Around 500 recruits are expected to go through the online veterinary care assistant (VCA) training in the first year alone.
They claim that the 12-week course, also available for all VCA staff, is set to have a major impact on clinics.
IVC Evidensia are taking a leading role in using online elements to make the VCA training more accessible.
The new VCA training has been adapted from a well-established programme run by Vets Now and has been tailored by IVC Evidensia to fit all their first opinion and referral establishments.
“Everything we have put in place is designed to support our amazing nurses and provide a career structure for the support team,” said Liz Cox, IVC Evidensia Group nursing advisor.
“VCAs play a hugely important role, taking on non-clinical tasks to free up veterinary surgeons and RVNs.
“This will help our practices provide comprehensive VCA training internally when finding training time within practice can be a challenge.
“The aim is to give all new employees a comprehensive grounding in the basics, completing their induction before they go on to do the full VCA apprenticeship.”
The VCA training course covers a whole range of aspects including animal handling, patient safety and infection prevention and control.
It is supported by an in-clinic mentor as well as the online learning.
