Duration: 12 days, 6 modules
Delegates: New Graduates and those who have changed species specialism recently.
Overview: Dentistry, Survival Skills, Emergency Management and Euthanasia, Clinical Transition into Practice, Pharmacology and Contextualised Care.
Programme Outline: The Science and Art of First Opinion Practice
Graduate Get Together (2 days)
The first module will look at the non-clinical skills vital for a happy and successful career. Delegates will look at how to manage themselves by looking at understanding their own expectations as well as those around them, and the challenges and solutions to a healthy work-life balance. How to build relationships in order to give and receive feedback constructively, address and manage conflict. How to successfully navigate working within a diverse team and how to adapt your communications both internally and with clients, to create the best outcomes for the patients under your care, and their owners.
Supported by Dr Rosie Allister BVSc MSc BSc PhD MRCVS and Andrew Curwen BVSc MRCVS at XLVets.
Professional Skills (2 days)
Managing yourself and in practice, finance and time management. The course will also provide an understanding of how finance works in practice, the basics of a profit and loss account, pricing principles and the perils of discounting. Time management; how to organise and plan time to allow greater productivity, enhancing relationships with clients and colleagues, reducing stress and achieving personal goals. An opportunity to consider your career development and the pathways and opportunities available.
Supported by Tim Hutchinson BVSc CertSAS MRCVS at Larkmead Veterinary Group. Charlotte Moody BSc BVetMed PGCert Vet Ed MRCVS, XLVets.
Dermatology, Pharmacology, Clinical Transition & Driver Skills (2 days) 
Practical pharmacology, graduates in action and dermatology. Module three continues with graduates spending half a day looking at best practice dispensing and pharmacy, including the legal aspects of dispensing, controlled drugs and the use of antibiotics. Including an interactive session with the trainer discussing the nose-to-tail examination and common differential diagnoses, the repeat offender, imaging and surgical tips. Graduates will take a practical approach in looking at dermatology, aiming to give them confidence when dealing with skin cases in practice. Plus, our famous Driver Skills training at Elvington Airfield, NEW to the Small Animal Programme, you will be advised on how to keep safe when driving under pressure and in poor conditions, and practical defensive driving skills with a skid pan experience.
Supported by Ian Wright at Rutland Vets and Dan Lewis BVSc Cert AVP MRCVS at Capontree Vets.
Emergency Management and Euthanasia (2 days)
For this clinically focused module, graduates will focus on developing their clinical decision-making skills in order to save lives, protect the animal from harm and develop a toolkit to use in out-of-hours situations. Graduates will look at how to keep the animal alive, other common emergencies such as seizures, trauma, caesarean and euthanasia. The module will finish with a session on managing one’s own wellbeing.
Supported by Dan Lewis BVSc Cert AVP MRCVS at Capontree Vets and Sarah Packman BVSc CertSAM MRCVS.
Practical Dentistry, QI, Recommendation Culture, Contextualised Care (2 days)
NEW this year, a full-day dental day, a practical session with cadavers covering extractions, suturing techniques, and using hand tools. We will cover the basics of routine dentistry and the common problems encountered in first-opinion practice. We will also focus on the science and art of being a great first opinion practitioner, and the value of developing your communication skills to successfully offer a range of suitable treatment routes and recommendations. Rachel Clay, who currently sits on the RCVS Quality Improvement Advisory Board will share the latest research and opportunities on how quality improvement can be integral in supporting your role in practice.
Supported by Rowan Pyzer BVMS MRCVS at Fenton Vets and Rachel Clay BVSc MRCVS at XLVets.
NEW Alumni Get Together (2 days)
Bringing together your learnings from the past year and honing the skills developed. Sharing your experiences with the next years new graduates who are about to embark on the programme.
Content: Over 80 hours of CPD, including practicals and both clinical and non-clinical content.
Included: Eight nights' accommodation, evening meals and lunches, as required for the course.
Testimonials:
‘A good opportunity to deepen understanding and approach to cases commonly seen in practices in a highly interactive setting. Very useful now that I can apply knowledge to my own cases.’
‘Really useful overview on a range of topics that made the first 6 months of work and beyond easier to manage, as well as provide confidence in case management.’