relevant legislation?

Re: relevant legislation?

Martin Jones — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:06:25 GMT

Sophie

If there's no set syllabus then it must be an internally set and verified course - otherwise there HAS to be a syllabus to standardise throughout the country. It's not the follow-on to NCAC, is it? Level 3 at what, NVQ?

If it's internally verified then you can do what you like - although it will be looked at by an external verifier (EV) at some point, who will be looking at overall content and usefulness rather than nitpicking details like this. You have my sympathy, though - I saw exactly the same reaction when I was teaching, where new syllabi were shoe-horned in and nobody seemed to know what the hell to do.

Or you could just wing it - mainly they like gore, and a description of what causes a hangover (apart from alcohol) always goes down well. Be prepared to learn a lot of things you didn't know, despite having been around longer than your students

Re: relevant legislation?

Alex Allen — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:58:05 GMT

Good luck firstly!

Some resources that would help with the "legal stuff" -

1. www.vmd.gov.uk and www.ema.europa.eu for drug and Vet Med Regs = things like registered premises for supply, who can dispense / prescribe which medications, drug licences etc. Drug companies are happy to help with specific drug treatment enquiries.

2. www.rcvs.org.uk - for Practice Standards, guide of professional conduct etc

3. www.bva.co.uk - assortment of resources, publications etc

4. www.bsava.com - again a wealth of information and don't forget their manuals

Waste disposal companies are always happy to provide information on which wastes go into which categories (although you don't mention waste disposal I suspect this will also be included in the animal care course)

For actual legal guidance / published regulations etc - www.opsi.gov.uk - from here search the subject or title of the regulations in question - eg "animal welfare act 2006"

Hope this helps

Alex

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:27:41 GMT

[quote user="Martin Jones"]First thing I would say is that you don't need to be overly concerned on detail: the students generally need to know that there are pieces of legislatio[/quote]

Thank Martin, that is the best news I have had today!

[quote user="Martin Jones"]copy of the course syllabus[/quote]

There is no syllabus. The only thing I have is the 'specs' which tells both me and the students what they are expected to know and be able to do at the end of the course.

The did used to do the course before but it has be completely changed this year, much more practical stuff etc, so no one knows exactly how and what. I do have all the course notes and stuff the course coordinator used last year (and few years before that) but there is lots in that which is not included anymore, thankfully! She didn't know either what it meant and she is going to teach the same unit (animal health) in about 12 weeks time to the full time students, I am going to do the part time students, starting next week. She told me she couldn't get her head around it yet which is why she is first covering other units!!!!!! and she has taught the old course for years!!!

O and its level 3.

You are right though, I do need to come down a couple of beats. Have already written part of lecture, thought was going to may be just about cover my first day (5hours) was worried, there was not enough there. I showed it to the level 3 coordinator and she said, thats brilliant, that will cover about 3 weeks!!!!!!! So some how I will have to either talk very slowly, or keep repeating myself, or make them do things.

Best go and find all those things you and others have referred me to and have a good read through them.

Thanks for your help!

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:16:04 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]Would Health and Safety be involved[/quote]

Very good point actually! Had only thought of it from the animals point of few, didn't consider the handler!

Yes that might be what they mean!

Will have a go down that route.

Thanks for that!

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:13:59 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]It may be worth speaking to one or more of the colleges[/quote]

Thanks, Bob, thats a good idea, might just do that!

Re: relevant legislation?

Martin Jones — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:40:47 GMT

Used to actually work for a local college, teaching VNs and animal care. First thing I would say is that you don't need to be overly concerned on detail: the students generally need to know that there are pieces of legislation - mainly Animal Welfare Act, RIDDOR, COSHH, HASAWA and then perhaps bit about VMR and waste disposal - and a rough outline of what each actually does. For yourself, obviously you need to know how to do things like risk assessments and the like, but generally use common sense.

First thing to do would be to get a copy of the course syllabus, which will list all the stuff they need to know. Then talk to more experienced colleagues about which level to pitch it at - vets ALWAYS start too high and have to come down a couple of beats. Do you know yet which course you'll be teaching on, and what level?

Martin

Re: relevant legislation?

Kate Dawes — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:16:22 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]'the student needs to be able to handle animals in a way that complies with relevant legislation and minimises stress and injury' [/quote]

That's not clear whether it means stress or injury to the patient or handler, but I would have thought they mean you to cover Health and Safety as well.

