Practice Observations

Helping veterinary teams understand how they work, not just what they do.

At Being Human, our Observation Days provide a structured, supportive way to understand the realities of day-to-day practice: communication, teamwork, workflow, safety behaviours, and the things that help (or hinder) teams in delivering great care.

Observations aren’t about judgement or criticisim

They’re about insight, clarity, and giving teams the confidence to make meaningful improvements.

What is a Practice Observation?

A fresh eyes observation gives you an external, Human Factors informed perspective on “work as done” in your practice.

On your observation day:

One of our team of qualified experts will spend the day with your team, quietly observing normal clinical work.

Using the scientific discipline of Human Factors, they will consider:

Non-technical skills

Team culture, health, and wellbeing

Ergonomic design of the workspace

Systems and processes that support or get in the way of care

Suggestions and guidance are then shared in a debrief session and a written report, so your team has a clear, practical way forward.

Why Observations?

Veterinary work is complex, high-pressure, and deeply human. Yet many teams rarely get the chance to step back and see the bigger picture.

Our Observations help you:

Gain a clear snapshot of how your team works in real time

Identify strengths you can build on

Spot friction points, risks or gaps that impact wellbeing, safety or efficiency

Create shared understanding that can act as a foundation for change

Inform targeted training, coaching or organisational development

Support leaders with change by providing trusted, evidence informed insight into what is happening on the ground and where to focus effort

What We Observe

Our approach is tailored to your practice, but typically includes:

Client communication and reception flow

Team dynamics during consults and procedures

In-the-moment decision-making

Workload distribution and workflow

Psychological safety and communication patterns

Environmental and system factors influencing performance

We observe with kindness, curiosity, and professionalism, and always with a focus on learning, not fault-finding.

How It Works

1. Pre-Observation Call

We meet with your leadership or wider team to understand your goals, context, and any specific areas of interest.

2. On-Site Observation

A Being Human trainer spends time in your practice watching normal clinical activity. We take a non-disruptive, respectful approach so your team can simply focus on doing what they do best.

3. Debrief & Insight Report

You receive a structured summary of themes, strengths, improvement opportunities, and practical recommendations.

We meet to walk through the findings together and create a plan that feels supportive, realistic, and right for your team.

Who Is It For?

Practice observations are ideal for:

Practices seeking to strengthen psychological safety or team culture
Leadership teams wanting clearer insight into what’s really happening on the ground
Teams preparing for quality improvement or Human Factors programmes
Groups experiencing friction, change, or rapid growth
Any practice wanting to deeply understand its people and processes

Our Approach

Observations with Being Human are guided by three principles:

Human first : We centre empathy, dignity and trust in every interaction.

Non judgemental : We are there to understand, not to criticise. The goal is learning and growth.

Evidence led : Our work is grounded in Human Factors, systems thinking and veterinary behavioural research.

Next Steps

If you would like to explore whether Practice Observations could support your team, we would be very happy to talk.

Get in touch and we can help shape an approach that fits your people, your practice and your goals.

Book your call

FAQs

What Does It Cost?

A Practice Observation day costs £1000 + VAT.

This includes:

A full day* on site observing real practice workflow

A structured debrief session

A written insight report detailing strengths, challenges and practical recommendations

If you would like additional support such as follow up coaching, team workshops or further observation days, we can create a tailored package to suit your goals.

You will receive a clear, transparent proposal before any work begins, so you know exactly what to expect.

Can I Add Some Team Training?

Yes. Many practices choose to combine their Observation day with additional training to deepen learning and support practical change.

Observation days can be paired with:

Lunch and learn sessions on the same day, using topics selected from our short introductory courses

Half or full day workshops delivered the following day, allowing teams to explore themes identified during the observation in a more structured, facilitated way

Adding training alongside your observation can help reinforce insights, build shared understanding and give your team practical tools they can use straight away.

When you enquire about this service, please let us know if you would be interested in adding a workshop or tailored training session and we will provide you with a list of options.

*half day observations are available when booked with team training or when within 90 minutes of trainers address.