Where Has Everyone Gone: Recruitment & Retention
Tackling the Veterinary Workforce Shortage
Angharad Belcher, RCVS
In November 2022, RCVS published their Workforce Action Plan to mitigate the impact of the ongoing workforce shortages in the professions. The Plan detailed how collaboration, culture change, career development and leadership, among other things, could help with workforce shortages by improving retention, encouraging more people to join, and making it easier for those who have left the professions to return. Join Angharad for an update on the progress of the Plan to date, as well as an outline of any upcoming projects.
How to solve a problem like recruitment
Emma Warren, Elite Veterinary Staffing Solutions
Recruitment has been one of the biggest challenges the veterinary profession has faced in the past decade. The answer to the question of ‘Where are all the Vets and Nurses?’ is…they’re here, but many practices are unaware of how to attract and secure them effectively. In this session, Emma will talk you through the importance of employer brand and how to raise it to attract more candidates; and how you can improve your process to secure more of who you want to hire!
Navigating the Crisis: Stabilising Teams and Ensuring Wellbeing
Paul Manktelow, Blue Cross
The UK veterinary workforce crisis poses significant challenges for many practices, often resulting in staff shortages that threaten service delivery and the wellbeing of remaining team members. This talk will address the risks of a ‘domino’ effect where additional staff resignations exacerbate the crisis. Paul will share a practical plan to stabilise teams, protect their wellbeing, and prioritise essential work while reducing unnecessary tasks.
Engaging and retaining the ‘not so new grad’ vets
Emily Collins-Wingate, Westpoint Farm Vets (Winchester)
Retention has been a buzzword for years, and countless surveys show that those graduated 3-5 years make up a large proportion of those leaving the profession. As a 2020 graduate, Emily has spent a long time trying to work out how to be a ‘not so new grad’ once the structure and focus of a grad scheme is over. She’s come across much talk of the ‘two-year wobble’ but not much advice for how to manage it. In this session, Emily will consider why this wobble happens, and how practices and practice leaders can support their young vets.
Learning Outcomes
- Learn the how to improve your employer brand, and your hiring success through implementing a better recruitment process.
- Learn practical strategies to stabilise teams and prioritise essential work.
- Identify what makes the transition from new to ‘not so new’ grad challenging for individuals and consider the best options to develop and engage these young vets.
