HR191 JOB DESCRIPTION

NOTES Forms must be downloaded from the UCT website: http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/sapweb/forms/forms.htm This form serves as a template for the writing of job descriptions. A copy of this form should be kept on file in your office. For re-evaluations, this form must be sent to your relevant HR Advisor/Officer

POSITION DETAILSPosition Title (current title) Conventional Unit & Welfare Manager

Status of Post (tick) New Post X Re-evaluation

Job Grade (current grade) Payclass 9

Faculty (if applicable) Faculty of Health Sciences (UCT Core Facility)

Department Research Animal Facility (RAF)

Section (if applicable) Conventional & Experimental Units

Date of Compilation 2 September 2013

FOR OFFICE USEPosition Title

Job Title

Date of Grading

Grading Result

ORGANOGRAM

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PURPOSEThe main purpose of this position is to promote animal health and wellbeing by providing dedicated veterinary nursing support in the UCT-RAF, in order to comply with ethical, legal and operational requirements for conducting world-class research in a large and complex research animal facility. Responsibilities include line-management of staff in the Conventional RAF Unit, providing clinical and para-clinical nursing services, managing welfare-monitoring systems, playing an active role in the training of researchers, students and staff, and refining standards of animal care.

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JOB CONTENT

Key Performance Areas (4 – 6)% of time

spentActivities / Objectives / Tasks Results / Outcomes Competencies

Manage the Conventional RAF Unit

20 Line-manage all staff members in the Conventional RAF Unit

Meet with line-managed staff regularly

Perform HR-related administration for all line-managed staff, including new appointments, temporary or permanent

Conduct performance evaluations, objective setting and performance management of line-managed staff

Train staff in all relevant SOPs and confirm competence in all SOPs

Write and revise SOPs for all Conventional RAF operations according to international guidelines. Ensure SOPs are followed at all times

Oversee all Conventional Unit record-keeping to ensure they are complete and accurate at all times

Manage Conventional animal health-screening programmes

Manage Conventional Unit breeding programmes

Line-management of staff meets UCT HR policies and requirements

Staff render high-quality service of an acceptable standard at all times

Efficient HR administration done

Objective performance evaluations and setting of objectives conducted, appropriate development activities identified and completed, and inadequate performance addressed correctly for all line-managed staff

Line-managed staff are adequately trained and remain competent and efficient in all SOPs and tasks

Staff remain informed of relevant issues as pertain to their work

SOPs meet international best practice recommendations

Record-keeping complete and accurate at all times

Health-screening

Good people management skills

Good interpersonal skills, ability to communicate clearly

Ability to effect leadership in the attainment of goals and objectives

Knowledge of HR procedures, forms and PPS system

Insight into performance appraisal and management

Willingness to train/assist others

Ability to review online information and compile SOPs

Attention to detail

Understanding

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Liaise with researchers to ensure that sufficient numbers and types of animals are available, and help facilitate the planning of research protocols

Monitor the physical environment of the Conventional RAF Unit to ensure that facilities and infrastructure remain of appropriate standard at all times

Ensure human health and safety in the Conventional RAF Unit

programmes correctly maintained

Sufficient numbers of animals bred to meet research demands while preventing significant over-breeding

Human health and safety is appropriately considered by appropriate processes and SOPs

of health-monitoring and breeding programmes

Ability to assess infrastructure

Caring attitude Knowledge of

human health and safety risks

Clinical and para-clinical services

15 Report to the RAF veterinarian on all clinical matters on a regular basis

Provide theatre assistance: Administer pre-medications; induce, maintain and monitor anaesthesia in pigs, sheep, rabbits, rodents and others; preparation for surgery; place intravenous catheters; fluid administration; ECG and pulse oximeter monitor; surgical assistance; place dressings/bandages; provide pre, intra- and post-operative nursing care

Provide clinical assistance, e.g. perform clinical examinations, set up treatment plans, administer

Close communication with the RAF veterinarian on all clinical matters; veterinarian adequately informed

Anaesthesia successfully induced and maintained, surgical preparation and assistance adequate, animal care standards maintained appropriately

Professional and adequate theatre assistance provided

Professional and adequate clinical assistance provided

Collection, processing and examination of samples conducted appropriately to ensure good quality samples and diagnostic

Responsible attitude

Strong dedication to animal welfare

Good clinical working knowledge of and experience in anaesthesia, nursing care, analgesia, fluid therapy of a variety of animal species

Experience in theatre procedures

Experience in clinical

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emergency treatments to save lives or limit suffering, catheter maintenance, administer injections and fluids, bandage/dressing maintenance, wound care, nursing care, critical care monitoring, physical rehab, clip nails

Collect, process and examine biological samples, e.g. blood smears, impression smears, urine analysis, skin scrapings, hair plucks, Woods lamp tests, faecal examination, cytological preparations, haematology and chemistry analyses

Collect, process and send samples for external lab analysis, e.g. histology, microbiology, serology, parasitology, blood samples, post mortem analyses

Manage clinical record keeping systems, e.g. examinations, critical care, test results, treatment regimes, post mortem

Maintenance of clinical equipment, e.g. anaesthetic machines, instruments, etc.

