MMI to hold ‘Vet Wellbeing in Practice’ events

Our Mind Matters Initiative (MMI), the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and Veterinary Management Group (VMG) are joining forces to hold a series of four events entitled ‘Vet Wellbeing in Practice’.

The dates and venues are as follows:

• Thursday 14 March, Kents Hill Park Training and Conference centre in Milton Keynes, 10:00am - 16:00pm
• Wednesday 27 March, Double Tree Hilton in Edinburgh, 10:00am - 16:00pm
• Wednesday 18 September, Willows Vets in Solihull, 10:00am - 16:00pm 
• Thursday 3 October, The Marriott hotel in Preston, 10:00am - 16:00pm 

This training will be led by Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at the mental health charity Mind, Tracey Morley Jewkes from Willows Veterinary Care, and Sean Gilgallon from Citation Professional Solutions.

Emma Mamo, who has spoken at two Mind Matters streams within SPVS/VMG Congresses previously, will explain to delegates exactly what workplace wellbeing looks like, and will offer practical tips and advice about how to achieve this in your own workplace.

Emma will also help explain how mental ill-health can be recognised and acted upon successfully amongst team members. Emma will be attending all events apart from the session on Wednesday 27 March in Edinburgh, in which Mind Scotland will take the session in her place.

Tracey Morley Jewkes will talk to the delegates about her time at Blacks Vets, and how they recently managed to achieve a SPVS/MMI Vet Wellbeing Award. Tracey ran her own businesses before entering the veterinary profession as Managing Director for Blacks Vets.

At the heart of her business plans for Blacks Vets, Tracey wished to invest in team wellbeing. She will explain how this was achieved, as well as sharing some of her best wellbeing initiatives in practice. Tracey is now Hospital Director for Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service.

Sean Gilgallon will also offer his expertise, having worked in health and safety for many years, both in the Royal Air Force and at the CVS Group. Sean now works for Citation Professional Solutions, a company that provides health and safety support and HR & Employment Law services for UK businesses and over 20,000 clients.

Sean will discuss the legal requirements surrounding stress management and wellbeing within the workplace, and explain how to create a ‘stress management risk assessment’ which can then form the basis of a ‘stress management policy’.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO and Director of Mind Matters, said: “The response to the SPVS/MMI Wellbeing Awards has been great, and this roadshow of events now takes this a step further by providing the opportunity for practices to learn from the experts about practical changes they can make in their own businesses to raise standards of wellbeing and support. They are set to be worthwhile and enjoyable events and I look forward to seeing people there.”

All days will last from 10:00 until 16:00 and there will also be an optional ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ session, conducted by Sean Gilgallon, from 16:00 until 17:00.

The events cost £85 person, and could count towards delegates’ continuing professional development (CPD). Refreshments will be provided throughout the course of the days.

If you are interested in attending any one of these events, please visit the SPVS VMG Events webpage for tickets.