HR191
NOTES
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Forms must be downloaded from the UCT website: http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/sapweb/forms/forms.htm
This form serves as a template for the writing of job descriptions.
A copy of this form should be kept on file in your office.
For re-evaluations, this form must be sent to your relevant HR Advisor/Officer
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title (current title)
Status of Post (tick)
Conventional Unit & Welfare Manager
X
New Post
Re-evaluation
Job Grade (current grade)
Payclass 9
Faculty (if applicable)
Faculty of Health Sciences (UCT Core Facility)
Department
Research Animal Facility (RAF)
Section (if applicable)
Conventional & Experimental Units
Date of Compilation
2 September 2013
FOR OFFICE USE
Position Title
Job Title
Date of Grading
Grading Result
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(
ORGANOGRAM
Faculty of Health
Sciences Deputy
Dean: Research
RAF Director &
Veterinarian
(Academic)
Operations & Quality
Assurance Manager
(PC11)
SPF Unit
Manager
Conventional Unit &
Welfare Manager
Experimental
Unit Manager
(PC9)
(PC9)
(PC9)
Senior Secretary
(PC6)
Reproduction
Biotechnologist
Technical
Assistants (3)
Technical
Assistant (1)
Technical
Assistant (1)
Animal
Attendants (2)
(PC9)
(PC6)
(PC6)
(PC6)
(PC5)
Animal
Attendants (4)
Dept. Assistant
(1)
Animal
Attendants (3)
Dept. Assistant
(1)
(PC5)
(PC4)
(PC5)
(PC4)
19 June 2012
Page 1 of 8
Admin Assistant
(half-time)
(PC5)
HR191
PURPOSE
The main purpose of this position is to promote animal health and wellbeing by providing dedicated
veterinary nursing support in the UCT-RAF, in order to comply with ethical, legal and operational
requirements for conducting world-class research in a large and complex research animal facility.
Responsibilities include line-management of staff in the Conventional RAF Unit, providing clinical
and para-clinical nursing services, managing welfare-monitoring systems, playing an active role in the
training of researchers, students and staff, and refining standards of animal care.
19 June 2012
Page 2 of 8
HR191
JOB CONTENT
Key Performance Areas (4 – 6)
Manage the Conventional RAF Unit
% of
time
spent
20
Activities / Objectives / Tasks
Results / Outcomes
Competencies
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19 June 2012
Line-manage all staff members in the
Conventional RAF Unit
Meet with line-managed staff regularly
Perform HR-related administration for
all line-managed staff, including new
appointments, temporary or permanent
Conduct performance evaluations,
objective setting and performance
management of line-managed staff
Train staff in all relevant SOPs and
confirm competence in all SOPs
Write and revise SOPs for all
Conventional RAF operations
according to international guidelines.