I have written an essay for cert AVP on 'the relevant legislation to my daily practice', so am sadly more up on it all than usual, so will be glad to help if I can (then it won't feel quite so much like time wasted researching it all ). You can access pretty much all of the relevant legislation online (free). Must admit most of it is far too tedious to read through........

Animal Welfare Act 2006

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/pdfs/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made

The Manual Handling regulations would probably also be relevant, and possibly Veterinary Medicines Regulations in reference to the last point? There's also COSSH and the controlled waste regulations......................

Again you should be able to find those online by searching google.

Health and Safety executive does some useful guides e.g. how to do a risk assessment that you can download free from their website

http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/

Hope that helps,

have fun!

Kate

Re: relevant legislation?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:41:38 GMT

I must admit that I assumed it meant H&S too. As on the VN courses, there is a lot more about legislation and codes of practice to protect the staff that about the animals. I would assume that as this is mentioned as regarding handling, legislation to protect staff is important.

Re: relevant legislation?

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:22:13 GMT

Would Health and Safety be involved, especially in the handling of the larger or more aggressive animals? Their legislation seems to affect most aspects of life and work these days.

Tim.

Re: relevant legislation?

Bob Russell — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:51:34 GMT

It may be worth speaking to one or more of the colleges (our local one is Sparsholt nr Winchester). They run a number of courses other than VN ones. Our staff (especially reception staff) go on courses there. They do basic handling and what to do in an emergency courses that may be broadly similar to what you are planning to do.

You may be able to get some help and advice this way!

Re: relevant legislation?

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:23:29 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]

Hey, Arlo.

In the time that my one finger types a reply there are two others, all within three minutes. How is that for showing how useful is this site? Well, you did ask.

Tim.[/quote]

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:08:12 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]

Hope that this helps.

[/quote] No, they didn't know of any legislation as such covering animal handling in such a situation (vets practice)

They were ever so friendly though!

Never mind, I will wait for the codes of practice and see if that shines any light on the issue.

Thank you all for your help.

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:58:10 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]For your present needs I suggest that you start at the UFAW site.[/quote]

Brilliant! I will immediately give that a go!

Thank you as well for your speedy reply!

Sophia

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:56:41 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Is this just small animals or farm animals too[/quote]

Mainly small, just going to touch on farm animals in certain bits.

Not yet found the act but not quite given up now I have another starting point!

Thanks for speedy response!

Sophia

Re: relevant legislation?

sophia guymer — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:55:28 GMT

Thanks Evelyn

Actually didn't expect any replies just yet! Was looking for the animal welfare act but can't actually find it anywhere. Have found mentions of it, introductions, changes but not the actual act. Will have a look at the site mentioned in one of the speedy replies!

Yes you are right (did just have another go after posting this ) there are dog, cat and horse codes and DEFRA is going to send them to me.

I am supposed to teach them a variety of species, so some things I will include horses and cows (handling, possibly parasites) but mostly I will stick with small animals, exotics and furries.

Thanks for your speedy reply!

Sophia

Re: relevant legislation?

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:27:07 GMT

Hey, Arlo.

In the time that my one finger types a reply there are two others, all within three minutes. How is that for showing how useful is this site? Well, you did ask.

Tim.

Re: relevant legislation?

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:20:57 GMT

Not cheeky at all! Only recently we were saying how useful this site is for posing and discussing problems.

For your present needs I suggest that you start at the UFAW site.

http://www.ufaw.org.uk/

Hope that this helps.

Tim.

Re: relevant legislation?

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:18:51 GMT

Is this just small animals or farm animals too? Your main source would be the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

If it's farm animals there are lots of other bits of legislation dotted around about ages to inject, dehorning ages, use of anesthetics etc.

Re: relevant legislation?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:17:55 GMT

I expect someone else can answer this better, but:

You can download the Animal Welfare Act - I can't remember the link but it should be easy enough.

You should be able to get the farm animal codes of practice from DEFRA or maybe go straight to FAWC.

If there are any dog, cat and rabbit codes yet then DEFRA should be able to supply.

Wales and Scotland may have different codes. I don't know about Scotland, but contact Welsh Assembly Government () Wales certainly has a rabbit welfare code.

Definitely contact UFAW and they can probably supply, or tell you where to get, codes of practice for zoo and laboratory animals. They will probably be very helpful. The college's library should have at least one copy of the UFAW Handbook on Care and Management...........

Are horses included in the course? If so you need the Riding Establishments Acts.