VET-30017 - Business and Professional Skills
Coordinator: Clare Cripwell
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

VET-10009 Professional Skills and Academic Practice
VET-20007 Communication and Professional Skills

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module will be delivered using lectures, tutorials and small group interactive sessions, both face-to-face and online. Visiting speakers from industry combined with case-based sessions and activities such as workshops.
This module addresses the following RCVS competencies:
3 - Demonstrate the ability to critically review and evaluate evidence, in support of practising evidence based veterinary medicine
4 - Apply principles of clinical governance
9 - Demonstrate situational awareness through navigating, responding and reflecting on the economic and emotional context in which the veterinary surgeon operates
15 - Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the organisation, management and legislation related
to a veterinary business
17 - Communicate effectively with clients, the public, professional colleagues and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience concerned
19 - Work effectively as a member of a professional/inter-professional team, fully recognising
the contribution of each professional, and demonstrate an understanding of cognitive diversity
21 - Communicate clearly and collaborate with referral, diagnostic and other professional services

Aims
The aims of this module are to:
1. To develop further the skills of reflective practice;
2. To introduce business concepts including staff and practice management, employment law and basic finance;
3. To help the student identify stress in self and colleagues and appreciate the causes of stress in the workplace.
4. To introduce the concept of quality improvement and clinical audit.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/vet-30017/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate the relationships between people and make suggestions to improve the effectiveness of staff: 1
evaluate the legislation related to a veterinary business: 1
synthesise the principles of operations management and apply these principles to ensure effective, efficient and ethical running of the practice: 1
analyse the factors that affect the economic and emotional context in which a veterinary surgeon operates: 1,3
apply the principles of clinical governance to veterinary practice, including the use of clinical audit to evaluate and suggest improvements to practice: 2

Study hours

10 hours lectures
40 hours tutorials & workshops
0.5 hours presentation (maximum)
99.5 hours independent learning

School Rules

Additional pre-requisite: VET-30009 Law, Ethics and Professional Practice

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 30%
Practice Management Group Assignment Presentation
Small groups of up to four students are each given a detailed veterinary practice scenario. The task is to identify the weaknesses in the management, potential adverse consequences and present solutions in a group presentation. Individual student performance will be differentiated via individual presentation and peer assessment. Groups will have a maximum of 25 minutes for their presentation (maximum five minutes per individual student presentation), followed by up to five minutes of questions.

2: Presentation weighted 30%
Clinical Audit Presentation
Carry out a clinical audit (on real or mock data) on a discrete topic, and present analysis making recommendations in line with evidence based medicine. Time limit of 15 minutes maximum for presentation, plus 5 minutes for questions.

3: Reflective Diary weighted 40%
Stress Management Reflection
Students will describe and analyse two real incidents that occurred in a veterinary context that could be considered to be stressful; one that affected self and one that had an effect on others. Reflect on the causes of the incidents and ways that harmful effects were, or could have been, mitigated, and use of personal development techniques after the situation. There is a FOUR page limit for this assignment.