The College of Animal Welfare is delighted to announce that a new professional coaching qualification, which will help clinical coaches to get the best from their student veterinary nurses, is now available and open for applications.
Clinical coaches spend a large amount of time training their students in practice; coaching and supporting them as they learn the new skills needed to do their job and mentoring their student by looking at their personal development and addressing issues which may affect their learning and performance.
The skills needed to perform the clinical coach role have been largely focussed around either the old A1 award or skills gained on the job, with a mandatory initial training which focusses on the technical competencies and use of the NPL. There is no doubt that the role is rewarding but it can also be extremely challenging; particularly dealing with setting timely targets, planning and structuring efficient training systems, building relationships and maintaining personal boundaries.
The Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring, accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, is a blended learning programme (an effective combination of online, distance learning complemented by three study days at college) that will allow coaches to develop their ability to guide, influence and develop their students to be the best veterinary nurses they can be.
Barbara Cooper, Principal at The College of Animal Welfare, said “Having worked with, and trained many assessors and clinical coaches over the past decade, we recognise the hard work and dedication that is put into training students in the practice and the challenges that this can sometimes bring. We believe that the effective nurturing and developing of students makes a significant difference, not only to the practice, clients and the animals in their care, but also the reputation and quality of the veterinary profession as a whole”.
Starting in June 2014, the qualification covers a variety of topics such as communication skills and relationship building; overcoming barriers to coaching and mentoring; effective coaching/mentoring tools and techniques; feedback and monitoring progress.
The normal price for the qualification is £1,250 plus awarding body fees but The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) is offering 2014 TP Congress delegates, CAW Clinical Coaches and those supporting CAW students on placement the opportunity to enrol onto the 2014 course for £950 (or £105 per month). Awarding body fees of £124 are also payable.