REVISED SKILLS STANDARDS NOW AVAILABLE FOR VETERINARY NURSING

Following an extensive review of the jobs, skills and activities required by veterinary nurses, Lantra Sector Skills Council announced today (4 August) that newly revised National Occupational Standards are now approved and ready to use.

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, lead the UK wide project, which produced a revised list of skills needed for student and registered veterinary nurses to be able to do their job in a consistent and competent way. The National Occupational Standards (NOS) review gave veterinary nurses, employers and organisations the opportunity to ensure their ways of working were accurately reflected. Lisa Jarvis, Industry Partnership Manager for veterinary nursing at Lantra and a RVN herself, said: “The veterinary nursing profession has had substantial changes since the last review in 2005 so this project was definitely needed. Not only do the revised NOS identify the detailed knowledge, understanding, ability and experiences somebody needs to carry out their job effectively but they also reflect the increased level of responsibility and accountability that comes with registration and new animal welfare legislation.” Many veterinary nurses, employers and industry representatives from across the UK supported this extensive review. Now Lantra is calling on everyone involved in the industry to view and use the Standards. Catherine Corden, a Veterinary Surgeon at the Northlands Veterinary Hospital, was involved with the NOS review and said: “I decided to get involved with this review so that I could actually contribute to the changes in the Standards, instead of moaning about them afterwards. I think they are really important for industry as they maintain the standards of veterinary nurse training.” Tamsin Swain, a Practical Skills Tutor at the College of Animal Welfare, was also part of the review and added: “I decided to get involved with this review to help me understand the rationale behind the development of the occupational standards relevant to my profession and to have an input. The Standards are important for industry as they maintain a level of required competencies across the breadth of the industry.” Anyone involved in the veterinary nursing industry can acquire a free copy of the revised NOS from the Lantra website: www.lantra.co.uk/approved-nos. Lisa concluded: “NOS are an important tool for any business, small or large, as they help identify skills gaps and find the most relevant training and learning. NOS gives valuable information to help develop training and recruitment plans, as well as job descriptions. By making use of the Standards in this way, veterinary nursing skills and key processes can be enhanced.” For your free copy of the veterinary nursing National Occupational Standards, please visit www.lantra.co.uk/approved-nos or call Lantra for more information on 02476 858 424. -ENDS- ISSUED BY: Caroline Judd, Lantra Press Office – contact media@lantra.co.uk or 02476 858 407. NOTES TO EDITOR: National Occupational Standards National Occupational Standards offer a framework for good employment practice in the industry and define the skills, knowledge and experience required to work in the industry. They provide a tool for small and micro businesses, employers, careers advisors and trainers to benchmark and assess what skills are required to do a job. About Lantra • Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector, is licensed by the UK government to drive forward the new skills, training and business development agenda for the sector. • Lantra represents 17 industries and 1.5 million workers and volunteers in agricultural crops, agricultural livestock, animal care, animal technology, aquaculture, environmental conservation, equine, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, floristry, game and wildlife management, land-based engineering, landscape, production horticulture, trees and timber and veterinary nursing. For more information see www.lantra.co.uk.

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