Monthly Archives: August 2020

The College of Animal Welfare launches Veterinary Nurse Training at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull

The College of Animal Welfare (CAW), one of the UKs most established veterinary nurse training providers, has set up a new satellite training centre based at Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull!

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service is one of Europe’s leading Specialist small animal referral centres, experienced in delivering Specialist pet healthcare for over 30 years. The expansion means aspiring veterinary nurses in Solihull and the surrounding areas, can now apply to study at a state-of-the-art hospital with world class veterinary referral facilities.

Frank Taylor, Vice Principal Veterinary Studies at The College of Animal Welfare, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer training from such a highly respected veterinary organisation. Willows is led by internationally renowned Specialists committed to providing the very highest standards of veterinary care.” He added: “It is the perfect environment for budding veterinary nurses to learn the skills required to become a successful Registered Veterinary Nurse.”

Applications are now open to study the VetSkill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at CAW Solihull starting in September.

The course is open to those who wish to undertake the Diploma as a standalone qualification or to train as an apprentice using the Apprenticeship Standard in Veterinary Nursing. The academic course will run on a day release basis for two years, with teaching starting in the week commencing 7^th September.

Tom Reilly, head of clinical support services for Willows, said: “In working in conjunction with the College of Animal Welfare and launching a new satellite training centre at Willows, it will not only train and qualify our own nurses on site but also help to train student nurses from fellow Linnaeus practices and SVNs from our referring veterinary practices.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Willows to enter the educational side of veterinary nursing, to grow our own students, to influence nursing for the future generations and to showcase the hospital to our referring practices via their nursing teams.

“It’s a huge step forward and a vital part of our nursing strategy within the hospital and within Linnaeus to future-proof our valued team and input to the future of veterinary nursing.”

Due to the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, all student veterinary nurses starting their programme in September will attend classes via the college’s virtual teaching platforms, with sessions also being recorded and made available to students afterwards. Once it is safe to return to centre, lectures are scheduled to be held at Willows on Tuesdays. The next possible return date for face-to-face lectures under consideration by the college is January 2021.

Places on the course are limited, so students and apprentices are advised to apply as soon as possible. For more information about the programme visit www.caw.ac.uk/vn or call 01480 422060.

Got your GCSE results and interested in working with animals?

If you’ve received your GCSE results and are interested in working with animals, take a look at some of the training options we provide at The College of Animal Welfare that could help you achieve your career goals…

Veterinary Nursing Qualifications

If you love animals and are concerned with animal welfare; then becoming a veterinary nurse could be the ideal route for you.

Veterinary nurses assist veterinary surgeons in practice and undertake a range of important duties. For example:

Preparing animals for surgery and performing minor surgical procedures
Monitoring anaesthetised animals
Nursing sick animals and administering medication
Taking x-rays and carrying out diagnostic tests
Advising owners on the health and welfare of their pets
Taking bookings, payments and completing necessary paperwork
Running nurse clinics, such as diet, worming and grooming consultations

The main route into veterinary nursing at CAW for those with 5 GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or grade C or above) including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject, is our Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. You can study this Diploma as a standalone qualification or train as part of an apprenticeship. Completion of the course qualifies students to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). For more information on eligibility criteria please visit our website.

Alternatively, you could continue to study A-Levels with the view to apply for one of our veterinary nursing degree programmes.

Veterinary Care Training

For those that would like to focus on animal welfare duties outside of surgery within a veterinary practice – such as exercising, grooming and feeding hospitalised animals, monitoring and providing supportive care to inpatients and cleaning and preparing accommodation for animals – training as a Veterinary Care Assistant would be an ideal career path!

Veterinary Care Assistants work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to provide vital nursing care of small animal patients. Our Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants and Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support are excellent courses covering the underlying knowledge needed to thrive in a fast-paced veterinary care environment. There are no academic entry requirements, however you do need to be working or volunteering in a suitable veterinary practice for a minimum of 10 hours per week.

Successful completion of either of these qualifications, in combination with a full level 2 qualification in Maths and English Language (e.g. GCSE Grade A*-C or Level 2 Functional Skills) will allow you to apply for the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or Advanced Apprenticeship in Veterinary Nursing programmes, subject to employment in a veterinary practice that is approved to train veterinary nurses (a TP or aTP).

You can also study veterinary care and learn on-the-job by undertaking our Veterinary Care Support Level 2 Apprenticeship.

Animal Care Training

Animal care training is suitable for those looking to find employment in animal care environments outside of veterinary practice. For example, this could be a zoo, stables, rescue centre, cattery or kennels. Depending on the role that you choose to undertake, your duties could range from cleaning, feeding and medicating 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 studying. They 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.

Dog Grooming

Dog Grooming is the perfect career choice if you’re passionate about dogs. As a dog groomer you will bathe, dry and style dogs to ‘breed standard’ or customer specification. Not only this, you’ll carry out basic health checks and identify parasites and signs of infection. For more information about a career as a dog groomer you can download our careers guide.

Our Level 2 Dog Groomer Apprenticeship can get you started on the right foot and give you the confidence to undertake a range of bathing and grooming techniques.

Careers With Animals Day

If you want to work with animals and are looking to gather more information about the different options available, you can come along to our free, Virtual Careers With Animals Day this October. You’ll be able to listen to a variety of career talks from key organisations in the veterinary and animal care industry, ask questions and gain advice. You can view the talk timetable and the last year’s career talks on our website. You can also have a look at a range of animal career profiles on our website.

Remember, there are many sources of help and guidance available if you’re unsure about what to do next, and no matter what your results may be, there will always be a new opportunity waiting for you around the corner.

We groom your dog for free – you support your local NHS with a £10 donation!

This month, we want to give something back to our groomin’ marvellous National Health Service (NHS), and all the brave and dedicated staff who work within it.

As such, all dog grooms at our grooming salons in Wigan and Leeds will be free of charge throughout August, in return for a minimum £10 donation to the NHS. We will collect this donation at the time of the groom, and donate it at the end of the month.

To take advantage of this offer, choose your preferred location and complete the “request a call back” form, and we will contact you to book an appointment. This offer is subject to availability and spaces will fill up fast, so hurry!