Ensure SOPs are followed at all times
Oversee all Conventional Unit recordkeeping to ensure they are complete
and accurate at all times
Manage Conventional animal healthscreening programmes
Manage Conventional Unit breeding
programmes
Liaise with researchers to ensure that
sufficient numbers and types of animals
are available, and help facilitate the
planning of research protocols
Monitor the physical environment of
the Conventional RAF Unit to ensure
that facilities and infrastructure remain
of appropriate standard at all times
Ensure human health and safety in the
Conventional RAF Unit
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Line-management of staff meets
UCT HR policies and requirements
Staff render high-quality service of
an acceptable standard at all times
Efficient HR administration done
Objective performance evaluations
and setting of objectives conducted,
appropriate development activities
identified and completed, and
inadequate performance addressed
correctly for all line-managed staff
Line-managed staff are adequately
trained and remain competent and
efficient in all SOPs and tasks
Staff remain informed of relevant
issues as pertain to their work
SOPs meet international best
practice recommendations
Record-keeping complete and
accurate at all times
Health-screening programmes
correctly maintained
Sufficient numbers of animals bred
to meet research demands while
preventing significant over-breeding
Human health and safety is
appropriately considered by
appropriate processes and SOPs
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Good people
management skills
Good interpersonal
skills, ability to
communicate clearly
Ability to effect
leadership in the
attainment of goals
and objectives
Knowledge of HR
procedures, forms
and PPS system
Insight into
performance
appraisal and
management
Willingness to
train/assist others
Ability to review
online information
and compile SOPs
Attention to detail
Understanding of
health-monitoring
and breeding
programmes
Ability to assess
infrastructure
Caring attitude
Knowledge of
human health and
safety risks
HR191
Clinical and para-clinical services
15
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19 June 2012
Report to the RAF veterinarian on all
clinical matters on a regular basis
Provide theatre assistance: Administer
pre-medications; induce, maintain and
monitor anaesthesia in pigs, sheep,
rabbits, rodents and others; preparation
for surgery; place intravenous catheters;
fluid administration; ECG and pulse
oximeter monitor; surgical assistance;
place dressings/bandages; provide pre,
intra- and post-operative nursing care
Provide clinical assistance, e.g. perform
clinical examinations, set up treatment
plans, administer emergency treatments
to save lives or limit suffering, catheter
maintenance, administer injections and
fluids, bandage/dressing maintenance,
wound care, nursing care, critical care
monitoring, physical rehab, clip nails
Collect, process and examine biological
samples, e.g. blood smears, impression
smears, urine analysis, skin scrapings,
hair plucks, Woods lamp tests, faecal
examination, cytological preparations,
haematology and chemistry analyses
Collect, process and send samples for
external lab analysis, e.g. histology,
microbiology, serology, parasitology,
blood samples, post mortem analyses
Manage clinical record keeping systems,
e.g. examinations, critical care, test
results, treatment regimes, post mortem
Maintenance of clinical equipment, e.g.
anaesthetic machines, instruments, etc.
Stock control of clinical consumables,
e.g. drugs, drips, catheters, gloves, etc.
Dispense drugs according to legislation
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Close communication with the RAF
veterinarian on all clinical matters;
veterinarian adequately informed
Anaesthesia successfully induced
and maintained, surgical preparation
and assistance adequate, animal care
standards maintained appropriately
Professional and adequate theatre
assistance provided
Professional and adequate clinical
assistance provided
Collection, processing and
examination of samples conducted
appropriately to ensure good quality
samples and diagnostic conclusions
Good quality samples sent to
external labs with detailed and
accurate clinical history provided
Clinical record-keeping systems are
up to date, complete and accurate
Clinical equipment maintained in
good working order, serviced as
needed, instruments are sterile
Clinical consumable stocks are
adequately maintained
Medicines dispensed according to
legislative requirements
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Responsible attitude
Strong dedication to
animal welfare
Good clinical
working knowledge
of and experience in
anaesthesia, nursing
care, analgesia, fluid
therapy of a variety
of animal species
Experience in theatre
procedures
Experience in clinical
procedures
