight of blood, veterinary nurses assist veterinary surgeons in practice; undertaking a range of duties such as critical care nursing,  taking x-rays, preparing animals for treatment, assisting during operations, administrative and cleaning tasks and carrying out minor procedures. There are two main routes into veterinary nursing at The College of Animal Welfare – Higher Education (BSc/FdSc) or Further Education (Level 3 Diploma/Advanced Apprenticeship). Successful completion of one of these courses will allow students to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with the RCVS. For more information on eligibility criteria please visit our website.

Train as a veterinary care assistant

There’s also the opportunity to train as a Veterinary Care Assistant. VCAs work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to provide vital nursing care and ensure the wellbeing of small animal patients. This includes exercising, grooming and feeding hospitalised animals, providing supportive care, and cleaning and preparing accommodation – training as a Veterinary Care Assistant could be an ideal career path! Veterinary Care Assistants work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to provide vital nursing care and ensure the wellbeing of small animal patients. Our Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants covers the underlying knowledge needed to thrive in a fast-paced veterinary environment. Completion of this course, along with a level 2 qualification in Maths and English, will also allow students to train as veterinary nurse via the Level 3 Diploma programme if they so wish.

I’d love to work with animals, but veterinary practice is not for me…

Working in veterinary practice is not for everyone, but animal care workers can be found looking after animals in a wide variety of environments, such as in zoos, stables, rescue centres, catteries, kennels or wildlife parks. If you see yourself working in any of these environments, you could  consider training in animal care to kick-start a new career. Depending on the role that you choose to undertake, your duties could range from cleaning, feeding and exercising animals, to educating the public on animal welfare and preparing animals for rehoming. Our animal care qualifications allow students to gain on-the-job training whilst earning a wage, and will cover a variety of animal care practices depending on your level of experience within the industry. For more information on careers within animal care you can visit our online career profiles.

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The College of Animal Welfare is hosting its popular Careers with Animals Day at its centre near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire on Saturday 25 March 2016! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to find out more about the training and employment opportunities within the veterinary care and animal care sectors. Entry is completely free of charge! Find out more at www.careerswithanimals.co.uk

Spring pet safety tips blog featured image

Spring is here: Take note of these spring pet safety tips!

Spring Pet Safety Tips Image

Keep your pet safe this spring!

Flowers are blooming all around us, the days are becoming lighter, and the cleaning products are out in full force, which can only mean one thing – seasons are changing and springtime is upon us! Great news for dogs and cats everywhere, the longer days and sunnier weather leaves more room for adventures in the outdoors. As a pet owner, watch out for the following hazards and make sure your pet is as healthy as can it be this Spring!

Animals have allergies too!

Just like humans, some seasonal plants can cause allergies in domestic animals, so it is important to speak to your local vets if you notice any irritation. Worse, seasonal plants such as lilies can be toxic to animals; plants to avoid include daffoldil bulbs and foxgloves. For a full list of house and garden plants poisonous to dogs, see the Kennel Club website.  A list of plants poisonous to cats can be found here. Additionally, be careful when using pesticides as lawn care and gardening products can also be harmful to pets.

Fend off the fleas and ticks!

Making sure your pet is regularly cleaned and groomed can help to prevent skin irritations from allergies, fleas or ticks; as well as regulating their temperature. Additionally, speak to your vet about preventive medication and flea and tick control programmes for a plan that suits your pets individual needs.

Longer days, longer walks – Don’t lose em!

Longer time spent in the outdoors means more opportunities for your pets to wander off. To ensure the best chance for pets to be returned safely, ensure both collar ID tags and microchip information are up-to-date and worn by your pets when they are outdoors. Please be aware in the UK it is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old. Further information on how you can do this can be found here.

 

Zero Discrimination Day (1 March)

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people. Discrimination can take many forms, such as direct discrimination, where you are treated less favourably than someone else as a direct result of anything from gender and sexual orientation, to religious or political beliefs. Other forms include indirect discrimination, when a rule or condition works against a specific group of people, and harassment and victimisation, including intimidating or offensive behaviour, or making someone victim of fewer opportunities.

How can we stop discrimination?

Start with yourself
It’s important to remember not everyone is raised in the same way and that we are all a product of our backgrounds; be open to learning more about other peoples points of view and the motivations and thought processes behind why they are the way they are.

Practice inclusivity
Challenge yourself when it comes to practicing inclusion in your everyday life. Is there room for every voice at your staff meeting?  Has every child been invited to the party? Have you asked an elder what they have to say? Is there someone whose opinion is never touched upon? It is important to celebrate, not only, where there is common ground, but also where there is difference.

Speak up against discrimination
Don’t ignore discriminatory behaviour in others, even if you are close to them. Speaking up against discrimination when you see or experience it will help raise awareness and challenge others’ views.

Support others
Support others who are experiencing discrimination and encourage them to take the appropriate action needed to improve their situation; this could be anything from taking records of discrimination, pushing forward with workplace procedures or seeking advice where necessary.

If you feel you are being discriminated against on placement, at work, or in College; please contact us. The College has a zero tolerance policy towards all discriminatory behaviour, whether intentional or unintentional. Incidents of discriminatory behaviour are a serious matter and will be dealt with appropriately.