Support in practice
Each veterinary practice that is working with CCOAS can tailor the diploma to suit their own practice. Content of the Diploma, however, cannot be altered.
Rotas, case load and out-of-hours work will be determined by the veterinary practice and not by CCOAS.
The training that is provided during the course of the diploma represents a significant number of CPD hours that graduates will be able to record on their professional CPD or PDP log.
Each graduate will have a clinical coach who will support him or her in veterinary practice, in order to complete the CSL. Due to the variety of content, this could include several experienced vets in practice, who have skills in certain areas such as soft tissue surgery, anaesthesia, or diagnostic imaging, for example. The supporting clinical coach will also depend on the species with which the graduate is working.
Each graduate will also be assigned a mentor, who will support them in all aspects of attaining their diploma, but also with regards to support for their wellbeing. The mentor will liaise with the clinical coaches and other veterinary practice staff in order to monitor progress. The mentor will also have direct oversight of the CSL and will be able to track the graduate’s progression through this. Mentors will not be involved in day-to-day clinical training but will be available for support via email, phone calls and face-to-face meetings.
Clinical coaches must be qualified and suitably experienced veterinary surgeons. They should be trained and supported in their role. All tutors, mentors, assessors and moderators must be occupationally competent, in addition to holding appropriate educational qualifications and/or significant experience. Specific training will be provided by CCOAS for all staff involved with coaching, mentoring or assessing graduates for the diploma.
