RCVS Ofsted Self-Certification

Re: RCVS Ofsted Self-Certification

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 12:25:06 GMT

It's a good question. I hope it will become clear when they publish the consultation document on the RCVS site in the new year. Before then it is simply speculation, unless they have published the document early.

We are currently not in the PSS, but thinking strongly about joining. We are going to see what they come up with and make the call at that point in time.

Re: RCVS Ofsted Self-Certification

J G Wray — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:41:52 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Are you sure about this. I watched the webinar on this and it was specifically stated that once this comes in practices will be able to request an early visit to assess them for the awards.[/quote]

Then it will be a self certification exercise with the sanction of not being allowed to make the claim if found wanting when inspected. The stuff about requesting early inspections is to do with changing the tone of the inspection from a resented exercise to a wanted one, from something practices "have to do" to something practices "want and even like to do". What is not clear is what happens to a vet whose name is on the certification if standards slip or were overclaimed (is that a ward?) or whatever.

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]The RCVS specialist registration is 'self certified' but then the credentials are checked. I assumed that this would be of a similar fashion.[/quote]

How would you check the credentials for some of these Virtues e.g. Customer Service in a manner which has the same academic rigour as checking RCVS Specialist status?

JGW

Re: RCVS Ofsted Self-Certification

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:43:50 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]You effectively award yourself the labels, through self-certification[/quote]

Are you sure about this. I watched the webinar on this and it was specifically stated that once this comes in practices will be able to request an early visit to assess them for the awards.

The RCVS specialist registration is 'self certified' but then the credentials are checked. I assumed that this would be of a similar fashion.

Re: RCVS Ofsted Self-Certification

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:24:57 GMT

There has to be some sort of inspection/certification which is based upon clinical audit/standards of care rather than how many fancy toys and posh premises a practice has. There a few I know who would fail the former even though they may sail through the latter. The problem is the purveyors of bovine dung can still pull the wool over inspectors eyes.

A school is too big a leopard to change its spots prior to an OFSTED inspection but even a big veterinary practice is small enough to do so temporarily. It depends on what can be considered a minimum standard of care which would be very difficult to standardise and far too woolly to make a case stick against a vet giving substandard care.

The only way in the end is for clients to vote with their feet but even this doesn't work because the medical knowledge of the average pet owner and their awareness of what goes on behind the scenes is so poor that the bullshitters and charmers can still get away with delivering substandard veterinary care.

Perhaps a few more of us should become whistle blowers rather than maintaining an omerta and exhibiting an unwillingness to rock the boat, upset our neighbours and deprive a fellow professional of his living. Or maybe too many of us have a few skeletons in our own cupboards.