VN Council

Terms of reference

The RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council was established in 2002 and replaced the Veterinary Nurses Committee.

It has overall responsibility for all matters concerning veterinary nurse training, post-qualification awards and the registration (listing) of qualified veterinary nurses. (View full terms of reference)

Members

The VN Council comprises veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, lay people and industry group representatives - details of whom are provided below. The veterinary surgeons are drawn both from RCVS Council and appointments made by the VN Council.

Veterinary Nurses

• Elizabeth Branscombe RVN - Chairman
• Dorothy Creighton RVN - Vice-Chairman
• Andrea Jeffrey RVN
• Katherine Kissick RVN
• Hilary Orpet RVN
• Louise Glysen RVN
• Suzanne May RVN
• Jenny Thompson RVN

Veterinary Surgeons

• Jerry Davies MRCVS
• Richard Hooker MRCVS (non-RCVS Council)
• Alan Hughes MRCVS (non-RCVS Council)
• Jacqui Molyneux MRCVS - Vice-Chairman
• Jill Nute MRCVS
• Christopher House MRCVS (Lantra Industry Group (Professions Allied to Veterinary Science))

Lay members

• Tony Birbeck MBE
• Penny Swindlehurst

Non-voting observers

• (BVNA appointee)
• (BSAVA appointee)

Committee Secretary

Annette Amato (020 7202 0713 / a.amato@rcvs.org.uk)

Meeting dates

• 14 October 2008
• 10 February 2009
• 12 May 2009
• 13 October 2009
• 9 February 2010
• 11 May 2010
• 12 October 2010

VN Council membership of other Committees and Sub-committees

Members of VN Council also sit on a number of other RCVS Committees and Sub-committees.

Full terms of reference

The terms of reference of the Veterinary Nurses’ Council are as follows:

1). To maintain the list of veterinary nurses referred to in Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966).

2). To establish and keep under review standards of proficiency for safe and effective veterinary nursing practice, including requirements for admission to the list referred to in 1). and the training and examinations to be undertaken.

3). To ensure compliance with the requirements of the SQA and QCA (or their successor bodies) relating to S/NVQ awards in veterinary nursing.

4). To establish and keep under review standards of good character and conduct required for listed veterinary nurses and to develop a voluntary system of regulation.

5). To establish and keep under review schemes for post-qualification training and continuing professional development for veterinary nurses, and the outcomes to be achieved, with a view to recording an additional entry in the list referred to in 1).

6). To recommend to the Planning and Resources Committee a budget and levels of fees to be charged for awarding body functions, qualification, listing and post qualification diplomas.

7). To recommend to the Council amendments to the Veterinary Nursing Bye-Laws and Advanced Veterinary Nursing Bye-Laws.

8). To oversee the work of the Awarding Body Management Group, which will be responsible for the detailed administration of the Veterinary Nurse Training Scheme.

In exercising its functions, the Veterinary Nurses’ Council shall ensure that the welfare of animals and good veterinary practice are central to its work.

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