Independent vetcare group

RE: Independent vetcare group

Samantha Bell BSc(Hons) DipHE CVN DipAVN RVN VNA M — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:51:42 GMT

please free to message me about IVC. Like with all changes there are positives and negatives. I work at one of the first flagship 3 practice groups of IVC and i have nothing but praise for the way everything is run.

Sam :)

RE: Independent vetcare group

Kathy Pendar-Hughes — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:46:35 GMT

Hi there. We moved to IVC 2 years ago. We had our apprehensions but all has turned out well. If anything it opens up other job opportunities if you feel the need to widen your career. As a nurse I've found IVC to be very supportive. They allow you to run as an independent practice but with the benefits of a corporation. Yes there are a few changes but there would be with a new boss of any kind. Hope you don't fear the change too much!

RE: Independent vetcare group

jane Lewis — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:40:18 GMT

I work for a practice that was taken over by IVC 2 years ago and I have to say my experience has been a positive one. Yes some of our systems changed, but nothing too major, but the day to day running has stayed the same. The staff on the floor don't notice a difference, in the office there are a few more reports but that's made us more business aware which I think is a positive thing. Since joining IVC I have had the opportunity to learn and develop my career far more than I could of dreamed in the little independent we were before. I've also had the opportunity to get involved with their nurse committee where we are working to promote and value nurses within the company. As a nurse joining IVC now I would say it will open a world of new opportunities, there are definitely exciting new ventures in the pipeline from the nurse committee! It's a scary time being bought, but everyone at IVC will be there to support u! If u ever need to talk anything over you are always welcome to contact me. Jane x

RE: Independent vetcare group

kkatkatk — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:16:28 GMT

Some companies have the same name but are more run by individual partners and have alot of autonomy, this is the case at vets4pets where i work. I could not dream of a nicer boss, company, and team to be working. Its fantastic. I think with places like vets for pets they are quite individual in their running. I dont like the sound of this other company though. Sounds horrible. Good luck x

RE: Independent vetcare group

Sal the 1st — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 20:11:16 GMT

I am ex V4P - if you get a good, motivated JVP forward thinking and motivated staff its brilliant. There is a lot of scope for nurses clinics etc. It is what you make of it same as anywhere else. I mostly enjoyed my time there even tho we didnt have a permanent vet for nearly 2 years and ran the place on locums - but when they did manage to eventually find a JVP it finished me off and nearly put me off nursing for keeps -may have been a brilliant vet but just hadn't quite qualified as a human being and I found myself dreading going into work everyday.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Selena Carnell — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 19:48:52 GMT

interesting, as i know a number of vets and nurses, and joint venture partners who have not been impressed/happy/treated well at all by vets4pets. I guess sometimes its the luck of the draw.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Tania Ford — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:07:27 GMT

[quote user="Sidonia"]Katzeyez, I too was made redundant after IVC took over my practice![/quote]

Have to say that im not surprised with any of the comments, especially when things get 'spoken about' and until someone admits there is/has been a problem, some people will remain quiet. Its such a shame that some 'corporate' companies create such bad feeling among the small independent practices and thankfully not all 'corporate' companies are the same. I now work for Vets4pets, and am thankfully in a much better place with my life and career. Some say things happen for a reason, and in my case that was true. All I can say is 'Good Luck' to everyone out there that is going through the same problem. Thankfully there are plenty of RVN jobs out there, so don't sit back and take what is given to you - look and ye shall find (not meant in a religious way lol) Go out and get what you really want, as if they don't want you, their loss and someone else's gain! Life's too short to always be wondering 'what if' - go for it - what have you got to loose!

RE: Independent vetcare group

Sal the 1st — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 00:00:55 GMT

just be careful with any contract re your accommodation - I have fell foul of this a couple of times one of them a corporate takeover (not the same one) make sure you dot the i's and cross the t's and if in doubt run any contract past the CAB they are usually very helpful

RE: Independent vetcare group

Jennifer Henderson RVN — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:47:15 GMT

Oh wow there's a lot of negativity on IVC, slightly worried now. They've promised everyone that nothing would change and all the decisions would be made by the clinical director (my boss) I also live above my practice, do you think they would start messing with my contract/rent?

RE: Independent vetcare group

Selena Carnell — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:18:33 GMT

the take over had happened a yr previous to me starting, and they have had a complete turnover of staff, due to a vet personality clash. that person has left so we are settling out. they have agreed a large amount of building work to help us function better. and funded a new digital X-ray that we couldn't have bought.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Sidonia — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 21:51:02 GMT

Selena, hopefully you won't lose any staff. But it happened to us unfortunately. And also to someone else, as this post shows (and maybe there are more of us out there ). I was really hoping it was only my practice!!!! I also remember them telling us at the takeover that nothing would change I'm afraid, based on my own painful experience, I would not trust IVC as far as I could throw them!

RE: Independent vetcare group

Selena Carnell — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 21:22:21 GMT

interesting as they moan that we are over staffed, but have not forced us in to any changes.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Sidonia — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:19:49 GMT

Katzeyez, I too was made redundant after IVC took over my practice! Slightly different to your experience - I had trained and qualified at my old practice, and had worked there for just shy of 16yrs (practically grew-up there). We were a very tight team (more like a family). A year after the takeover, IVC decided that we had too many staff, and dragged us through a pretty brutal redundancy process, which resulted in myself and a fellow colleague being given the boot! This happened 2 years ago.

Like you, I had a positive ending though - found a new job very quickly, and am very happy In my new practice I still see my old team socially but have sworn never to work for this corporate again!

This is the first time I have spoken 'publically' about this.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Tania Ford — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:08:44 GMT

Have to say that my impression of working for IVC wasn't a good one I had been working as a Head Nurse (unqualified at the time) for 11 years when they bought my practice. They made the decision to make me redundant because I wasn't qualified - although I had over 20 years experience! On a positive note though, this gave me the kick up the arse that I needed to get my 'piece of paper' and qualify and I haven't looked back ever since , so I suppose I have to thank them for that lol

RE: Independent vetcare group

ereveley — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:25:29 GMT

Our practice changed to IVC a few years ago and there has been ups and downs but generally it has been fine.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Selena Carnell — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:54:05 GMT

have a look on Facebook if you are on for the ivc nursing group.

RE: Independent vetcare group

Sidonia — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:40:01 GMT

I'm afraid my view of this particular corporate is very dim due to what occurred after they took over the practice I was working for.

However, I haven't heard of a similar thing happening to anyone else (through the veterinary grapevine), so for other people's sake, I'm hoping it was an unfortunate one off!

RE: Independent vetcare group

Jennifer Henderson RVN — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:05:07 GMT

Thanks for replying selena. It does sound good and I think it would benefit my practice as we are still on paper records so any computer system would be a massive bonus! the team seem to be half excited half nervous so I just wanted someone's honest view on it. looking forward to seeing what it brings anyway :)

RE: Independent vetcare group

Selena Carnell — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:24:19 GMT

hi there, i joined an IVC practice last year, and i have found it a really good experience so far. You remain independent, but you have marketing support, nurse groups, marketing groups, management groups on Facebook.They may change your computer system if you are not with Jupiter systems. feel free to mail me if i can help more.