locum vets

RE: locum vets

Clair Firth — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 17:00:32 GMT

The reverse case of this.....a British vet in Austria

I have lived in Vienna for 17yrs, I studied VetMed here, the course is in German so there was no question of me lacking German language skills

But once I graduated and went to the Austrian equivalent of the RCVS.....with my Viennese degree certificate in German, I was told that I needed proof from the UK that I was eligible to practice in my home country! This is just to be able to register in Austria, with an Austrian degree.

Luckily I eventually managed to persuade them that the RCVS has no idea who I am (as I have never practised in the UK!) and they let me sign up here after all, after a bit bureaucratic jiggery-pokery

I can totally understand them needing to check if I had arrived with a "foreign" (e.g.UK degree certificate), but I was effectively a "local" ;-) Approximately 50% of my year at uni were Germans and apparently they are also trying this trick with them too - telling them they need a letter/additional certification from Germany that they are allowed to practice in Austria after graduating from an Austrian university! Quite mad

RE: locum vets

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:58:32 GMT

I'm sure the UK's leading out of hours provider will snap him up!

RE: locum vets

Bradley Viner — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 15:05:29 GMT

As Sally has said, Romania is now a full member of the EU and so he would not have to sit the RCVS registration exam to practise in the UK. Currently we are unable to test the language ability of any EU registrants but that may change, and we enforce the requirement to be able to communicate effectively via the Code. I would advise any employer to look at this EAVE link which lists their inspection status of EU schools. Caveat emptor. :

http://www.eaeve.org/fileadmin/downloads/establishments_status/EAEVE_Establishments_Status_June2015.pdf

Best wishes

Bradley

RE: locum vets

Cool — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:58:55 GMT

I am afraid Vikki, he doesnt have to sit the RCVS statutory examination for membership. I had to sit the exam in 2003 having qualified from Nigeria where the language of instruction at all levels of education is English. I have nothing against foreign vets as i am one myself but to able to practise without a good command of English is a kick in the teeth. I know people who have failed the RCVS statutory examination for membership just because the examiner questioned their ability to express themselves in English. Comparing these people with the advertised Romanian vet, their english was way better and you can perfectly understand them - maybe a bit of a strong accent.

Regards then agency, its all about money. their job is to provide staff and sometimes some dont really care about the quality of the staff they are providing.

RE: locum vets

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 14:19:17 GMT

Well maybe he'll be living in a commune in 6 weeks but still cant speak adequate English!

I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole but I can't see why the locum agency can't charge a fee. I do despair sometimes though that agencies are continually sending me Spam emails with available locums yet when I call them to get a locum for a specific period they are struggling.

RE: locum vets

Rob Loxley — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:38:14 GMT

If the recruitment agent is any benchmark, I've have questions about their communication skills...

[quote user="ola jankowska"]in the next 6 weeks he will be fully communitive[/quote]

Definition of communitive in English:

adjective: Of or belonging to a community, especially (in later use) one organized according to communitarian or communist principles; characterized by communal living; collective

RE: locum vets

Sally Everitt — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:16:12 GMT

Defra currently have a consultation on proposals to introduce language controls for migrant EU veterinary surgeons which can be accessed online https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/vet_language_controls although this closes on 30th September.

Currently veterinary surgeons from the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) have the right to register to practice in the UK under the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications Directive. Until now the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has not been permitted to ask for evidence of English language capability during the registration process, even where concerns arise about the applicant’s ability to practice effectively due to language difficulties. The proposed amendments will give the RCVS registrar the powers to take action where there are concrete doubts about an EU vet’s English language capability during the registration process.

If people prefer they can send concerns to me and I will include them in the BSAVA response.

Sally Everitt s.everitt@bsava.com

Head of Scientific Policy, BSAVA

RE: locum vets

Vikki Halliday LLB — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:02:05 GMT

Surely he has to have a grasp of English to be able to sit the RCVS registration exam?

Please tell me he does have to sit this.....