Named Veterinary Surgeon

Named Veterinary Surgeon – BRF

Reports to: Head of Veterinary and Animal Health Services

This is a full-time, permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Summary

The Biological Research Facility (BRF) supports all animal research at the Crick through our comprehensive animal care and use programme. The BRF provides the Cricks laboratory animal resource and technical services. High quality multidisciplinary in-vivo and ex-vivo research support is at the heart of the BRF’s philosophy and operations. The BRF is committed to improving animal welfare, scientific quality, care of staff and transparency for stakeholders. The BRF teams integrate husbandry of multiple species within a range of facilities, using state of the art technologies, via a talented and skilled team.

The Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) provides specialist veterinary services and assists other Named Persons in the conduct of duties, liaises with other members of BRF and provides technical advice and services to the institute’s scientific staff with regard to ensuring the health and welfare of the institute’s animals. The post holder performs his/her duty as defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended 2012) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ code of practice.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

• Visit the BRF units and other designated areas regularly
• Attend to veterinary clinical cases
• Maintain appropriate health records relating to all protected animals
• Maintain records for communication, reporting and compliance
• Deputising the Head of Veterinary and Animal Health Services as required
• Design, conduct and participate in original research projects, including but not limited to:
• 3Rs projects
• Research into prevention, identification, containment and treatment of animal diseases
• Any study relevant to the mission of the institute or the welfare of the protected animals under care of the NVS
• To participate in the conduct of scientific programmes of work as appropriate to the post holders’ knowledge, technical expertise, and experience
• Maintain and develop relevant expertise with the species used by the science through consultation, literature review and attending scientific meetings
• Supervise the maintenance of appropriate health records relating to all protected animals
• Certify, where appropriate, that an animal is fit to travel to another establishment or abroad; to be used in further regulated procedures; to be released to the wild; or to be released for non-scientific purposes
• Participate in the local Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB). including drafting reports for the Establishment Licence Holder and the main AWERB committees
• Write reports, protocols, and Standard Operating Procedures
• To hold, as deemed necessary, a Personal/Project Licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (amended 2012)
• Advise Project Licence applicants on the drafting of Project Licence applications and amendments
• Advise Personal/Project Licence holders on the practical applications of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
• Advise licencees and others on appropriate methods of anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia, surgical technique, choice of species, and on the recognition of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm and severity assessment
• Advise on current best practice and 3Rs for procedural work in support of the institute’s research involving laboratory animals
• Develop, organise and teach training programmes, for both internal and external delegates in collaboration with the NTCO
• Assist with training and competence assessments of Personal Licence holders and others
• Advise and support the BRF surgical service, and other relevant stakeholders to develop best practices in surgical procedures across the Crick, providing surgical support and advice
• Supply and supervise the use of controlled drugs and other prescription only medicines for use on protected animals in the institute
• Fulfil the role of Official Veterinarian (OCQ(V)) for the Institute or other regulatory/statutory role
• Knowledge of and proven competence with MCMS and other commonly used databases by the BRF
• Supervise, train and guide members of the Animal Health team in the delivery of their duties as required
• Support the BRF Animal Health team in activities to ensure effective screening procedures to determine and maintain the health status of all animal units at the institute

Key experience and competencies

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: bold, imaginative, open, dynamic and collegial, in addition to the following:

Essential

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

• Veterinary degree
• To hold current and valid Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the legislative framework, Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended 2012)
• Full understanding of health and safety legislation and requirements in relation to animal care and use
• Capable of solving complicated clinical problems in a rational and organised fashion
• Good communication skills, both oral and written, persuasive, tactful, collaborative, persistent, flexible, innovative, a problem solver and a lateral thinker
• Excellent project planning, time-keeping, organisational and record-keeping skills
• Some post-graduate work experience, primarily in clinical veterinary practice or in biomedical research.

Desirable

• Previous experience working with rodents and aquatic species
• Experience with research using animals and with lab animal medicine
• PhD
• Willing to become a Veterinary Specialist in laboratory animal medicine (http://eslav-eclam.org/eclam/training)