Ability to clinically
assess an animal
Experience in sample
collection, processing
and examination
Ability to take good
quality samples
Ability to assess and
refine record-keeping
systems
Attention to detail
Understanding of
anaesthetic machines
and sterilisation
Knowledge of
legislation about
scheduled drugs
Ability to work
unsupervised on own
and within a team
HR191
Manage welfare-monitoring systems
30
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19 June 2012
Manage and refine welfare-monitoring
and reporting systems in all RAF Units
to ensure that animals are adequately
monitored for clinical signs of illness,
pain, suffering or distress, in order to
prevent or promptly alleviate suffering
Perform welfare-monitoring in experimental, breeding and quarantine areas
Train researchers, students and staff in
recognising signs of pain or distress
Monitor distress and mortality data
daily, to identify urgent concerns and
implement rapid appropriate action
Perform clinical welfare assessments of
animals suspected to be suffering
Euthanase animals that are suffering, in
pain or distress, that cannot be alleviated, according to humane endpoints
Perform regular internal audits of RAF
welfare-monitoring records, to ensure
that they meet formal requirements
Perform post mortem examinations of
animal deaths; discuss with the RAF
veterinarian to reach a diagnosis; and
maintain electronic records of findings
Maintain detailed electronic records of
health-screening results, e.g. serology,
bacteriology, parasitology and autopsies
Advise on refinement of processes that
could affect animal health or welfare
Monitor welfare data, identify trends
and regularly report to the veterinarian
Report any deficiencies in health- and
welfare-monitoring systems or record
keeping regularly to the veterinarian;
refine processes to address deficiencies
Communicate promptly with research-
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Welfare-monitoring systems are
appropriately managed and refined
in order to prevent or promptly
alleviate animal suffering
Welfare monitoring is adequately
performed in all RAF Units
Researchers, students and RAF staff
are adequately informed and can
recognise suffering, pain or distress
Animal suffering, pain or distress is
prevented or promptly alleviated
Animals that require urgent
attention are examined promptly
Suffering, pain or distress is relieved
by treatment or prompt euthanasia
Welfare-monitoring records are
complete and correctly completed
in all RAF units
Unexpected deaths undergo postmortem examinations
Post-mortem record-keeping is up
to date, complete and correct
Health-screening records are up to
date and complete for all facilities
Processes that could affect animal
welfare are identified and refined
Animal welfare trends are regularly
analysed, concerns identified and
reported to the RAF veterinarian
Deficiencies in health- or welfaremonitoring systems are identified
and promptly communicated to the
RAF veterinarian; processes are
refined to address deficiencies
Researchers are informed timeously
about experimental animal deaths,
pain, suffering and distress
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Strong dedication to
animal welfare
Caring attitude
Responsible and
professional attitude
Good interpersonal
relationships
Ability to work
under stressful and
emotional conditions
Ability to prioritise
Rapid response time
Management ability
Insight into animal
health and welfare
Ability to identify
signs of suffering,
pain or distress in a
variety of animal
species
Willingness to teach
Understanding of
humane endpoints
Humane euthanasia
Post-mortem exams
Computer skills
(Excel, Word)
Basic data
interpretation
Professional report
compilation and
communication skills
Ability to design and
refine systems
Ability to work
unsupervised on own
and within a team
HR191
ers about animals in distress or deaths
Teaching and training
25
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19 June 2012
Assist the RAF veterinarian and
laboratory animal technologists in the
training of researchers, students and
staff, in various aspects of the humane
care and use of animals in research and
teaching, according to international
best practice guidelines and UCT policy
Assist with the practical training of
researchers, students and staff involved
in animal care and use, to help ensure
that they are technically competent in
all procedures performed on animals;
including induction and maintenance of
general anaesthesia, peri-operative care,
surgical principles, sterile technique,
fluid and analgesic administration;
welfare monitoring; etc.
Assist with the didactic teaching of
researchers, students and staff; present
lectures on behaviour and husbandry,
welfare monitoring, general anaesthesia,
peri-operative care, surgical principles,
sterile technique, fluid and analgesic
administration, etc.
Assist the RAF veterinarian in his/her
role of supervising personnel who are
authorised by the SA Veterinary Council (SAVC) to perform procedures on
animals, in order to help confirm their
practical competency in all procedures
Assist with additional aspects of the
above SAVC-authorisation programme,
as determined by the RAF veterinarian
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Practical training courses, lectures
and workshops are professionally
presented and successfully impart
knowledge and skills according to
international best practice guidelines
Researchers, students and staff that
work with animals are adequately
trained in practical procedures and
in recognising pain and distress
The RAF veterinarian is adequately
supported in their role to confirm
technical competency of personnel
Relevant aspects of the SAVCauthorisation programme are
supported efficiently
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Strong dedication to
animal welfare
Caring attitude
Responsible and
professional attitude
Good interpersonal
relationships
Knowledge of all
relevant technical,
clinical and paraclinical aspects of
animal care and use
Willingness and
ability to present
training courses,
lectures and
workshops
Ability to manage
aspects of training
programmes
Ability to work
unsupervised on own
and within in a team
Computer skills
(Word, PowerPoint)
Literature reviews
HR191
Refine standards of animal care
5
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Other responsibilities
5
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19 June 2012
Assist the RAF veterinarian and
laboratory animal technologists to write
and refine SOPs for animal care, animal
husbandry, environmental enrichment,
anaesthesia, surgery, analgesia, fluid and
supportive therapy, welfare monitoring,
etc., according to international best
practice recommendations
Write, refine and implement treatment
protocols to reduce animal suffering, in
consultation with the RAF veterinarian
Advise on and provide nursing care for
animals, e.g. after procedures or surgery
Perform internal audits of RAF animal
husbandry records, to ensure that all
requirements are met
Report any deficiencies in animal care
or associated record keeping regularly
to the veterinarian, and refine systems
and processes to address deficiencies
Remain up to date with international
developments in the field of laboratory
animal welfare and nursing care; engage
in continuing education opportunities
Distribute controlled documents for
the RAF Quality Management System
Electronic capturing of daily animal
data as required
Electronic capturing of essential daily
animal data when secretaries on leave
Take over relevant aspects of RAF
management
and
para-veterinary
functions as needed, e.g. functions of
laboratory animal technologists
Perform additional functions as determined by the RAF veterinarian, in line
with responsibilities for the position
Page 7 of 8
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SOPs are professionally compiled
according to international best
practice recommendations
Animals that require urgent
attention are examined promptly
Suffering, pain or distress is relieved
by appropriate treatment and
monitoring protocols or prompt
euthanasia
Professional nursing care is given
and pain and suffering is limited
Husbandry records are complete
and correctly filled in
Deficiencies in animal care or
associated record-keeping are
regularly reported to the RAF
veterinarian and systems refined to
address deficiencies
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Up-to-date knowledge of animal
care and welfare maintained
Controlled documents (e.g. SOPs)
are distributed as required by the
Quality Management System policy
Data are captured by defined timelines and correctly as required
Additional management functions
are adequately met when required
Additional functions performed
adequately
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Strong dedication to
animal welfare
Caring attitude
Responsible attitude
Insight into animal
care and treatment of
a variety of animals
Knowledge of
nursing care
Professional report
compilation
Ability to work
unsupervised on own
and within a team
Computer skills
(Excel, Word)
Literature reviews
Willingness to
engage in continuing
education activities
Responsible attitude
Adherence to SOPs
Attention to detail
Computer skills
(Excel, Word)
Management ability
Dedication to quality
Meeting deadlines
HR191
Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent
Registered or eligible for registration with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)
Minimum Experience
Required
 Minimum of 3 years experience practicing as a veterinary nurse
 If not currently registered with the SAVC, need to register within 18 months of
employment
Advantageous
 Experience working in a research animal facility
 Experience in staff management, hospital or clinic management
 Experience in large animal theatre, including anaesthetising pigs and sheep
 Experience in laboratory animal husbandry, welfare-monitoring, care and treatment
 Authorised by the SAVC to perform some functions of Laboratory Animal
Technologists
 Experience in presenting practical training or CE courses, demonstrations or
lectures
 Experience in designing forms, e.g. check-lists, clinical care monitoring, treatment
plans
 Experience in practical rodent handling, injection, dosing, general anaesthesia,
euthanasia
 Experience working in an ISO or SANAS accredited or GLP compliant science
facility
 Computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, referencing software,
internet)
 Experience in formal quality-control and quality assurance processes
 Work experience that includes the core principles of animal ethics
AUTHORITY
PRINT NAME
SIGNATURE
CONTACT NO.
DATE
Compiled by
Approved by
Reviewed by
19 June 2012
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HR191