New strategic direction

Council approved a new Strategic Plan at its 7 November meeting that will, over the next three years, bring us closer to our vision of enhancing society through improved animal health and welfare.

The Strategic Plan is founded on feedback from the profession and the public about what we do well and where we could do better, and an analysis of how other leading regulators operate.

It will take us on a journey towards becoming a first-rate regulator.

The ambitious Plan includes 35 actions, clustered under five themes, all centred on the purpose of setting, upholding and advancing veterinary standards.

For example, we aim to introduce a service charter – for the public and the profession – of rights, expectations and responsibilities for each of our functions.

“This drive for excellent service lies at the heart of our focus on improvement,” says Nick Stace, CEO.

“The concept of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, as well as the public, being our ‘customers’, was one which unsettled the profession when it was first mooted.

"But I believe that only by ensuring that we focus relentlessly on improving how we interact with our customers will we deliver a service for the profession, the public, and, ultimately, the UK’s animals, which is worthy of the name first-rate regulator.”

Amongst other things, the Plan also commits to:

• Reduce the time it takes for a complaint to be concluded in a fair and transparent manner
• Improve the advice line for the public and the profession
• Establish statutory powers to conduct language testing for those from the EU for whom English is not their first language
• Cost and design a trial for a new consumer dispute resolution service
• Develop communications with the profession and the public in plain English

 The full Strategic Plan can be downloaded from the 'Related documents' box on the right.

Other decisions

Also at its November meeting, Council approved:

• A new draft Charter, which will be open to consultation soon
• The 2014 budget, which includes no fee increases for the fourth year running
• Arrangements for the introduction of the new Advanced Practitioner status, which will be finalised and launched during the second half of 2014
• A motion to reaffirm its commitment to a transparent and fair disciplinary process

You can hear more on these topics direct from the CEO via his post-Council video update.