Quality Improvement in Practice Award
The RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement in Practice Award showcases the implementation of recognised Quality Improvement (QI) techniques that drive improvement within the profession that aim to lead to better outcomes, better care, and better learning.
"Winning this RCVS Knowledge Award is a wonderful achievement for our small animal first opinion practice. Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do and something that we all care passionately about, so to win an award is very special. It is great to have this recognition of our team's commitment to patient care and Quality Improvement”
Paul Stanley BVM&S PGCertSAM MRCVS, White Lodge Veterinary Surgery - 2024 Knowledge Award Champion Practice
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About the awards
What are the awards for?
The RCVS Knowledge Awards for Quality Improvement showcase the implementation of clinical audit and recognised Quality Improvement (QI) techniques that drive improvement within the profession that aim to lead to better outcomes, better care, and better learning. This is achieved through adopting measurable and systematic approaches.
The awards aim to recognise teams who are driving continuous improvements within the profession. Applications must demonstrate how clinical audit has been used to achieve measurable achievements in their area of work, with a focus on the Domains of Quality Veterinary Healthcare.
The Domains of Quality Veterinary Healthcare
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Quality Veterinary Healthcare takes into account:
- Animal welfare
- Client circumstances
- Effective care
- Efficient care
- Timely care
- Safe care
- Sustainability
- Veterinary team
Who is eligible for the awards?
The awards are open to any practice or organisation within the veterinary industry using clinical audits to make improvements.
Applicants apply as representatives of the practice/organisation. This can be anyone from the team e.g. administration team, veterinary nurses, practice managers and surgeons at all levels.
Applications can be submitted for any species, including farm, equine, companion animal, exotics, zoo and wildlife.
We welcome applications from those who have previously applied for the awards, either with updates to previous QI projects, or details of new QI projects.
What will my application be assessed against?
Applicants must demonstrate how they use clinical audit and recognised RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement methods to result in measurable improvements in practice.
Applications are blinded and will go through three rounds of judging by a panel of reviewers. Applications will be scored using a peer-review assessing framework. The review teams are made up of:
- RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Team
- RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Advisory Board
- RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees
- RCVS Practice Standards Assessors
The application must pass each round, to be progressed to the next. Only applications that progress onto the third and final round will be considered for Champions and Highly Commended Runners up.
Applications must demonstrate a complete audit cycle in order to be awarded first, second or third place. Applications that do not have a full audit cycle are welcome but will only be considered as a potential ‘Highly Commended One to watch'.
What happens if my application is selected as a winner?
Three practices/organisations will be awarded as champions, a first, second and third place.
First place
The practice/organisation awarded first place will become Knowledge Award winners and receive a £300 prize paid to the practice/organisation. A plaque, certificate and badges for the team will also be awarded.
The practice will have the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to promote and share their experiences in Quality Improvement. This promotion might include presenting at a conference, sharing experiences through our blog, podcasts, and interviews, and even publishing their findings in a journal such as Veterinary Evidence.
The practice representative will be invited to an award ceremony to collect the award on behalf of the practice. This representative will be reimbursed up to £200 towards reasonable travel costs.
Second Place
The practice/organisation awarded second place will become Knowledge Award winners and receive a £250 prize paid to the practice/organisation. A plaque, certificate and badges for the team will also be awarded.
The practice/organisation will have the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to promote and share their experiences in Quality Improvement. This promotion might include presenting at a conference, sharing experiences through our blog, podcasts, and interviews, and even publishing their findings in a journal such as Veterinary Evidence.
Third Place
The practice/organisation awarded third place will become Knowledge Award winners and receive a £200 prize paid to the practice/organisation. A plaque, certificate and badges for the team will also be awarded.
The practice/organisation will have the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to promote and share their experiences in Quality Improvement. This promotion might include presenting at a conference, sharing experiences through our blog, podcasts, and interviews, and even publishing their findings in a journal such as Veterinary Evidence.
Runners up
Applicants can also be awarded as Highly Commended, and Highly Commended Ones to Watch. Practices/organisations awarded will receive certificates and badges for their teams.
Those awarded as Highly Commended will have completed a full audit cycle.
The One to Watch Category is for practices that have not yet completed a full audit cycle but are setting strong foundations for QI and acknowledge that human factors and non-technical skills such as leadership from top down and bottom up, acts of ‘work as imagined’ vs ‘work as done’ and culture change, is needed in teams for improvement to happen.
Read more about ‘work as imagined’ vs ‘work as done’ in this article.
Applications must demonstrate a complete audit cycle in order to be awarded first, second or third place. Applications that do not have a full audit cycle are welcome but will only be considered as a potential ‘Highly Commended One to watch. All applications should be based on sound QI methods.
"The RCVS Knowledge Awards inspired and motivated me to learn from the results, share my knowledge and encourage other practices to do the same."
Abi Redfearn, Rosemullion Veterinary Practice - 2023 Knowledge Award Champion Practice
How to apply
All applicants should read the RCVS Knowledge Awards Terms and Conditions before applying.
The application process for the Quality Improvement in Practice Award is made up of two sections.
- An online form collecting key information.
- A case example detailing your audit. This is attached to your online form and submitted together.
Download the case example template
You should receive an automatic confirmation message once the submission is successful. If you do not receive this, please contact [email protected].
Closing dates
Applications must be received by 10th January 2025.
Winners will be notified in May 2025.
Previous winners
Read about the previous RCVS Knowledge Award winners and Highly Commended runners up here.