Stock control of clinical consumables, e.g. drugs, drips, catheters, gloves, etc.

Dispense drugs according to

conclusions Good quality samples sent

to external labs with detailed and accurate clinical history provided

Clinical record-keeping systems are up to date, complete and accurate

Clinical equipment maintained in good working order, serviced as needed, instruments are sterile

Clinical consumable stocks are adequately maintained

Medicines dispensed according to legislative requirements

procedures Ability to

clinically assess an animal

Experience in sample collection, processing and examination

Ability to take good quality samples

Ability to assess and refine record-keeping systems

Attention to detail

Understanding of anaesthetic machines and sterilisation

Knowledge of legislation about scheduled drugs

Ability to work unsupervised on own and within a team

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legislationManage welfare-monitoring systems

30 Manage and refine welfare-monitoring and reporting systems in all RAF Units to ensure that animals are adequately monitored for clinical signs of illness, pain, suffering or distress, in order to prevent or promptly alleviate suffering

Perform welfare-monitoring in experimental, breeding and quarantine areas

Train researchers, students and staff in recognising signs of pain or distress

Monitor distress and mortality data daily, to identify urgent concerns and implement rapid appropriate action

Perform clinical welfare assessments of animals suspected to be suffering

Euthanase animals that are suffering, in pain or distress, that cannot be alleviated, according to humane endpoints

Perform regular internal audits of RAF welfare-monitoring records, to ensure that they meet formal requirements

Perform post mortem examinations of animal

Welfare-monitoring systems are appropriately managed and refined in order to prevent or promptly alleviate animal suffering

Welfare monitoring is adequately performed in all RAF Units

Researchers, students and RAF staff are adequately informed and can recognise suffering, pain or distress

Animal suffering, pain or distress is prevented or promptly alleviated

Animals that require urgent attention are examined promptly

Suffering, pain or distress is relieved by treatment or prompt euthanasia

Welfare-monitoring records are complete and correctly completed in all RAF units

Unexpected deaths undergo post-mortem examinations

Post-mortem record-keeping is up to date, complete and correct

Health-screening records are up to date and complete for all facilities

Strong dedication to animal welfare

Caring attitude Responsible and

professional attitude

Good interpersonal relationships

Ability to work under stressful and emotional conditions

Ability to prioritise

Rapid response time

Management ability

Insight into animal health and welfare

Ability to identify signs of suffering, pain or distress in a variety of animal species

Willingness to teach

Understanding of humane endpoints

Humane

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deaths; discuss with the RAF veterinarian to reach a diagnosis; and maintain electronic records of findings

Maintain detailed electronic records of health-screening results, e.g. serology, bacteriology, parasitology and autopsies

Advise on refinement of processes that could affect animal health or welfare

Monitor welfare data, identify trends and regularly report to the veterinarian

Report any deficiencies in health- and welfare-monitoring systems or record keeping regularly to the veterinarian; refine processes to address deficiencies

Communicate promptly with researchers about animals in distress or deaths

Processes that could affect animal welfare are identified and refined

Animal welfare trends are regularly analysed, concerns identified and reported to the RAF veterinarian

Deficiencies in health- or welfare-monitoring systems are identified and promptly communicated to the RAF veterinarian; processes are refined to address deficiencies

Researchers are informed timeously about experimental animal deaths, pain, suffering and distress

euthanasia Post-mortem

exams Computer skills

(Excel, Word) Basic data

interpretation Professional

report compilation and communication skills

Ability to design and refine systems

Ability to work unsupervised on own and within a team

Teaching and training 25 Assist the RAF veterinarian and laboratory animal technologists in the training of researchers, students and staff, in various aspects of the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching, according to international best practice guidelines and UCT policy

Assist with the practical training of researchers,

Practical training courses, lectures and workshops are professionally presented and successfully impart knowledge and skills according to international best practice guidelines

Researchers, students and staff that work with animals are adequately trained in practical procedures and in

Strong dedication to animal welfare

Caring attitude Responsible and

professional attitude

Good interpersonal relationships

Knowledge of all relevant

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students and staff involved in animal care and use, to help ensure that they are technically competent in all procedures performed on animals; including induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia, peri-operative care, surgical principles, sterile technique, fluid and analgesic administration; welfare monitoring; etc.

