OUR CURRENT 'FEEDBACK SYSTEM'...
Our Feedback System to ensure that our WCB Holders do indeed have high welfare practices was felt to be a necessity - for the reasons stipulated in our original blog post about it - but it has, over time, become a bit of a hazard and we have been wondering for a long time if there is a better way to operate it/something like it.
Our WCB Holders pass a Knowledge Assessment and a Veterinary Check of their full premises, including any off site fosterers (with a checklist/report submitted to us) and then submit accountability every quarter: proof that they keep admission records, treatment plans/records for each patient AND proof that they have worked with a Vet during the last quarter, at least once. To renew their Badge each year, they go through another Veterinary Check and proof of 15hrs of CPD for the last year.
Whilst the WCB Feedback System felt sensible at the time of its launch, an issue has arisen in that Rehabbers (who don't have the Badge) use it quite often to report concerns about WCB Holders.
Now, it's important that WCB Holders do have high welfare practices, but the Feedback System is just going to stop the whole of the WCB effort from working, if it evolves into being a way for Rehabbers who don't have the WCB (who aren't putting themsleves in a position to be at all public/transparent about their own practices, as WCB Holders are) to keep demanding even more of WCB Holders. [All but one of our reports about Badge Holders so far have been from Rehabbers who have made it very plain that they don't want the WCB themselves, for a number of different reasons.]
So, we have been thinking about switching to this 'feedback/support system' instead, and we'd love to know your thoughts...
NEW 'FEEDBACK/SUPPORT SYSTEM' PROPOSAL...
First...
The Feedback System form would remain the same BUT the change would be that... Only a WCB Holder, Vet Surgeon or RVN would be able to use it.
[So, if a non badge holding Rehabber has a concern, they need to either go to the RSPCA to report bad practices - as has been standard for a long time - or they can ask their Vet, or a RVN who works with their Vet, to report a concern to us at the WCB, on their behalf, using our feedback form. (We would need evidence to back up the concern, just like we do now). That way feedback is coming from those who are also held to account in some way in their own professional practices.]
[If a WCB Holder is reported to the RSPCA, we would ask that the individual, who has reported them, inform us that a report of bad practices has been made to the RSPCA about one of our WCB Holders and that we are informed of the report and details and kept informed of progress so that we can be aware of it with regards to the WCB Holder and - should the case prove low welfare standards and the RSPCA removes animals from the WCB Holder in question - we ask to be informed so that we can also remove the WCB Holder from our database.]
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Second... (Supporting not only our WCB Holders but everyone in the industry more, we hope)...
This second change to our current Feedback System involves us at the WCB providing more support, to help improve rehabilitative practices, if needed...
If someone outside of the WCB (and a non badge holder) observes what you consider to be a specific weakness within a either a WCB Holder and/or a non badge holding Rehabber, that needs to be prevented and improved upon, let us at the WCB know and we will get your thoughts on how this type of weakness can be prevented and invite you to be part of creating a more supported, educated wildlife rescue community.... So, training, revision support, mentoring, better structural support, admin support, helping their vet to become more experienced etc.
We would then look for ways to provide this additional training (perhaps there are already courses that could be more widely promoted to Rehabbers in general, from places like Secret World) or perhaps a Rehabber could benefit from some mentoring support?
SUMMING UP...
That's it, those are our suggested changes: adapting our current Feedback System to a 'Feedback/Support System'.
This is very much a work in progress and we could do with the thoughts of as many Wildlife Professionals as possible, to move this system, however it ends up, forward in the right way.
We have created a GOOGLE FORM through which you can send us your thoughts.
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