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About
Lantra's new qualification is accredited by Ofqual and Qualifications Wales.
It has a very flexible design, giving you a choice of different animal species - either small animals (such as cats, dogs, rabbits), or horses.
And you also have a choice of vocational pathways: Veterinary Care Support or Operational/Reception Duties.
This flexibility allows you to change your mind partway through your qualification, or if your work placement changes.
Achieving this qualification will enable you to progress your career within an animal-based business or veterinary practice.
Alternatively, you may progress onto becoming a fully qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).
Worth noting: If you wish to pursue the Veterinary Care Support pathway, you will need a work placement within a veterinary practice.
The finer details
Lantra's new qualification has been shaped through consultation with many experienced animal welfare professionals and RVNs.
It has been designed to work in the real world, to upskill you for your current role and also fuel your career progression in working with animals.
As well as receiving top quality training at college, you will spend several weeks gaining specific work experience, according to your college's stated requirements.
At Lantra, we want you to succeed and have tried to ensure that you have every opportunity to do so.
Throughout your qualification, you'll gather evidence of your work accomplishments within your online portfolio, which will be assessed by your college's Assessor.
The evidence that you gather will play to your strengths.
It could be a mixture of evidence: Videos, documents, audio, posters, photographs, presentations, witness statements, professional discussion and practical assessments.
You are very much in the driving seat here in collecting your evidence of competence.
Although the bulk of your assessment is online portfolio, there is one online multiple-choice question paper that you must complete.
Again, we've tried to help you here too. Should you need to resit a multiple-choice question paper, you won't need to wait to the end of the next term. Instead, this can potentially be done at a time to suit you, through remote invigilation from the comfort of your own home.
We also don't limit how many times you can resit this paper, so that you can relax in that knowledge and perform to the best of your ability.
A note on funding: Lantra also offers an apprenticeship route for Animal Care and Welfare Assistant at Level 2.
You may also be eligible for funding, so ask your college for details on this.
Delivery method
QualificationCourse description:
Who should attend?
Anyone aged 16+ who meets the prerequisites and has an existing role or keen interest in working with cats, dogs, rabbits or horses.
Ideally, you'll already be working within an animal-based business or veterinary practice.
If not, you'll be assigned to a suitable work placement by your college.
What will be covered?
By the end of this qualification, you'll have gained knowledge and skills in the veterinary care and welfare of your chosen animal species.
As you progress through the qualification, your knowledge, understanding and skills will be assessed in:
- Legislation relating to veterinary professionals, safe working practices in the workplace, veterinary medicines, and health and welfare of animals
- Roles and responsibilities of animal welfare organisations
- Capture and safe restraint of animals using the correct techniques for that species
- Provision and maintenance of suitable animal accommodation
- Provision of hygienic accommodation following biosecurity procedures
- Identification from common physical attributes, and signs of good/ill-health in animals
- Typical behaviours of animal species under adverse conditions and appropriate actions
- Basic principles of reinforcement techniques to encourage animal learning
- Observation and provision of care to ensure the good health and appearance of animals
- Supporting provision of animal first aid, urgent, ongoing and preventive care
- Different animal food types and their storage and disposal
- Safe provision of nutrition and water to animals
- Fundamentals of nutrition to maintain health and wellbeing
- Different categories and types of veterinary medicine
- Correct handling, storage, use and disposal of veterinary medicines and equipment in accordance with legislation
- Routes of administering medication for routine health care treatments
- Keeping confidential records, in compliance with UK GDPR
- Following procedures for registrations and bookings
- Maintenance of a safe environment for clients/customers
- Professional communication with clients/customers and colleagues
- Working as part of a team in the workplace
- Basic anatomy and physiology for either small animal or equine species
- Basic reproduction and obstetrics, reproductive behaviour and neutering for either small animal or equine species.
For the optional Veterinary Care Support pathway, the qualification will also assess your knowledge, understanding and skills relating to:
- Common supportive medical and surgical care requirements
- Normal clinical parameters of common species seen in a veterinary environment
- Cleaning the theatre to maintain a clinical environment
- Preparing the theatre for use, and patients for surgical procedures
- Assisting in patient recovery post-surgery
- The importance of home care plans for patients
- Provision of medical nursing care for a range of medical conditions
- Dispensing veterinary medication in line with legislative and veterinary instructions
- Supporting veterinary professionals in emergency situations
- Recognising post operative complications and emergencies reported by owners
- Parameters of responsibility when giving advice and support to customers
- Handling difficult and emotional situations with clients/customers and colleagues
- Supporting in the use of diagnostic techniques, including X-ray equipment and laboratory techniques
- Safe positioning and restraint of animals for diagnostic tests
- Limiting exposure to X-rays by following safe practice procedures.
Alternatively, for the Operational/Reception Duties pathway, the qualification will assess your knowledge, understanding and skills relating to:
- Presenting a safe, friendly and welcoming reception area
- Receiving deliveries of animal related goods, preparing them for display
- Stock rotation
- Providing information to customers on topics within personal scope of responsibility, knowing when to seek advice from colleagues
- Using appropriate technology for internal and external communication
- Taking payment for goods, services and charitable donations using different methods
- Processing customer and animal registrations and bookings in line with organisational policies
- Handling customer enquiries and complaints in line with organisational policies
- Keeping confidential records customers/clients in line with the organisation’s procedures and UK GDPR.
Other areas of interest
Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines
Level 3 Work Based Diploma in Veterinary Medicine - Small Animal
Level 3 Work Based Diploma in Veterinary Medicine - Equine
Level 4 Award as a Suitably Qualified Person
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