Mind Matters Initiative Officer

* This position could be Full Time or Part Time (minimum 4 days per week) role

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is the statutory regulator for the veterinary profession in the UK, thanks to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, and also has a range of roles that are supported by our Royal Charter, including regulation of the veterinary nursing profession.

As a regulator, we set, uphold and advance veterinary standards. As a Royal College, we promote, encourage and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine. We do all these things in the interests of animal health and welfare, and in the wider public interest.

We strive to behave with clarity, courage, compassion and confidence, and our vision is to be recognised as a trusted, compassionate and proactive regulator, and a supportive and ambitious Royal College, underpinning confident veterinary professions of which the UK can be rightly proud.

The Advancement of the Professions Directorate and Committee are committed to delivery of work that is non-statutory in nature, and contributes to the advancement of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions, and supporting the achievement of the RCVS strategic plan. This means that a broad range of topics are covered such as mental health (MMI), Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation (ViVet), Sustainability, Leadership, the RCVS Fellowship, and others. Our aim is to bring these workstreams together where possible to collaborate and to provide both strategic and operational outputs where appropriate. This collaboration extends to all veterinary associations and groups, but also into other professions.

The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those in the veterinary team, including students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and practice managers. MMI was launched in 2015 and is funded and run by the RCVS, the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK. The RCVS takes the mental health and welfare of members of the veterinary profession seriously, and its five-year, one million pound commitment to Mind Matters reflects this.

Job purpose

To support the delivery of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative, which aims to support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary community

(see www.vetmindmatters.org). This will include:

Key responsibilities

• Supporting the delivery of initiatives for the professions, including our training programmes, social media campaigns and events in conjunction with the Communications Team

• Organising external speakers for conferences, events and webinars. Speaker management and delegate / speaker support for MMI and other Advancement of the Professions (AP) department events.

• Drafting articles, reports, e-newsletters and social media posts, and ensuring that the Mind Matters Initiative website is kept up to date, working with the RCVS Communications team.

• Supporting the development of creative communications campaigns to promote wellness, destigmatise mental ill-health and promote the activities of Mind Matters, working with the RCVS Communications team.

• Fulfilling a secretariat function for the Mind Matters Taskforce, a group of representatives of veterinary, veterinary nursing, management and student organisations that meets three times a year – minute taking, organising agendas and contributing to papers.

• Administrative support for the Mind Matters Manager, to include report writing, meeting support, collating research data and responding to queries about the Initiative.

• Working across the AP department in conjunction with the AP Officer, where required. Supporting with wider AP projects and initiatives depending on departmental requirements.

Essential skills, knowledge & experience

• Demonstrable interest or experience in mental health. (N.B We recognise the value of lived experience. Candidates with lived or carer experience are encouraged to apply)

• An understanding of mental health stigma and discrimination, and a passion for tackling this in all its forms.

• Highly organised self-starter, able to work on multiple projects concurrently, on time and to budget.

• Creative approach to problem solving, able to come up with new campaigns, ideas and initiatives.

• Compassionate and non-judgemental, with a demonstrable commitment to diversity, inclusion and equality.

• Administrative experience, ideally with some degree of event planning.

• Able to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a small, supportive team, where most colleagues will be working remotely.

Desired skills & experience

• Knowledge of the veterinary sector.

• Experience in marketing, communications or events.

Here at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, improving animal health and welfare by advancing the ethical, professional, and clinical standards of the veterinary professions is at the heart of all our work. We also strive to advance veterinary standards with programmes of work around mental health, leadership, environmental sustainability, diversity, and innovation.

We set the standards for and monitor the quality of veterinary education; we hold Registers of those vets and veterinary nurses who are qualified to practice; we set professional standards for vets and veterinary nurses, and we help practices raise their standards through our Practice Standards Scheme.