Animal Care Assistant

IVC; Belper CP; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks annual leave

Birthday off

Pension scheme

Wellbeing initiatives

Learning & development

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Riverside Vets in the UK’s leading vet care network is seeking an Animal Care Assistant to join our compassionate team. You will support the clinical staff, handle patient care, and help maintain a clean, safe practice environment.

Working Monday to Friday, 09:00–18:00, with no weekends or out-of-hours shifts. This role offers development opportunities in a supportive, values-led culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal care or veterinary settings is advantageous.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to stay organised in a busy environment.

Responsibilities

• Exercising hospitalised patients and supporting inpatient care.
• Feeding, watering and cleaning animal patients.
• Assist nursing team with day-to-day patient care and theatre prep areas.

Skills

Animal care

Teamwork

Communication

Organisational skills

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we’re trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

Due to continued growth and our exciting move into a brand-new purpose-built veterinary practice, Riverside Vets is looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic and hardworking Animal Care Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team from 4 January 2027. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who takes pride in maintaining high standards of cleanliness and organisation, enjoys hands‑on animal care and wants to play an important role in delivering excellent patient care.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Animal Care Assistant, you will play an important role in supporting the clinical team to deliver high standards of patient and client care, while helping to ensure the practice environment runs smoothly and safely.

Working under the direction of a Veterinary Surgeon or Registered Veterinary Nurse, you’ll support inpatient care, assist with patient handling and restraint, help maintain clinical areas and equipment, and contribute to a positive and compassionate experience for both patients and clients.

Working Pattern

• Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00 (with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break)
• No weekends, out-of-hours or bank holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Exercising hospitalised patients
• Feeding and watering patients
• Cleaning and grooming patients where appropriate
• Maintaining excellent ward hygiene
• Assisting the nursing team with day-to-day patient care
• Preparing and turning around theatre and prep areas between procedures
• Cleaning and Organisation
• Operating the autoclave following training
• Reception & Administration Support

A typical day might include:

• Morning team huddle
• Starting laundry and preparing kits
• Supporting theatre preparation and patient care
• Assisting with patient handling and restraint throughout the day
• Helping reset consultation rooms
• Supporting kennel and cattery patients
• Maintaining cleanliness throughout the practice
• Assisting the nursing team with ongoing patient care and clinical

You Might Be a Great Fit If…

You are a reliable and motivated individual who enjoys working as part of a team and is keen to develop within a veterinary environment. You’ll bring:

• A caring, professional approach with a genuine interest in animal welfare
• Good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage tasks effectively in a busy environment
• A proactive attitude to learning, with openness to feedback and development
• Experience of working with animals in either a clinical or non-clinical setting would be advantageous

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Structured development opportunities, including access to VCA development programmes and apprenticeships
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into Student Veterinary Nurse roles and beyond
• Supportive, collaborative teams focused on delivering high‑quality patient and client care
• A values‑led culture focused on care, community and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks’ annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work salary sacrifice schemes, subject to eligibility criteria
• Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world‑class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £26,437 per annum