RCVS Academy update - November 2024

RCVS Academy launches new ‘Civility fundamentals’ course to support veterinary team wellbeing

The RCVS Academy is proud to launch 'Civility fundamentals', a new course developed under RCVS Mind Matters. This course, based on 'Keeping it civil: a practical guide for managing incivility in veterinary practice,' is part of MMI’s 'Prevent' workstream, and emphasises the critical role civility plays in shaping a positive, respectful, and supportive workplace within the veterinary professions.

Creating a civil workplace, where respect and clear, active communication are essential, leads to positive outcomes for individuals, teams, clients, and patients alike. Conversely, incivility not only affects the mental wellbeing of those on the receiving end, but it can also jeopardise patient safety. In a field where dedication and teamwork are essential, fostering a respectful and supportive environment is invaluable.

Civility fundamentals provides not only an awareness of what civility and incivility look like, but also practical tools and insights to help veterinary surgeons, nurses, students and the entire veterinary team build a culture of respect and understanding. The course includes content specific for leaders and managers to consider how they can foster civil workplace cultures. By completing this course, you’re taking a proactive step toward creating a healthier, more supportive workplace.

MMI Lead Rapinder Newton said: "We know from research that incivility may lead to errors and compromise patient safety. We also know that experiencing incivility impacts mental health and is associated with deceased job satisfaction."

"We know from research that incivility may lead to errors and compromise patient safety. We also know that experiencing incivility impacts mental health and is associated with deceased job satisfaction."

This course has been designed to help tackle incivility, and give the veterinary community the skills, knowledge and confidence to not only tackle incivility but also create positive and civil workplace cultures.

We’d like to extend our gratitude to Dr Amy Irwin, the University of Aberdeen and the contributors to the ‘Keeping it Civil’ Guide, who have allowed us to build on their work, and spread awareness of this very important topic.

Dr Amy Irwin said: "I am thrilled to see the content from our guide, which was a collaboration between academics and veterinary professionals, being applied in such a fantastic course. Experiencing incivility at work can lead to a range of adverse effects, including increased stress and risk of burnout. This course will help veterinary teams recognise and manage incivility, with associated benefits for staff wellbeing.

"We’d encourage those who complete the course to raise awareness of the training in their workplaces. The first ten people to complete the course on the academy will receive their own free copy of the Keeping it Civil guide."

This free course consists of six interactive and engaging modules, takes approximately four hours to complete and is available for free on the RCVS Academy. Simply log in with your MyAccount details at: https://academy.rcvs.org.uk/

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].