Re: One of the sad things about all this

J G Wray — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 13:21:36 GMT

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

One of the sad things about all this debate ref the Chikosi case, owner responsibility etc is that RCVS sits squarely in the middle of all of it and has no mechanism for and Mr Stephenson aside, no engagement with the profession. In official terms it's only fired out "Gordon's" (who?) jaunty piece.

So, if they do come to the debate, they will do so slowly and against a backdrop of concern and frankly, disbelief and distrust, amplified by the passage of time.

We are all familiar with the pitfalls of Avoidance when there are client concerns and RCVS will punish, severely, Avoidance when it becomes a complaint. So, why do RCVS practice Avoidance themselves?

I think it's because they don't see it.

If they don't see it, then they are not Us. If they are not Us then RCVS is not Ours. That is sad. It is bad as well if we are funding it.

Much has been written about misunderstandings through poor communication. This is a short hand for ".. if we talk and talk the same language then we will reach an understanding of each other's point of view and we can move on..". If there is no means of talking and no sign of listening at a visceral rather than superficial level (Hockeyheadpattingstuff) then there can be nothing other than the pretence of Communication.

Failing to respond or really even acknowledge concerns of the profession in a serious and timely manner is at least careless. Some might say it's a great deal worse than that, especially if you apply the yardstick of how you would like to be done to.

It is no surprise that debate has gone on here at vetsurgeon.org, because it is an example of the 21st Century. It is a social medium, immediate and convenient and debating areas of this ilk are here to stay. RCVS seem wrong-footed by it though. Why, when they have a professional Communications Department? I think even the Comms Dept don’t get the trap of Avoidance – and they’re professionals there to help RCVS!?!?!

Ms Stace, the RCVS CEO, is, in my opinion someone who may create new behaviours around Avoidance and Communication at RCVS. He won't change the Council, particularly Officer Personality issues, but, if he is bold enough, he may give them an understanding of why they can't carry on like this. He may even be able to give them protocols and procedures which, although not cultural change, protect the profession from the RCVS' utterly confusing absence of, well, much at all, when professional concerns are voiced.

RCVS won't have him for long. Five years at most is my guess. I hope he is allowed his head, is bold and persuasive, even with the Reactionaries still in place. He has started well, opening Council's eyes to the facts that their staff are demoralised and not engaged, that there's is no real "team" there and has put in place reorganisational measures unthought-of by the ancien regime and its Council supporters who are still there by golly. But, his recruitment, salary and changes have all cost money and it is RFP money. The IT fiasco is ongoing and costing money and the measures in place to oversee spending are really there to prevent cock up in spending, rather than look for value.

I think Mr Stace could deliver value, and therefore I am prepared to support spend if he is bold and gets support from All. I would perceive that value if I knew what RCVS were doing, if they were communicating (two-way), so that I could see behaviours changing

First, for RCVS, comes an understanding that RCVS are a foreign country to the profession at the moment. Most of us would like to avoid them like the plague. They are toxic.

New channels for communication, vehicles for communication, and vessels for communication would look like a bold initiative from RCVS and a manifestation of their understanding that they are talking Venusian at the moment. For me, from that, we will get progress.

The prize - the profession's loyalty and trust and the renewed belief that it is Our RCVS after all.

Apologies for speechifying

JGW