Whilst good clinical outcomes are essential in any veterinary practice, most veterinary organisations see client satisfaction, commercial viability, team morale and individual wellbeing, as equally important to their sustainability and success. Achievement of these non-clinical outcomes relies on a broad range of non-clinical skills including communication, leadership, mental health and wellbeing and business acumen.
An increasing array of non-clinical CPD courses and events become available to the veterinary market, consumers (and providers) are becoming increasingly uncertain and confused about if, and/or how these courses are ‘vetted’. In truth, anyone can set up and promote themselves as a CPD provider or trainer with no experience or qualifications in their alleged area of expertise.
No matter how well-intentioned, trainers and coaches with insufficient qualifications or knowledge can do more harm than good if they stray beyond their area of competence or use ‘lay theories’ as opposed to evidence-based models and techniques. This is particularly relevant in area involving mental health and wellbeing.
Until now, no standards of ‘Best Practice’ have existed to reassure consumers of non-clinical CPD that the CPD provider is appropriately qualified and that their courses are planned and effectively delivered in a way that is relevant to the ethical context of the veterinary profession.
ANCVA provides this reassurance in three ways;
- Course accreditation
- Course assessment
- Course certification.
ANCVA’s mission is to
- Promote the value of non-clinical CPD in veterinary practice.
- Promote the relevance of accreditation to non-clinical veterinary CPD in relation to Best Practice.
- Define, structure and categorise areas of non-clinical CPD.
- Define what constitutes ‘Best Practice’ in relation to non-clinical veterinary CPD.
- Accredit non-clinical veterinary CPD that meets ‘Best Practice’ standards.