Assist with the didactic teaching of researchers, students and staff; present lectures on behaviour and husbandry, welfare monitoring, general anaesthesia, peri-operative care, surgical principles, sterile technique, fluid and analgesic administration, etc.

Assist the RAF veterinarian in his/her role of supervising personnel who are authorised by the SA Veterinary Council (SAVC) to perform procedures on animals, in order to help confirm their practical competency in all procedures

Assist with additional aspects of the above SAVC-authorisation programme, as determined by the RAF veterinarian

recognising pain and distress

The RAF veterinarian is adequately supported in their role to confirm technical competency of personnel

Relevant aspects of the SAVC-authorisation programme are supported efficiently

technical, clinical and para-clinical aspects of animal care and use

Willingness and ability to present training courses, lectures and workshops

Ability to manage aspects of training programmes

Ability to work unsupervised on own and within in a team

Computer skills (Word, PowerPoint)

Literature reviews

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Refine standards of animal care

5 Assist the RAF veterinarian and laboratory animal technologists to write and refine SOPs for animal care, animal husbandry, environmental enrichment, anaesthesia, surgery, analgesia, fluid and supportive therapy, welfare monitoring, etc., according to international best practice recommendations

Write, refine and implement treatment protocols to reduce animal suffering, in consultation with the RAF veterinarian

Advise on and provide nursing care for animals, e.g. after procedures or surgery

Perform internal audits of RAF animal husbandry records, to ensure that all requirements are met

Report any deficiencies in animal care or associated record keeping regularly to the veterinarian, and refine systems and processes to address deficiencies

SOPs are professionally compiled according to international best practice recommendations

Animals that require urgent attention are examined promptly

Suffering, pain or distress is relieved by appropriate treatment and monitoring protocols or prompt euthanasia

Professional nursing care is given and pain and suffering is limited

Husbandry records are complete and correctly filled in

Deficiencies in animal care or associated record-keeping are regularly reported to the RAF veterinarian and systems refined to address deficiencies

Strong dedication to animal welfare

Caring attitude Responsible

attitude Insight into

animal care and treatment of a variety of animals

Knowledge of nursing care

Professional report compilation

Ability to work unsupervised on own and within a team

Computer skills (Excel, Word)

Literature reviews

Other responsibilities 5 Remain up to date with international developments in the field of laboratory animal welfare and nursing care; engage in continuing

Up-to-date knowledge of animal care and welfare maintained

Controlled documents (e.g. SOPs) are distributed as required by the Quality

Willingness to engage in continuing education activities

Responsible

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education opportunities Distribute controlled

documents for the RAF Quality Management System

Electronic capturing of daily animal data as required

Electronic capturing of essential daily animal data when secretaries on leave

Take over relevant aspects of RAF management and para-veterinary functions as needed, e.g. functions of laboratory animal technologists

Perform additional functions as determined by the RAF veterinarian, in line with responsibilities for the position

Management System policy Data are captured by

defined time-lines and correctly as required

Additional management functions are adequately met when required

Additional functions performed adequately

attitude Adherence to

SOPs Attention to

detail Computer skills

(Excel, Word) Management

ability Dedication to

quality Meeting

deadlines

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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSMinimum Qualifications National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent

Registered or eligible for registration with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)

Minimum Experience Required Minimum of 3 years experience practicing as a veterinary nurse If not currently registered with the SAVC, need to register

within 18 months of employmentAdvantageous Experience working in a research animal facility Experience in staff management, hospital or clinic management Experience in large animal theatre, including anaesthetising

pigs and sheep Experience in laboratory animal husbandry, welfare-monitoring,

care and treatment Authorised by the SAVC to perform some functions of

Laboratory Animal Technologists Experience in presenting practical training or CE courses,

demonstrations or lectures Experience in designing forms, e.g. check-lists, clinical care

monitoring, treatment plans Experience in practical rodent handling, injection, dosing,

general anaesthesia, euthanasia Experience working in an ISO or SANAS accredited or GLP

compliant science facility Computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access,

referencing software, internet) Experience in formal quality-control and quality assurance

processes Work experience that includes the core principles of animal

ethics

AUTHORITYPRINT NAME SIGNATURE CONTACT NO. DATE

Compiled by

Approved by

Reviewed by

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