Work within professional, legislative and regulatory requirements, for animal health and welfare LEGACY

This standard covers working within professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for maintaining a duty of care for animal health and welfare in your own work. It also covers personal and ethical responsibilities. It includes working within the relevant legal framework and codes of practice, placing the responsibility on the individual to know their role, responsibilities and limitations in relation animal health and welfare. It also covers the role of professional organisations and work with other animal health and welfare professionals and paraprofessionals. This standard is suitable for paraprofessionals working in animal health and welfare.

P1 identify, analyse and evaluate issues associated with being an animal health and welfare paraprofessional and how you are accountable for your actions
P2 maintain your own professional conduct and ethics and work within the limits of your own authority, expertise, training, competence, experience and legislation relevant to providing a service to others
P3 identify, analyse and evaluate issues associated with providing animal health and welfare services, and recognise that you are accountable for your actions
P4 assess the requirements and limitations of current animal health and welfare legislation on your work
P5 work within current animal health and welfare, and other animal-related legislation and associated codes of practice at all times
P6 assess how the needs of animals may best be provided for while under your duty of care
P7 take responsibility for your decisions as part of your role
P8 reflect on your own performance when carrying out your work and the performance and behaviour of those you work with
P9 plan, record and evaluate your continuing professional development
P10 maintain working relationships with colleagues, clients/customers and other animal health and welfare professionals and paraprofessionals
P11 consult with the appropriate veterinary surgeon prior to starting work with an animal, when required by legislation
P12 conduct professional discussions with other animal professionals and paraprofessionals
P13 ensure that records are kept in accordance with current legislation and other requirements
P14 contribute to the ethical decision-making process where appropriate
P15 reflect on and evaluate the decision-making process

K1 the requirements associated with being an animal health and welfare paraprofessional and the significance of regulation
K2 your professional and ethical responsibilities and the limits of your own authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
K3 your responsibilities under relevant animal health and welfare, and other animal-related legislation and codes of practice, and the legal limitations of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) in relation to your role
K4 other relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies relating to your working role and responsibilities
K5 a comprehensive understanding of maintaining animal health and welfare
K6 the role of animal health and welfare professional bodies and associations
K7 the concepts of "duty of care", "negligence", and "omission" and their application to animal health and welfare professionals and paraprofessionals
K8 when and how to consult with an appropriate veterinary surgeon before starting to work with an animal
K9 how to support colleagues and clients/customers who may wish to raise concerns about unprofessional conduct (to include "whistle blowing")
K10 the importance of obtaining informed consent and how to evaluate organisational/business procedures and systems implemented to facilitate this, where appropriate
K11 the appropriate records to be kept, the importance of confidentiality and the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998)
K12 how to identify ethical issues within the workplace
K13 how to apply ethical theories and principles to the issues identified
K14 how to identify and evaluate evidence used to inform ethical decisions
K15 the points to consider when assisting in the ethical decision-making process
K16 how to minimise the impact of an ethical decision
K17 how to reflect on the ethical decision-making process
K18 the importance of continuing professional development and how to plan, review and evaluate
K19 your legal and professional liability when working as an animal health and welfare paraprofessional and the importance of appropriate insurance cover

Paraprofessional The exact meaning of the word paraprofessional is someone who works alongside a professional (from the Greek word "para" meaning "beside" or "near", as in "parallel"). Paraprofessionals often function independently of direct professional supervision, but lack the official authority of the professional.
Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966): It is illegal under the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) for non-veterinary surgeons to practise veterinary surgery. The Act defines Veterinary Surgery as:
 the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes;
 the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis;
 the medical or surgical treatment of animals; and
 the performance of surgical operations on animals.
Current animal welfare legislation:
 England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act 2006
 Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006
 Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
Other relevant legislation could include:
 supplying goods and services
 human rights
 employment
 health and safety
 the environment