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Veterinary Nurse Education Committee

The Veterinary Nurse Education Committee considers reports of visitors to Accredited Education Institutions, their delivery sites and training practices and makes recommendations to Veterinary Nurses Council on recognition of veterinary nurse licence to practise and post registration qualification accreditations. 

Meetings

  1. VNEC shall meet on a minimum of six occasions annually, and meetings will be held virtually, except where face to face meetings would be more beneficial.
  2. Some business may be conducted by email if agreed appropriate by VNEC. 

Members

  • Susan Howarth
  • Lisa Grainger (VN Council Lay member)
  • Betsy Malamah-Thomas RVN (Employer)
  • Donna Cotton (Employer)
  • Sarah Reynolds-Golding RVN (Higher Education regulatory expert)
  • Helen King (Further Education regulatory expert)
  • Marie Rippingale RVN (Further Education provider)
  • Sarah Holman RVN (Further Education provider)
  • Sarah Batt-Williams (Higher Education provider)
  • Perdi Welsh RVN (Post-registration qualifications provider)
  • Gemma Thirkettle (Student representative - HE sector)
  • Georgina Larkin (Student representative - FE sector)

Secretary

Annette Amato  (T 020 7202 0713, E [email protected])

Full terms of reference

Purpose

Reporting to the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council, the Veterinary Nurse Education Committee (VNEC) is required to:

  • Consider reports of visitors (including follow-up reports) to Accredited Education Institutions, their delivery sites and training practices and make recommendations to VN Council on recognition of veterinary nurse licence to practise and post registration qualification accreditations
  • Consider annual quality monitoring reports from Accredited Education Institutions (AEIs) and, where appropriate, their centres and training practices, in relation to licence to practise and post registration qualification accreditation.  Provide feedback to AEIs or make recommendations to Veterinary Nurses Council where appropriate
  • Consider and make recommendations to VN Council on the appointment of educational experts as RCVS visitors and observers
  • Keep RCVS visitation/accreditation criteria under review and in line with any relevant international standards and consider annual statistical returns
  • Oversee the work of the VN pre-registration examination board and ensure the standards for entry onto the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses by this route are compliant with relevant directives
  • Oversee provision of the electronic student experience log and professional development record and their periodic review

Membership

  1. VNEC will consist of twelve members to include:
    1. One RVN from VN Council (Chair)
    2. One lay member from VN Council
    3. Two employers (one independent employer and one corporate employer)
    4. One HE regulatory expert
    5. One FE regulatory expert
    6. Two further education veterinary nursing providers
    7. One higher education veterinary nursing provider
    8. Two students (representing FE and HE sectors)
    9. One post registration veterinary nursing provider
  2. Members of the Committee shall not normally represent more than one interest.
  3. The quorum for a meeting of VNEC shall be not less than six members personally present, or able to take part through live teleconference.
  4. Length of service will normally be three years, with the option for a second term to ensure consistency across accreditation periods.

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Committees, subcommittees and groups

Specialist working bodies providing expert guidance on specific areas of veterinary practice and regulation. See a full list of committees and a brief description of their roles on our dedicated committees page.