Internships at Willows
Willows is one of the UKs leading multi-disciplinary small animal referral centres with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical facilities and renowned specialist staff who are working at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine
and surgery.
A one year Internship at Willows provides a stepping stone for committed, hard-working individuals to further their career through small animal residency and other postgraduate programs both in the UK and overseas.
Interns are expected to work to the highest of clinical standards as the philosophy of Willows is 'commitment to excellence'. Friendly, helpful support and training is provided to ensure that these standards of clinical excellence are attained.
The Internship program
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Willows has four Interns, and two new Interns are admitted to the programme every six months (at the end of March and the end of September), giving an overlap with two Interns who will have been with us for six months by that time. A week's extensive induction is given prior to commencement of the Internship proper. Our Internship training program has three key components: (1) working alongside specialists and residents in Willows Referral Service, (2) primary case responsibility in Willows Emergency Service, (3) caring for in-patients of Willows Veterinary Centre & Referral Service clinicians out-of-hours. In addition, Interns have the opportunity to be involved in a research project leading to publication of a paper in a peer reviewed journal. They have access to a comprehensive library and online journals. Interns rotate through various Willows Referral Service disciplines including internal medicine, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, oncology, intensive care, imaging and anaesthesia. For interns with particular interests, there is the option to take an elective two week block when they are on their second anaesthesia rotation, to spend extra time in another discipline (excluding medicine, since they already have two rotations through this discipline). Training involves attending consultations and assisting with investigations, surgical procedures and in-patient care. There is daily case-related tuition from specialists and residents, in addition to more structured CPD. Interns are involved with a wide variety of small animal cases. They should become competent in history taking and performing a clinical examination, including ocular and neurological examinations, under specialist supervision. Interns have training in investigations including digital radiography, ultrasonography, MR, CT, endoscopy (GI, airway, arthroscopy, laparoscopy) and electrodiagnostics. In addition they gain experience of orthopaedic, soft tissue and neurological procedures as well as knowledge of managing complex medical cases. Interns have the opportunity to become experienced in all aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia and to become competent in working in intensive care. Willows Emergency Service provides out-of-hours care for Willows Veterinary Centre’s first opinion patients. Rotations on this service involve night and weekend work. Interns have primary case responsibility for cases they have admitted at this time and they work alongside experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses on these shifts. There is 24-hour back-up support from specialists and residents in the multiple referral disciplines. Interns on out-of-hours shifts are involved with caring for in-patients both in the Intensive Care Unit and the rest of the hospital. Interns are expected to liaise with each other out-of-hours regarding transfer of patient care and also, where appropriate, to discuss cases at medical and surgical ward rounds. Our Interns are provided with pleasant, well appointed accommodation within the practice, and in addition to their salary they have the benefit of four weeks' holiday, a CPD allowance, membership of two professional organisations and a non-contributory pension. |
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Willows has four Interns, and two new Interns are admitted to the programme every six months (at the end of March and the end of September), giving an overlap with two Interns who will have been with us for six months by that time. A week's extensive induction is given prior to commencement of the Internship proper.
Our Internship training program has three key components: (1) working alongside specialists and residents in Willows Referral Service, (2) primary case responsibility in Willows Emergency Service, (3) caring for in-patients of Willows Veterinary Centre & Referral Service clinicians out-of-hours. In addition, Interns have the opportunity to be involved in a research project leading to publication of a paper in a peer reviewed journal. They have access to a comprehensive library and online journals.
Interns rotate through various Willows Referral Service disciplines including internal medicine, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, intensive care, imaging and anaesthesia. Training involves attending consultations and assisting with investigations, surgical procedures and in-patient care. There is daily case-related tuition from specialists and residents, in addition to more structured CPD.
Interns are involved with a wide variety of small animal cases. They should become competent in history taking and performing a clinical examination, including ocular and neurological examinations, under specialist supervision. Interns have training in investigations including digital radiography, ultrasonography, MR, CT, endoscopy (GI, airway, arthroscopy, laparoscopy) and electrodiagnostics. In addition they gain experience of orthopaedic, soft tissue and neurological procedures as well as knowledge of managing complex medical cases. Interns have the opportunity to become experienced in all aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia and to become competent in working in intensive care.
Willows Emergency Service provides out-of-hours care for Willows Veterinary Centre’s first opinion patients. Rotations on this service involve night and weekend work. Interns have primary case responsibility for cases they have admitted at this time and they work alongside experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses on these shifts. There is 24-hour back-up support from specialists and residents in the multiple referral disciplines. Interns on out-of-hours shifts are involved with caring for in-patients both in the Intensive Care Unit and the rest of the hospital. Interns are expected to liaise with each other out-of-hours regarding transfer of patient care and also, where appropriate, to discuss cases at medical and surgical ward rounds.
Our Interns are provided with pleasant, well appointed accommodation within the practice, and in addition to their salary they have the benefit of four weeks' holiday, a CPD allowance, membership of two professional organisations and a non-contributory pension.
Investors in People at Willows
We are very proud that Willows attained the Investors in People ‘Bronze’ award in November 2012, achieving a higher level than the nationally recognised Investors in People ‘Standard’ award, at our first attempt. The award concentrates on areas such as communication systems, employee development, performance management and training. It provides formal recognition of how deeply staff, including our nurses, care about the work undertaken here and how they recognise that their individual contribution helps to provide excellent care for all our clients and their pets. We intend to continue implementing continuous improvement processes with regard to building our fantastic practice team and hope to achieve Gold recognition by the end of 2013.
Requirements for applying for an Internship at Willows
Candidates for an Internship at Willows must have been qualified and working in small animal practice for at least two years by the time the Internship commences.
They must have a professional approach, excellent communication skills and an excellent command of written and spoken English.
A positive, friendly attitude and excellent interpersonal skills are of paramount importance, along with a commitment to practising the highest standards of veterinary medicine and patient care.
Can I come and visit Willows before I apply?
If you feel that you fulfil the requirements to apply for a position as an Intern at Willows, but you would like to visit the practice and meet our staff and other Interns before you decide whether or not to apply, please feel free to call Ceris Talbot, our Personnel Assistant on 0121 712 7070 to discuss the possibility of visiting us, or email careers@willows.uk.net. We are happy to offer periods of up to a week of seeing practice for suitable potential candidates.
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