Veterinary Nursing Placement 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 is currently adding to their provision by developing a Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing. We are looking to add a skilled Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our team to assist the Programme Lead with the continued development and accreditation of this provision.

The post-holder will work with the Programme Lead to recruit training practices to become affiliated to the University and will develop the work placement links for all students on the course as well as provide support and quality assurance for both students on placement and training practices. They will also aid in the provision of theory and practical teaching and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses for the local veterinary industry, preparation of teaching content and supporting the development of future undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications in veterinary nursing related topics.

In addition, the post-holder will be required to conduct relevant high-quality research through internal and external collaboration and by making applications to external funding bodies. They will contribute to administration and teaching within the ASVS and the wider Faculty and at University level where appropriate. 

Applications are welcomed from candidates with experience in the teaching and/or quality assurance of veterinary nursing qualifications.

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

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

What you’ll do

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

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/

The successful candidate will report to the Programme Lead and will support the quality monitoring of veterinary training practices and student veterinary nurses undertaking work placements as required by the RCVS Veterinary Nurse Registration Rules

Learning and Teaching

• Visit veterinary practices as part of the training practice approval or review processes outlined in the Internal Quality Assurance handbook.
• To manage and quality assure a database of veterinary practices required for the delivery of the FdSc Veterinary Nursing
• Identify appropriate placements and liaise with training practices and students in ensuring the placements are allocated as required
• Prepare students for starting their year long placement in an approved training practice
• Support students on placement with regular group tutorials, online discussions, 1:1 support and an annual online conference.
• Visit students on placement as part of the placement monitoring requirements
• Monitor Nursing Progress Log (NPL) completion in line with the deadlines outlined in the placement handbook
• Sample NPL submissions and ensure they meet requirements
• Quality assurance of NPL in line with the sampling strategy
• Quality assurance of students and training practices and assist with placement arrangements either in the University or clinical learning environments
• Provide support, training and standardisation for clinical supervisors and affiliated training practices
• Ensure appropriate guidelines, policies and regulations are in place, updated and implemented to support learning.
• Liaise with professional services to ensure compliance with internal regulatory requirements
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to their own development through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Professional Practice

• Develop and maintain an external profile, including for example publications, membership of professional bodies and external panels/examining.
• Undertake external networking with key stakeholders including the BVNA and RCVS, and the wider academic Veterinary Nursing education community.
• Undertake continuous professional development to enhance their own skills.
• Abide at all times to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses

Enterprise

• Collaborate with the wider academic community, relevant professional bodies and other key stakeholders.
• Individually or with colleagues, bid for external income.

Additional Responsibilities (Grades 6-8)

• 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. 

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 supporting students in veterinary practice settings and/or supporting work placements in an educational setting
3. Contemporary knowledge and experience of veterinary nursing including current veterinary nursing policy, research and professional development
4. Knowledge and understanding of the RCVS Day One Skills, Day One Competences, Professional Behaviours and the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.
5. Excellent team working, people management and communication skills.
6. Excellent organisational and time management skills.
7. An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.

Desirable

1. MSc or PhD in relevant discipline
2. A minimum of 1 year experience in the delivery of and/or quality assurance of RCVS accredited license to practise Veterinary Nursing programmes.
3. Hold a quality assurance qualification e.g. TAQA
4. Active interest in veterinary research and evidence-based veterinary nursing
5. Hold a teaching qualification or FHEA
6. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1* or higher.

*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

Under the UK Government’s points-based system scheme, this role does not meet the criteria to be sponsored by Aberystwyth University (AU) for a Skilled Worker Route (SWR) application.