Veterinary Care and Animal Welfare placement

VCAW placement details

Start and end dates

You can start at any time but hours will be counted from the 1st week of the course.

 

Facilities and caseload needed

Any practice with a caseload which includes dogs, cats, and rabbits is suitable.

The practice should have x-ray facilities, an operating theatre, reception area, and kennels. 

We cna forward our 'Practice Placement Checklist' to any interested practice. If you are an approved Training Practice (TP), you will already have everything needed for hosting a VCAW placement. 

Practice Supervisors

All VCAW placements will require a Supervisor as a dedicated go-to person in the practice. The can be a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) or Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS).

Assessments

Most student assessments will be completed at college. Any that need to be completed in the placement will be sent to the student's Supervisor; assesment plans and assessment packs will be sent at the beginning of the term. 

Support from SRUC

We offer Supervisors online training plus are always at the end of the phone or email. 

We also provide Supervisor Guidance booklets plus other guidance materials on request. 

What a VCAW placement student can and can't do

VCAW students are limited under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1996 (VSA).

Examples of what a VCAW can do under guidance:

• Oral and topical medication
• Bandaging
• In-house lab tests
• Hand back patients (but not discussing case)
• Reception work
• Kennel duties

Examples of what a VCAW can't do:

• Placing an IV cathether
• Parenteral administration
• VSA Sch 3 procedures
• Admitting patients