Leading veterinary care provider IVC Evidensia has launched its pioneering GP Vet Futures Award Programme.
It’s a key part of the industry leader’s mission to create the world’s best primary care network.
In a European first, IVC Evidensia vets will be recognised for the skills they already have, as well as supported to achieve new skills within the GP framework.
The programme is intended to increase their status within the profession, boost confidence and ability, and provide a clear, individualised pathway to career progression.
It aims to shine a spotlight on the GP vets who are the first point of contact for owners, ensuring their hard work and unrivalled range of talents and skills are showcased as never before.
“The GP vet underpins the profession,” said Edward Davies BVSc MRCVS, who has just taken up the newly created role of Aspirational GP Lead after stepping down as chair of the IVC Evidensia Small Animal Clinical Board.
“The plethora of skills a GP vet has is unparalleled when you look at other professions.
“This programme is about recognising the core and expansive knowledge sets we as GP vets possess, not just at an individual level, but an organisational and professional level.”
An initial two cohorts of up to 20-30 vets from across the business will take part over the next 12 months, and the expectation is it will take around two years for every cohort to complete.
It’s a portfolio-based assessment by peers which documents how the vet has approached many of the important aspects of general practice. Not only are support resources available through a blend of media to suit individuals learning needs and styles, the same is true for assessment, with submissions being accepted in writing, verbally or even by video evidence.
It will provide a tailor-made structure to further build their career. There will be six core and three elective categories, broken down into achievable bite-sized chunks and with success points that can rapidly be reached.
The core section includes the elements seen as fundamental to being a successful GP vet, complimented by the individual vet’s selection of three elective modules which best fit their clinical interests.
“Some people will already simply be able to demonstrate their skill within an area,” said Dr Gayle Hallowell, IVC Evidensia Director of Professional Development.
“Others will be signposted to material to help bring them up to date or enable them to think differently about an area to then demonstrate their ability.
“So, it will be a combination of learning and demonstrating what they already know. But it will very much be at the individual’s own pace, and it is being structured so as not to add to pressures in an already-stressful world.
“It’s really about just showcasing how great they are.”
As well as both additional skills and a resultant confidence boost, the GP Vet Futures Award is also intended to be externally accredited.
“We want all GP vets to value their ability to perform their jobs, appreciate their abilities and have an appetite to confidently take cases forward, so they can enjoy the fulfilling career of being a GP vet to the max,” added Mr Davies.
