Former criminal justice manager Valerie is the first Vets Now animal care assistant to complete the innovative new programme
Vets Now recently launched an Animal Care Assistant (ACA) Development Programme.
There are more than 200 ACAs working for Vets Now and the programme is open to them all. It consists of eight modules, including biosecurity in the veterinary environment, patient handling, assisting with euthanasia and laboratory work. They can all be completed online at the participant’s leisure.
Valerie Munro, who works at our Gateshead clinic, is the first ACA to complete the programme.
In this Q&A, Valerie tells us about her veterinary life, and how the programme has given her a real boost in knowledge and confidence, as well as a great sense of achievement.
Have you always been an ACA?
No, in fact I had a very different career for most of my working life. I was with Northumbria Police for 27 years, working as a criminal justice manager alongside the Crown Prosecution Service. I loved it at first, but as I moved up the ladder, I was taken away from the bits I really enjoyed.
What about your love of animals?
I’ve always had an affinity with animals. My grandparents had a farmhouse and when I was a little girl, I was forever in trouble for sitting in the henhouse or up in the rafters of the house with the feral cat and its kittens. We always had pets and now I’ve got a long-haired chihuahua called Rolo. I rescued him when he was two and quite sickly and he’s now 11.
How did your animal passion show itself when you were with the police?
When I had holidays, I would travel to places where I could see endangered species in their natural habitat. I tracked gorillas in Uganda, saw proboscis monkeys in Borneo, lemurs in Madagascar and duck-billed platypus in Australia. And I worked in a recovery centre for the Iberian wolf.
So, what led you to make the move to becoming an ACA?
I took early retirement and decided it was time to follow my passion. I did a few animal care and welfare courses and volunteered at a local zoo, working with exotic animals. My first ACA position was with the PDSA in Gateshead in 2011, which I really enjoyed. I felt like I was where I was meant to be. Being hands-on with the animals was what I had always wanted. And I knew I had transferrable skills as my criminal justice job was in a high-pressure environment where you needed great attention to detail.
Valerie Munro"Being hands-on with the animals was what I had always wanted. And I knew I had transferrable skills as my criminal justice job was in a high-pressure environment where you needed great attention to detail."
So, what led you to Vets Now?
The PDSA and Vets Now operate from the same premises and when I was on night shifts, I got to know the staff and see what they did. Family circumstances meant I was unable to continue with nights in 2015 and I was delighted when I found that Vets Now were able to offer me suitable weekend hours. It meant I could continue to do the job I loved, challenge myself even more and fit in wonderfully with the rest of my life.
And was that where the ACA Development Programme came in?
Yes, I’ve always wanted to keep up-to-date and learn new things. So, when my line manager Ashley Wemple, who is PNM, told me of the programme, I jumped at the chance. Even though I had been trained and doing the job for years, it was a great opportunity to develop further.
So, how did you find it?
It really was an excellent course, very well thought out and structured. I could do all the modules when it suited me. I had to set some time aside, but it was worth every minute. When I was at the clinic, I could go through all the areas I needed and if a suitable case presented when I wasn’t there, the staff would give me a call and ask if I wanted to come in and see it.
I guess you felt well supported…
Yes. I work alongside a wonderful, friendly team and my mentor, Robyn Deus RVN, was so helpful. You always felt you could query or check anything, and it was just a very positive experience.
Valerie Munro"It really was an excellent course, very well thought out and structured. I could do all the modules when it suited me. It led to so many great discussions with all the staff and I think the rest of the team have even more confidence in my knowledge."
Were there any modules you found especially useful?
When I was doing the module on euthanasia, I started to look at the support materials and I hadn’t realised there was so much bereavement support for owners. But just generally there were many things I had been doing automatically as a part of my routine. Each of the modules made me think more about the task and ensure it was being done in the very best way. I got such a sense of satisfaction from knowing I was using the correct procedure.
Do you feel even more comfortable in your role having done the course?
It has definitely lifted my confidence and confirming I was performing tasks properly gave me a huge amount of satisfaction. It led to so many great discussions with all the staff and I think the rest of the team have even more confidence in my knowledge.
And what would be your advice to other ACAs?
I’d definitely advise any ACA to think about taking it. I don’t think it matters whether you are a new ACA or have years of experience, it’s beneficial to everyone. Vets Now are really proactive about supporting learning and development. We’ve had several ACAs in Gateshead who have gone into nursing, and this would definitely be useful for anyone thinking of progression.