Veterinary Nursing Clinical Skills Tutor

Job Description

The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa

The Role

The Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science has recently commenced the Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing. We are looking to add a skilled Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) to join our team to assist the Programme Lead and academic staff with the development of the clinical skills area and practical delivery of this provision.

The role will be based in the Veterinary Education Centre on the Penglais Campus, where students undertake many aspects of practical veterinary education. A mock veterinary clinic has recently opened to complement the current clinical skills suite already in use. Additional resources are required, and the role will assist in the development of facilities and equipment, which will assist in the teaching of the RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

Aberystwyth School Veterinary Sciences

The University established the Aberystwyth School of Veterinary Science in 2020, building upon its long-established teaching and research in animal health, nutrition and management.  Its academic home is in the Department of Life Sciences (DLS; formerly IBERS - Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences), an internationally recognised research and teaching centre.

This is an exciting time to join Aberystwyth’s School of Veterinary Sciences.  You will be part of an enthusiastic team working together to establish Aberystwyth as a centre of excellence for veterinary teaching and research in Wales and beyond. The University has developed state-of-the-art facilities for the veterinary programme and provided the necessary teaching resources in its Veterinary Education Centre (VEC) and new Veterinary Training Clinic (VTC). The VEC provides clinical skills and companion animal handling training rooms, dedicated space for teaching anatomy, an imaging suite and communal space for students to meet and prepare for classes. The VTC comprises of a reception area, consult room, prep room and theatre. The anatomy lab complements Aberystwyth’s strong laboratory-based facilities on Penglais Campus. 

The School is responsible for delivering the first veterinary science degree in Wales, in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).  ASVS is responsible for delivering the first two years of the BVSc and its first cohort of students commenced in September 2021. In September 2024 the first intake of Veterinary Nursing students started, and further post registration qualifications are currently being developed as well as courses to suit the wider professional veterinary and farming community.

As well as developing an exciting teaching portfolio, the School’s research interests cover antimicrobial resistance, endemic disease control, avian wildlife diseases and One Health approaches to improving biosecurity and health messaging.

 Further information is available here: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/vet-sci/

To make an informal enquiry, please contact Emma Anscombe-Skirrow at ema41@aber.ac.uk.  

Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.

This job description is subject to review and amendment in light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties. 

What you’ll do

The successful candidate will work alongside the existing clinical skills technician and will report to the Programme Lead. The role will support the development and delivery of Veterinary Nursing clinical skills teaching at Aberystwyth University. They will be required to prepare and deliver high quality practical teaching resources for a range of topics relevant to contemporary veterinary nursing, with emphasis on the RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

Specific duties include:

• To support the development of the clinical learning areas for the FdSc Veterinary Nursing.
• Maintain, organise and order consumables and equipment
• Ensure equipment is serviced regularly and working correctly
• Overseeing the booking and use of the clinical skills teaching areas
• Training others in the use of specialised equipment including the x-ray machine
• Ensuring the welfare and care of animals being used for practical teaching
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all clinical skills tasks and equipment in line with the RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses
• Undertake teaching of clinical skills in relation to the RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses and additional clinical skills delivery required for BVSc students as needed
• Undertake practical teaching of RCVS Day One Skills for veterinary nurses
• Develop resources required for teaching the RCVS Day One Skills for veterinary nurses
• Assist in the delivery and examine for the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations based on the RCVS Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses
• Liaise with Animal Sciences Technicians to maintain stocks of dissection materials required for the veterinary nursing students
• Support research activities for veterinary nursing
• Assist with infection control as required in the Veterinary Education Centre/Veterinary Training Clinic
• Write up regular reports regarding the use of the facility
• Maintain risk assessments for the Veterinary Education Centre and Veterinary Training Clinic
• Assist with off-site visits, farm visits and field trips
• Undertake continued professional development to enhance their own skills.

• Abide at all times to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses/Vets
• Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade. 
• Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager. 
• Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work. 
• Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work. 
• To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.
• Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement.  

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role. 

The responsibilities of this vacancy have been matched to the HERA Grade 6 Technical and Computer Operator Role Profile. Details of the role profile can be found at:

Technical & Computer Operator (TCO)  : Human Resources , Aberystwyth University

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Professional qualification in Veterinary Nursing and registration with the RCVS
2. A minimum of one year experience of working in veterinary practice
3. Knowledge and understanding of the RCVS Day One Skills, Day One Competences, Professional Behaviours and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses.
4. Excellent team working, people management and communication skills.
5. Excellent organisational and time management skills
6. Ability to work independently and as part of a team
7. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.
8. Flexibility in dealing with day-to-day issues
9. Hold a valid UK driving licence

Desirable

1. Experience teaching RCVS Day One Skills in a veterinary environment e.g. clinical supervisor
2. Experience in the development of Standard Operating Procedures
3. BSc or appropriate postgraduate qualification
4. Active interest in veterinary nursing education
5. A full, valid UK driving licence
6. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1.*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus. 

Please keep reading

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

*Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

• A national of a majority English speaking country
• Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
• Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

 For more information, please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa