JOB DESCRIPTION
________________________________________________________________
Job Title:
NCAC Assistant Veterinary Officer
Responsible to:
NCAC/Field Veterinary Officer
Department:
Veterinary Services
Responsible for:
Veterinary Nurses
_________________________________________________________________
Main responsibilities of the role: To provide veterinary services to the National Cat
Adoption Centre (NCAC).
Competencies required within the role:
Competency
Job specific knowledge
Planning and Organisation
Leadership and Management
Personal Effectiveness
Building and Maintaining Relationships
Service Delivery and Customer Orientation
Teamwork and Co-operation
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Impact and Influence
Level
Expert
Advanced
Advanced
Expert
Advanced
Advanced
Advanced
Advanced
Skilled
Essential qualifications: Degree in Veterinary Medicine/Science. Member of the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Main Duties:
1.
To provide veterinary care with application of shelter medicine principles for the
cats in the care of the NCAC and to comply with ‘guidance for vets working in
NCC vet clinic’ and policies and procedures in the ‘CP adoption centre manual’ to
ensure feline welfare, infectious disease control and efficient throughput of cats,
including:a.
b.
c.
Performing surgical/dental procedures/medical investigations including
imaging and laboratory work as clinically necessary.
Anaesthesia – ensure appropriate drugs selected, anaesthesia
monitored and documented, and appropriate post-op care given
Ensuring adequate post operative care
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Carrying out examinations, vaccinations and treatment as necessary (see
‘guidance for vets’)
Obtaining informed consent for all cases
Stabilising and making cats fit to home as soon as practical and possible.
Ensuring that all findings and recommendations are communicated to the
AC to ensure the welfare of all cats in the care of NCAC and the health
and safety of the staff, volunteers and public, working with the NCAC
manager
Working within budgets
2.
To work in the clinic to RCVS practice standards with appropriate records
maintained and all paperwork dealt with effectively and efficiently.
3.
To ensure the correct ordering, prescription, dispensing, handling, storage, stock
control, disposal, recording and auditing of Medicinal Products (POM-V, POMVPS, NFA-VPS, AVM-GSL and human-licensed products according to the
cascade) by the NCC Vet Clinic and NCAC, in line with legislation and best
practice.
4.
To comply with all sections of the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct including
ensuring appropriate CPD is organized, undertaken and recorded.
5.
To liaise with a suitable out of hours veterinary provider when necessary
6.
To ensure appropriate use of equipment by suitably trained individuals.
7.
To ensure that the premises are maintained in a clean and tidy, and safe fashion.
8.
To ensure laboratory samples are taken, handled and posted appropriately by
trained individuals and to ensure in-house tests are run safely and appropriately
by trained individuals.
9.
To ensure appropriate disposal of waste produced by the NCC veterinary clinic,
including pharmaceutical, hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
10.
To supervise the veterinary nurses.
11.
To be responsible for any other staff/volunteers/veterinary students/visitors while
working in the vet clinic or on behalf of the vet clinic, while in the AC.
12.
To ensure that all case reports are documented on the medical record (date,
history, details of examination, investigations, provisional diagnosis and
treatments, prescriptions, lab results and clinical notes from cats seen off site
e.g. referrals or out of hours) and communicated to AC and information provided
for prospective owners.
13.
To ensure good working relations with the adoption centre, with regular
communication to ensure suitable manageable workloads. Any issues should be
reported to the NCAC/field veterinary officer.
14.
To ensure good handover of cases where appropriate to other veterinary
surgeons before periods of absence
15.
To handle queries from the AC and the public, CP staff and volunteers on any
relevant matter if necessary.
16.
To undertake research projects as directed by the NCAC/Field Veterinary Officer.
17.
To provide training for volunteers and the general public on all aspects of cat
care, when necessary
18.
To represent CP locally and nationally on occasion, through conferences, shows,
events and to occasionally act as a spokesperson for the charity.
The 104 days per 12 month period will average at 2 days per week for 33 weeks per
year, 1 day per week for 6 weeks per year, with the remainder to cover NCAC/Field
Veterinary Officer annual leave/absence, as well as NCAC Assistant Veterinary Officer
annual leave, with some flexibility required, in agreement with the NCAC/Field Veterinary
Officer and Clinical Veterinary Officer. Requests for annual leave must be made a
minimum of 6 weeks in advance.
In common with all posts, ensure compliance with Cats Protection’s policies and
procedures, statutory obligations and best practice, and to undertake such other
duties as may be reasonably required by the Director of Veterinary Services and/or
Clinical Veterinary Officer. This job description may be subject to review in the light
of the developing organisation and in consultation with the post holder.
Person Specification
Attributes
Qualifications
Essential
Degree in
veterinary Science/
medicine.
Desirable
How Identified
Application Form
Experience of
working in small
animal practice
Rescue medicine
experience.
Experience as sole
veterinary surgeon in
practice
Application Form
Interview
Self motivation and
the ability to work
on own initiative.
Microsoft Outlook
and Word
Must be currently
registered with the
Royal College of
Veterinary
Surgeons to
practise in the UK.
Experience
Skills /
Attributes
Application Form
Interview
References
Work accurately
and under
pressure.
Confident
Good interpersonal
and communication
skills, both written
and oral.
Knowledge
Sound knowledge
of feline medicine
Qualities
Empathetic to the
aims and
Understanding of
shelter medicine,
health and safety
issues, medicine
legislation
Interview
Application Form
Interview
objectives of Cats
Protection.
References
Committed to
Animal welfare.
Positive attitude
Flexible and
adaptable.
Team player
Physical
Makeup
Smart, professional Interview, Medical
appearance
Questionnaire
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
Salary
Salary will be £15,813.7 per annum. Salaries are reviewed annually on 1 June.
There is no contractual entitlement to any increase in basic salary.
Hours of work
The normal hours of work are 14 hours per week. Because of the nature of the role,
the post holder may be required to work additional hours to ensure the proper
performance of the duties and this may mean that the post holder will work in
excess of normal business hours. No overtime is payable but with the prior
approval of the Chief Executive the post holder will be entitled to time off in lieu.
This post if for a fixed term period of 12 months or until the post holder returns,
whichever is sooner.
Place of work
This role is based at National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath,
Sussex, RH17 7TT. During the course of your employment, you may be required
to travel to various locations in the UK on CP business. Travel and subsistence
expenses will be reimbursed as detailed in the Employee Handbook.
Annual leave
In addition to bank and public holidays, the annual leave entitlement is 25 days
annual leave rising by one day for each completed year of employment up to a
maximum of five extra days. The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Pension
Cats Protection administers a personal pension scheme to which the employer
will contribute. If you require any further information please contact the Human
Resources Department.
Other benefits
Cats Protection also offers medical insurance as a taxable benefit after completion
of probationary period and three months service (whichever is later), Busy Bees
childcare vouchers and Death in Service Benefit of four times annual salary from
commencement.
Other information
An appointment is made subject to a satisfactory medical questionnaire and
references. Permanent positions are subject to a probationary period of three
months.
Cats Protection has a restricted smoking policy. Smoking is only permitted in
designated areas during lunch breaks and not in CP cars.
GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETING APPLICATION FORM
Please read carefully before completing your application form.
The following guidelines are intended to provide all the information we need in
order to be able to shortlist. If you are successful you will be notified of the time
of your interview by the Human Resources Department.
1
It is important that you read all the information we have sent you before
completing the application form. This will help you plan what you are going to
write and it will ensure that you have given all the information required.
2
One of your referees should be your current or most recent employer.
3
The person specification we have enclosed will help you decide if you are a
suitable candidate for the post.
4
The items we have designated essential in the person specification mean the
successful candidate must be able to provide evidence that they are
accomplished in all these areas. If the item is designated essential then we
want you to tell us about your experience in this particular area on your
application form so that we can assess its relevance to this post.
5
Use section 16 on the application form to give us all the information we need.
You will probably need to use a separate sheet of paper because the space
on the form is limited.
6
The items which are marked desirable in the person specification mean that,
while it is not essential that you can demonstrate these attributes in order to
be shortlisted, it would provide us with a fuller picture of your experience.
You can tell us about these areas on your application form if you wish. We
will also be asking about them if you are shortlisted for interview.
7
To ensure that everyone has an equal chance with their application, we are
not able to enter into any discussion with applicants prior to the interviews.
However, we hope that the information we have provided will help you to
decide if you wish to proceed and also assist you in making a successful
application. If you are shortlisted there will be an opportunity to raise any
queries at your interview.
Due to the large number of applications received, Cats Protection is unable to
reply to all candidates. If, therefore, you have received no communication
from us within four weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your
application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Completed application forms should be returned to Human Resources
Department, Cats Protection, National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate,
Haywards Heath, Sussex, RH17 7TT. If you would like acknowledgement of
receipt of your application form please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.