Introducing the QI awards
“I am delighted to introduce our new look Quality Improvement Awards. Their launch marks an exciting opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to celebrating the creativity, courage, and dedication of veterinary teams who are driving meaningful change from within their workplaces.
The heart of the awards remains: A belief that veterinary care is safer, kinder and more effective for animals, the people who care for them and the environment when those delivering it are empowered to work collaboratively on improvements. We very much look forward to receiving your team’s entry!”
Julie Gibson, Clinical Lead for Quality Improvement, RCVS Knowledge
What these awards are for
These awards recognise quality improvement (QI) projects that are delivered by veterinary teams who are engaged in shared learning and meaningful change.
The awards celebrate the creativity, courage and dedication of veterinary teams who are improving everyday practice.
There are four categories within the RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Awards, reflecting the many ways QI strengthens veterinary care:
- Improving patient outcomes: for projects that have improved the safety, health, welfare, or quality of life of veterinary patients.
- Improving veterinary teamwork: for projects that have strengthened communication, collaboration, psychological safety, leadership, or workplace culture within veterinary teams.
- Improving service delivery: for projects that have enhanced the efficiency, accessibility, reliability or the overall experiences of veterinary services to those who use them, including animal owners and other veterinary and animal healthcare services.
- Improving antimicrobial stewardship: for projects that showcase practical examples where teams are improving antimicrobial stewardship using recognised quality improvement methods.
Who should apply to these awards
Applications can be submitted by any member of the veterinary practice team, including veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers, administrative staff, and other support roles, regardless of seniority or job title.
Projects involving any species are welcome, including companion animal, farm, equine, exotics, zoo, and wildlife species.
Submissions from a diverse range of settings are encouraged, including first opinion, referral and peripatetic veterinary services, higher education facilities and both clinic-based and ambulatory practice.
What we’re looking for
Overarching project design, delivery and presentation
We are looking for well-designed projects that are ethically sound and have been delivered by engaged local practice teams who clearly demonstrate shared ownership of the improvement work. Applications should provide a coherent narrative explaining the problem addressed, the rationale for intervention, and the practical steps taken to deliver change. Improvements should not hinder contextualised care (see the further guidance section below for more information).
Applications will be strengthened by:
- clear articulation of the project aims and intended outcomes
- evidence of cross-team engagement and collaboration
- strong communication and presentation of the project story
- demonstration that improvement activity was embedded within everyday practice
- consideration of the differing perspectives of veterinary personnel and clients, where relevant.
Use of QI methods, tools, data and available research evidence
Applications should demonstrate the appropriate use of recognised QI methods and tools. Examples may include process mapping, driver diagrams, PDSA cycles, clinical audit, checklists, run charts or a human factors approach. Judges will look favourably on projects that show how local practice data and/or wider benchmarking data were used to identify problems, guide interventions, and evaluate progress over time. Where relevant and available, research evidence should be used to provide rationale and justification for the chosen interventions. However, research projects themselves will not be considered for these awards.
Applications will be strengthened by:
- clear explanation of the QI methods and tools used
- appropriate and proportionate use of data
- use of baseline and follow-up measurements
- demonstration of iterative learning and adaptation
- integration of available evidence, guidelines, or best practice literature to support decision-making.
Evaluation of impact
We recognise that projects can vary considerably in scale and complexity, and that larger projects are not inherently more valuable than those that are smaller in scale. What matters is whether the project demonstrates meaningful improvement and adds value, whether that relates to patient outcomes, veterinary teamwork, service delivery or antimicrobial stewardship. Applicants should clearly describe the impact achieved and how this was assessed. Use of both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (narrative) data may be appropriate depending on the nature of the project.
Applications will be strengthened by:
- clear evidence that improvement occurred and that it added practical value in the relevant award category
- appropriate use and explanation of measurement and data
- honest discussion of limitations or uncertainty in findings
- awareness of potential risks and unintended consequences associated with the intervention.
Reflection, learning and improvement over time
We value applications that demonstrate thoughtful reflection and a genuine commitment to learning. Honest discussion of challenges, setbacks and unexpected findings is encouraged and viewed positively. Strong applications will describe what was learned during the project, how difficulties were addressed, and how the team adapted its approach over time. Applications should also outline how improvements may be sustained or further developed in the future.
Applications will be strengthened by:
- honest and balanced reflection on the project journey
- evidence of iterative improvement and adaptation
- discussion of barriers encountered and lessons learned
- consideration of sustainability and future development
- recognition of how the project contributed to a culture of continuous improvement.
Further guidance on making your application
Applications should be clearly written, well-structured and concise.
To ensure fair and consistent assessment, applications must be anonymised. Please remove or obscure organisation names, logos, and brand colours, job titles or role descriptions unique to your organisation, or other identifiable information. Please avoid or anonymise references to materials that have already been promoted or published. If an application contains previously publicised material, or is heavily branded, we may be unable to include the materials as part of the blinded peer review process. This may impact the overall score.
Guidance on contextualised care
Contextualised care is a way of delivering veterinary care that is adapted to the needs and circumstances of the animal(s), their owner and the wider context. This approach is also encompassed by the definition of evidence-based practice, which involves applying the best and most relevant scientific evidence, integrated with clinical expertise, whilst considering the patient(s) and owner’s individual circumstances, when making clinical decisions. Improvements should not undermine this approach. Where changes may reduce flexibility, applicants should demonstrate how this has been mitigated.
Guidance on research and management of ethical concerns
Clinical audits and other data-informed activity carried out in an individual practice for the purpose of QI will not normally raise ethical issues or require formal ethics approval. However, because many aspects of veterinary practice have ethical implications and because the process of data collection for QI may look similar to aspects of practice-based research, it is important to understand the differences and the ethical issues that could arise in order to provide appropriate protection to practice team members, clients and animals.
Apply for an award
